COLUMBIA, S.C. — For the second time in the last eight days, a drill sergeant assigned to Fort Jackson has been found dead on the fort.
Staff Sgt. Zachary L Melton, 30, a drill sergeant with the 1st Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, was found unresponsive in his vehicle by unit personnel Saturday, December 16, after failing to report to work.
The Directorate of Emergency Services were called to the scene, and Emergency Medical Services personnel pronounced him dead shortly after arriving.
“We are extremely saddened by the loss of Staff Sgt. Melton,” Brig. Gen. Jason E. Kelly, Fort Jackson commanding general, said. “Our thoughts are with his family and the soldiers of the Always Forward battalion during this very emotional time.”
Military chaplains and behavioral health personnel are being provided to support members of the unit. His unit's latest cycle of recruits had graduated on December 14 and was on break.
Melton had been in the Army for 10 years in the Army with the last three years as a drill sergeant on Fort Jackson. His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal with C device, Army Commendation Medal (3 times); Army Achievement Medal (2 times); National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon; Army Service Ribbon, North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Melton's home of record was in Huntsville, Alabama.
In their statement on the death, the fort said that soldiers, veterans, and family members who need help can call the Military Crisis Line/Veterans Crisis Line at 988, chat at veteranscrisisline.net or text to 838255.
This is the second drill sergeant to die this month and the third personnel member to die at the fort this year.
On December 8, Staff Sgt. Allen Burtram, 34, was found dead after failing to report for work. That case is under investigation by the US Army Criminal Investigation Division, but Army officials said that foul play was not suspected. Burtram had been at Fort Jackson for the last 18 months and had served in the Army for a total of 12 years.
Back in June, 40-year-old Staff Sgt. Jaime Contreras was found dead after taking place in a training exercise. Contreras, a drill sergeant candidate, had been with the Army's 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Liberty, North Carolina. He had just begun week eight of 10 of his training to be a drill sergeant.