Private dies during Air Assault School training march

A 25-year-old private died June 18 about a half-mile from the end of a six-mile road march, part of the second day of training at Air Assault School at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

An investigation into the death of Pvt. Kyle M. Swain, 25, is ongoing, Lt. Col. Brian DeSantis, a spokesman for 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), said Thursday.

DeSantis told the Erie (Pennsylvania) Times-News, which reported Swain's death on Wednesday, that medics who treated Swain believed the incident was heat-related.

Swain was with 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, at the time of the incident. The Erie resident had lost more than 130 pounds over five years in order to join the military, a dream he'd had since age 4 that came true when he left his hometown for basic training in January, the Times-News reported.

Air Assault School students are required to complete the six-mile march in 90 minutes while carrying 35 pounds on their backs, DeSantis said. Swain passed out during the march and never regained consciousness, the Times-News reported; he was declared dead that night in a Nashville hospital.

Swain served as a volunteer firefighter and an emergency medical technician in his hometown before enlisting, according to his obituary.Funeral services were scheduled for Friday.

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Private dies during Air Assault School training march

Pvt. Kyle M. Swain was in his second day of training at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

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