JBLM paratrooper missing in Mason County

The soldier, who has not been identified, is part of a special forces unit, according to Major Tim Chavez.

An unidentified soldier from Joint Base Lewis-McChord was found dead late Friday after he parachuted from a plane during a training exercise.

The soldier was a member of the 1st Special Forces Group that was training over a wooded area in Mason County.

The soldier went missing after a training exercise on Friday morning. The Mason County Sheriff’s Office tweeted that he was found, and had not survived, just after midnight.

The missing soldier did not report in after the drop, and he was reported missing at about noon, Chavez said.

“With this area, he could be hanging in a tree”, Mason County Sheriff’s Office Chief Criminal Deputy Ryan Spurling told Q13.

It is the Department of Defense policy not to release the names of service members who have died until 24 hours after their next-of-kin have been notified.

An investigation into the incident has begun, JBLM officials said.