Marine Who Died in Arizona Parachute Accident Identified

The U.S. Marine Corps has identified the service member killed in a parachute training accident Monday in Arizona.

Cpl. Alejandro Romero died in a double-bag static line parachute mishap during the Multi-Mission Parachute Course in Coolidge, Arizona, according to information released Wednesday by the service's Training Command in Quantico, Virginia.

Romero, 22, of Carson, Calif., served "honorably" as a Reconnaissance Scout with Bravo Company, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force based in Okinawa, Japan, according to the release.

He received such awards as the National Defense Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the release states.

A photograph of Romero wasn't immediately available.

The Marine Corps is investigating what caused the accident. The service said a Safety Investigation Board will convene and consult subject matter experts as part of the review.

During a double-bag static line jump, a cord is attached from one end of the aircraft to the other, according to information previously released by the service. When the Marine jumps out of the airplane, the line pulls the deployment bag out of the pack on his or her back, causing the parachute to inflate, according to the service.

The operation is designed to increase the number of missions Marines can conduct, according to the service.

-- Brendan McGarry can be reached at brendan.mcgarry@military.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Brendan_McGarry.