After soldier’s death, the Army National Guard investigates training, equipment provided to deploying EOD unit

The Army National Guard is investigating reports that an EOD unit did not receive the proper training or equipment before it was deployed to Afghanistan.

Sgt. James Slape, a soldier with the North Carolina National Guard’s 430th Ordnance Company, died Oct. 4 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, from an improvised explosive device. The unit had been in Afghanistan since April.

Shortly after his death, The New York Times, citing documents it obtained, reported that Slape’s unit had repeatedly requested better equipment and training but were denied both due to a lack of funds.

The Guard has since initiated an AR 15-6 investigation “into the training and equipping of the 430th EOD Company for their mobilization and deployment to Afghanistan,” Lt. Col. Wes Parmer, a Guard spokesman, confirmed to Army Times on Dec. 7. “As the investigation is ongoing, no additional details can be provided at this time.”