19-Year-Old Marine Corps Recruit Dies during a Series of Physical Strength and Skill Tests

A 19-year-old Marine Corps recruit left his family heartbroken and devastated after passing away following a series of training that afforded him very little food and sleep.

Dalton Beals, a 19-year-old private first-class marine corps recruit, has died after undergoing a grueling 54-hour training exercise popularly called "The Crucible" at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina.

Beals was assigned to Echo Company in the 2nd Recruit Training Battalion. The Crucible was the last of the culminating event, and he was expected to graduate in a few days.

A statement released by Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, revealed that Beals died on Friday, June 4th, during the Crucible.

The department shared their condolences with Beal's family, his friend, the Marines, and staff of the Echo company. An investigation is said to be ongoing.

The Crucible is a series of tasks aimed at testing recruits' physical strength, their skills, and, most importantly, the values they have learned throughout their training.

To achieve this, recruits are allowed a minimal amount of food and barely have time to sleep. It remains unclear at what stage of the tasks Beals died.

One of the tasks recruits have to undergo is an intense 9-mile hike which ends with getting a pin that signifies they earned the Marine title.

Fifty-three women made history as the first set of female marines taking on the Crucible challenge.

A spokesman for the Marine reportedly revealed that the late Beals would be awarded a Marine title posthumously. When it takes effect remains unknown.

Following Beal's sudden death, a GoFundMe page has been set on behalf of his family, who undoubtedly need all the support they can get in these trying times.

Beals has since been described as a sincere, sweet, kindhearted, and amazing young man who left his loved ones far too soon. Pennsville Memorial High School, the high school Beals graduated last year, also paid tribute to him by flying flags at the school at half-mast.

Beals' tragic death comes less than two months after a group of 53 women made history as the first set of female marines taking on the Crucible challenge.

During their 13 weeks boot camp curriculum, which started back in February, the female platoon achieved several remarkable feats. A Marine captain revealed that the women won all physical events and had the highest physical and combat fitness test scores.

The platoon also recorded rifle range scores higher than the average scores previously recorded by other female platoons. These ones will forever have their names written in the book of history!