Army Pfc. Jacob T. Atchison pictured at Fort Moore, where he was training to join the infantry before his death due to a medical emergency July 12, 2023, during a training event. (U.S. Army)
ATLANTA — Army medical officials were investigating what caused a “medical emergency” last week that killed a teenage infantry trainee at Fort Moore, officials at the Georgia installation said Thursday.
Pfc. Jacob T. Atchison, 19, died July 12 during a training event at Fort Moore after experiencing a sudden medical emergency, according to officials at the post formerly known as Fort Benning. Atchison, of Pella, Iowa, was about nine weeks into Infantry One Station Unit Training, a 22-week training program for Army recruits bound for the infantry. Fort Moore’s Maneuver Center of Excellence is the home to the service’s initial entrance training for all future infantry troops.
In Atchison’s short time at Fort Moore, he had excelled, according to base officials. He had been named a team leader in his training platoon and earned his company's “top shot” award as he qualified as an expert marksman on the M4 carbine.
“Those who volunteer to defend the nation represent the very best of us,” said 1st Lt. Kyle Whittaker, who commands Atchison’s training company — Delta Company of 3rd Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment. “The loss of Jacob will be keenly felt by his teammates and the Army, now and in the future.”
Atchison’s emergency occurred as he was participating in a nighttime training event on the post just two days before his unit was scheduled to move from Army basic combat training to more detailed infantry training, a process known as “Turning Green,” Army officials said. Drill sergeants immediately administered lifesaving procedures and installation emergency services were notified after his medical incident began, base officials said.
Atchison was pronounced dead at Fort Moore’s Martin Army Community Hospital shortly after he arrived. An installation spokesman said Thursday that no additional information about Atchison’s death was available and medical examiners were still working to determine a cause of death.
Atchison, who went by JT, was a 2022 graduate of Pella Community High School, where he played football as a student, according to his obituary. While in high school, he also earned a third-degree black belt in taekwondo and had been instructing students in the martial art before shipping to Fort Moore this year.
He had long planned to join the military, according to his obituary. He had planned to pursue a career in Army special operations, hoping to join the elite 75th Ranger Regiment after OSUT. He aimed to join Special Forces later in his career.
“Service, duty, loyal friend, integrity, respectful, and ‘self-professed mama’s boy’ were just a few words to describe JT,” his obituary reads. “His family will miss the opportunity to see the man he was becoming.”
Army Pfc. Jacob T. Atchison pictured at Fort Moore, where he was training to join the infantry before his death due to a medical emergency July 12, 2023, during a training event. (U.S. Army)
