MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – It is with heavy hearts that U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command announces the death of a Marine Raider following a tactical vehicle accident that occurred aboard Camp Pendleton, April 13, 2019.
Staff Sgt. Joshua Braica, 29, a critical skills operator with 1st Marine Raider Battalion, suffered critical injuries when the MRZR tactical vehicle he was driving experienced a rollover. He was medically evacuated to Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla. He did not survive his injuries, passing away the evening of April 14. He was originally from Sacramento, Calif.
An investigation into the incident is underway.
Braica served in the Marine Corps for more than eight years, enlisting in July of 2010. He served as an intelligence specialist with 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, and with Marine Aircraft Group 36. Braica deployed twice during his time in service. In 2011, he deployed as an intelligence specialist with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit to the Pacific Command area of operations. Braica completed MARSOC’s arduous training pipeline as a critical skills operator in 2015 and deployed with 1st Marine Raider Battalion to the Indo-Pacific Command region from July 2017 to January 2018. His personal decorations include: the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Gold Star in lieu of second award; two Good Conduct Medals; the National Defense Service Medal; the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; and three Sea Service Deployment Ribbons.
Braica was a graduate of the Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center, Marksmanship Instructor Course, MARSOC’s Individual Training Course, MARSOC’s Basic Language Course, the MARSOF Technical Surveillance Course, the MARSOF Network Operators Course, the Basic Airborne Course and Military Freefall School.
He is survived by his wife and son.
Our thoughts are with the family and teammates of SSgt. Braica during this difficult time. MARSOC is providing care and support to them and we urge respect for their privacy as they grieve this loss.
For additional information, please contact the MARSOC Communication Strategy and Operations Officer, Maj. Nick Mannweiler, at nicholas.mannweiler@socom.mil.
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