Warrant officer candidate Darrell R. McNealy, 40, a student going through the Warrant Officer Candidate School (WOCS), was found deceased on the morning of July 11 after having been missing since July 10 during a routine land navigation training event.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of this outstanding soldier,” Fort Rucker officials said in a press release. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family.”
A casualty assistance team is currently providing assistance to the family.
McNealy started a three-hour land navigation course at approximately 6:45 a.m. July 10. When he did not report at the checkpoint, Fort Rucker officials said they began a search party.
The search continued throughout the day, using all assets available, including using OH-58 and Apache helicopters to search by air until grounded by weather.
A team of soldiers, first responders, Coffee County Mounted Posse on horseback and emergency medical services personnel continued the search by ground.
At approximately 7 p.m. the Houston County Sheriff’s Office brought in bloodhounds that searched until 10 p.m.
However, the search continued through the night.
At 6:30 a.m. July 11, approximately 100 more soldiers were added to the search team.
The team found the missing soldier deceased at approximately 7:50 a.m. July 11.
McNealy, a native of Madison, Fla., served as a platoon sergeant with 4-58th Airfield Operations Battalion at Camp Humphrey, South Korea, and was training at Fort Rucker to become an Air Traffic and Air Space Manager.
He held the rank of Sgt. 1st Class before entering WOCS.
After entering the Army in 2001, he served in multiple deployments to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
McNealy previously served at Fort Rucker with the Bravo Company, 1-13th Aviation Regiment, 1st Aviation Brigade.
The U.S. Army Combat Readiness/Safety Center, a tenant unit at Fort Rucker, has deployed a Centralized Accident Investigation team to lead the inquiry into the soldier’s death.
The CAI team is comprised of experts in safety, maintenance, operations and training.
The investigation report will be used within the Department of Defense for incident prevention purposes only.
Fort Rucker officials are also investigating the incident.
The cause of death is currently unknown pending an autopsy. However, no foul play is expected.
The Southeast Sun will continue to provide information as it becomes available.
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