An 18-year-old aviation mechanic with the Marines died last Friday after collapsing during a fitness test at a Maryland recruiting station.
Jose Rodriguez died early in the morning on Friday after being taken to the hospital in Washington, D.C.
According to Military.com, Rodriguez had just finished the run portion of the Initial Strength Test, which all Marines must complete before shipping off to boot camp. The details surrounding the test are still under investigation.
First Lt. William Tunney, a spokesman for 4th Marine Corps District, declined to comment on whether CPR was performed on Rodriguez.
"I can tell you that our Marines ensure that all appropriate safety precautions are observed during physical training events conducted by poolees," he said.
According to Marine Times, the initial strength test is a “modified version of the Corps’ physical fitness test and includes pullups, crunches and a 1.5 mile run. Male Marine poolees are expected to complete the run in 13 minutes and 30 seconds or faster.”
The Delayed Entry Program helps prepare future Marine recruits for boot camp, and poolees can spend six months to nearly a year in the DEP before shipping to recruit training.
“Our Marines send heartfelt condolences to his family and friends while the circumstances surrounding his death are investigated,” Tunney said.
