Marine injured during live-fire training at PTA

KAILUA-KONA — A U.S. Marine was injured during training this week at Pohakuloa Training Area, officials confirmed Thursday.

The incident occurred about 5:30 p.m. Monday amid live-fire training at the military installation situated between Mauna Loa and Maunakea, according to Capt. Eric Abrams, with the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force CommStrat office.

The Marine, who was identified only as a member of the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment based out of Kaneohe, Oahu, was among soldiers conducting a platoon-sized live-fire range at PTA at the time, Abrams said. He was transported via medics to North Hawaii Community Hospital, where he was listed as being in good condition.

“According to the battalion surgeon, the Marine never lost consciousness, did not lose a significant amount of blood and is expected to fully recover,” Abrams said. “The specific reasons for the injury are currently under investigation.”

Citing the ongoing investigation, Abrams said additional details about the nature of the injury also couldn’t be released.

Abrams expected the Marine to be released from North Hawaii Community Hospital on Thursday.

The 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment is currently conducting a month-long training exercise on the Big Island to meet battalion training objectives, Abrams said.

The 134,000-acre Pohakuloa Training Area can accommodate up to 2,300 soldiers for training, according to a draft Programmatic Agreement put out for review in August.

Routine training that takes place PTA includes physical training, maneuver training, reconnaissance training, assembly area operations training, force-on-force training, aviation training, deployment training, landing zone and drop zone training, and live-fire training, according to the agreement.

“Live-fire training involves a variety of munitions, including bullets, rockets, missiles, mines, grenades, explosives, artillery, mortars, and training ammunition,” the agreement reads.