A Marine Corps drill instructor assigned to Marine Corps Recruit Depot–Parris Island, Sgt. Albert Haynes II, was found deceased in a hotel room in Starke, Florida, on May 30. The Bradford County Sheriff’s Department is investigating, and officials say he was i
A drill instructor assigned to Marine Corps Recruit Depot–Parris Island was found deceased in a hotel room in Starke, Florida, on May 30, the service confirmed.
Sgt. Albert Haynes II. 24. was in Florida for an event tied to the Marines’ recruiting pipeline: a poolee function with U.S. Marine Corps Recruiting Station–Jacksonville. His death has been turned over to local authorities. with the incident currently under investigation by the Bradford County Sheriff’s Department.
Haynes was assigned to Lima Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion at the time of his death, according to his service record. He was a native of Austin, Pennsylvania.
His military path included time in field artillery training. After graduating recruit training and Marine Combat Training, he enlisted in the Marine Corps as an 0811 Field Artillery Cannoneer, attending the Field Artillery Basic Course in Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
The record also lists multiple awards. including the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (with a gold star in lieu of a second award). the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal. the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (with two bronze stars in lieu of a third award). and the National Defense Service Medal.
The investigation will determine what led to Haynes’ death, but the known details already place the loss at the intersection of training duty and recruiting outreach—someone actively assigned to shape new Marines, in Florida for a function connected to future recruits.
Parris Island Marine Corps Recruit Depot drill instructor Sgt. Albert Haynes II Starke Florida Bradford County Sheriff’s Department poolee function Recruiting Station-Jacksonville Lima Company 3rd Recruit Training Battalion