Parris Island mourns drill instructor who died in Florida at 24. Sheriff is investigating
A drill instructor at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island died while on assignment in Florida, the Port Royal Marine base said Monday morning.
On Saturday, Sgt. Albert Haynes II, a drill instructor with Lima Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, was found dead in a hotel room in Starke, Florida.
The cause of death was not released.
At the time of the incident, Haynes was on Temporary Additional Duty (TAD) conducting a poolee function event with Recruiting Station Jacksonville.
A poolee function is a training to prepare future Marines for the physical and mental rigors of recruit training.
Recruiting Station Jacksonville is 220 miles south of Parris Island. Starke is just south of the Jacksonville area.
The incident is currently under investigation by the Bradford County Sherrif’s Department in Florida, said Chief Warrant Officer Bobby Yarbrough, a Marine spokesman at Parris Island. The Marine Corps is cooperating fully with the authorities, he said.
Haynes, 24, was from Austin, Pennsylvania. He was married, with no children.
His awards included the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (twice), Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (three times).
Haynes completed Drill Instructor School Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. During the intense 11 weeks of training, drill instructors are trained to train Marines.
Only about 600 Marine Corps drill instructors shape the approximately 20,000 recruits who come to Parris Island annually for basic training.
This story was originally published June 1, 2026 at 9:06 AM.
