Death of New Jersey Soldier During Overseas Training Sparks Army Investigation

A 34-year-old U.S. Army soldier from Florence, New Jersey, died in an automobile accident at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Bavaria. The 101st Airborne Division’s 2nd Mobile Brigade Combat Team “Strike” had Sergeant Terell Seales. On October 18, an overseas military car crashed during training, according to the Army.

Sgt. Seales was a vehicle transport operator, which helped move and track goods, according to the military. The Army is investigating the soldier’s death with family and German officials. The Army wouldn’t discuss the crash because they were still gathering evidence. Colonel Duke Reim called Sgt. Seales “an inspired soldier and leader” who motivated others.

Sgt. Seales joined the Army in 2021. He worked in Lithuania in 2023 and is now training in Germany. Fort Hood in Texas and Fort Drum in New York were his previous jobs in 2024. He received the Army Service Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, four Army Achievement Medals, and two Army Good Conduct Medals. He earned a Driver/Mechanic Badge.

I question the safety of international drill training methods in other nations after this tragedy. The Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Bavaria conducts large drills and testing with NATO forces to assess their mobility. Military leaders underlined the need of real-world training. The project will examine vehicle use, training monitoring, and host country resource integration.

Burlington County residents are sorrowful and polite. According to his coworkers, Sgt. Seales was a demanding leader who did his job well. Soldier’s hometown awaits news, and Army family support personnel are brought in.

This event shows how deadly military training is even without war. The crash study may determine if steps or tools caused it, which could affect future training safety. After reviewing the results, the Army may decide to make such drills abroad safer for soldiers.

Sources

People Magazine