Master Sergeant Nathan Goodman, age 36, died in a military freefall training event on January 14, 2020. The incident took place during a MFF training exercise near Eloy, Arizona. Eloy is the site where advanced parachute training takes place for special operations personnel.
Goodman was born in Pasadena, California and grew up near Chicago, Illinois. At the time of his death he was stationed with the 3rd Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg, North Carolina and lived nearby in Hope Mills.
He enlisted in the Army in July 2002 – completing Basic and Advanced Individual Training and Airborne Course at Fort Benning, Georgia. Upon completion of his training he was assigned to 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
He then left active duty and joined the Army National Guard in 2005.He attended the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course and then the Special Forces Qualification Course where he graduated as a Special Forces Engineer Sergeant in 2007. He was then assigned to 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group.
In 2010 he returned to active duty and was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group. In 2016 he worked at the 1st Special Warfare Training Group as a Senior Instructor and then as a Chief Instructor. In July 2018 he returned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group. In July 2019 he was promoted to Master Sergeant and became an Operations “Team” Sergeant on an SF operational detachment alpha.
Goodman completed four deployments to Afghanistan, one to Iraq, two to Africa, and one to Kyrgyzstan.
Goodman graduated from the Basic, Advanced, Senior, and Master Leader Courses; Army Special Operations Forces Senior Noncommissioned Officer Fundamentals Course; Basic and Small Group Instructor Training Courses; Special Forces Advanced Reconnaissance, Target Analysis and Exploitation Techniques Course; Basic, Jumpmaster and Advanced Tactical Infiltration Military Free Fall Courses; Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat Course; Advanced Special Operations Techniques Course; and the Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Operator Course.
Goodman’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (2OLC); Meritorious Service Medal; Army Commendation Medal (3OLC); Army Achievement Medal; Valorous Unit Award (1OLC); Meritorious Unit Citation (2OLC); Army Good Conduct Medal (3OLC); National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal (four campaign stars); Iraq Campaign Medal (two campaign stars); Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (Numeral 3); Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Mobilization device; NATO Medal (1OLC); Special Forces Tab; Combat Infantryman Badge; Expert Infantryman Badge; Parachutist’s Master Rated Military Free Fall Badges.
“Nathan was a beloved member of 3rd Special Forces Group and an exceptional leader in the special operations community. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family during this difficult time and our priority now rests with taking care of them and our soldiers”.
Colonel Nathan Prussian, 3rd Special Forces Group Commander
He leaves behind a wife and two children.
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Photo: Provided by USASOC.
Reference: Most information found above provided by USASOC Public Affairs Office. Additional information from online news accounts of the incident.
