SSG Alexander Conrad of the 3rd Special Forces Group died of wounds caused by enemy fire in Somalia on Friday, June 8, 2018. Four other members of the special forces unit were injured.
He was a member of the 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He died as a result of enemy indirect fire. The Special Forces element was in Somalia in support of Operation Octave Shield. The attack took place in Jubaland, Somalia during a multi-day operation involving Somali and Kenyan units taking place southwest of Mogadishu. U.S. AFRICOM stated the operation was to clear al-Shabaab from contested areas, establish a forward operation base, and extend the reach of the Somali government.
U.S. forces are in Somalia to degrade the terrorist threat posed by al-Qaeda and its Somalia-based associated force – al-Shabaab. The U.S. forces are conducting advise and assist missions – supporting Somali units as well as units of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
Conrad was born in Mesa, Arizona in 1992. He jointed the Army in June 2010. After his initial training at basic training and advanced individual training he was stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington where he served as a Human Intelligence Collector. While at JBLM he deployed to Afghanistan twice – the first tour from 2012-2013 and the second in 2014.
SSG Alexander Conrad completed several military courses to include:
- Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below Course
- Sources Operations Course
- Combat Life Savers Course
- Strategic Debriefers Course
- Basic Leader Course
- U.S. Army Airborne School
- French Basic Language Course
- Surveillance Detection Route Course
- Combatives Level 1
- Advanced Leader Course
He was the recipient of several awards and decorations to include:
- Purple Heart (posthumous)
- Meritorious Service Medal (posthumous)
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (2nd)
- Army Commendation Medal (3rd)
- Army Achievement Medal
- Army Good Conduct Medal
- National Defense Service Medal
- Afghanistan Campaign Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
- NCO Professional Development Ribbon (2nd)
- Army Service Ribbon
- Overseas Service Ribbon (2nd)
- NATO Medal
- Combat Action Badge
- Basic Parachutist Badge
- Driver and Mechanic Badge
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News Stories about SSG Alexander Conrad
DoD Identifies Army Casualty, DoD, June 9, 2018
U.S. Statement on Situation in Somalia, U.S. Africa Command, June 8, 2018
Somalia – A Short History of a Failed State, SOF News, December 3, 2017
U.S. SOF Step Up Involvement in Somalia’s Shadow War, SOF News, October 18, 2016
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Photo of SSG Alexander Conrad from DoD
