A 19 year old trainee from Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland died Thursday after training exercises, a spokesperson told TPR this weekend.
Terron Moore, a native of Indiana, collapsed following a run, said Collen McGee Saturday. Initial emails regarding the incident were blocked by a technical problem. McGee emphasized that the Air Force strives to be transparent in news, good or bad, and worked on Saturday to relay the message about the passing of the trainee.
Moore was in his second week of basic training. He was transported to Southwest General Hospital just after 5 p.m. Thursday. Doctors, unable to save the teen, pronounced Moore dead at 9:40 that evening.
"It was, you know, a normal training day, they were doing their physical training in the afternoon," said McGee. "They start usually around 1600. And on completion of his run, he collapsed."
Deaths from training are not common, said McGee. The last time a trainee died while at Lackland was in October 2011, McGee said.
Grief counselors will be on hand to talk to Moore's comrades, as well as his instructors. The incident hits hard for those who had direct contact with Moore, said McGee, because trainees typically become fast friends. Whether it's their second day in the Air Force, or if they've spent two decades in service, they are a part of the Air Force Family, she said.
"Friendships form quickly because that's the goal of basic training, to teach our trainees to become a team," said McGee.
The commander of the 37th Training Wing, Col. Mark Camerer, released a statement about Moore's passing.
"This is a tragic event and the men and women of the 37th Training Wing are grieving the loss of a fellow Airman," he said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this very difficult time."
JBSA-Lackland trains nearly 40,000 Airmen each year. An autopsy will be performed to confirm the official cause of death in this case.
