When Tech. Sgt. Jacob Venegas was found dead in a dorm at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, August 28, it marked the third death there in just 33 days, and the fourth since March, sparking concern about the conditions and support systems in place in a base, home of the 8th Fighter Wing.
The Air Force has not identified the cause of death in any of the cases, said 8th Fighter Wing spokesperson Capt. Alvin Nelson, who explained that the deaths remain under investigation. “We cannot speak to causes.”
None of the fatalities were “related to operations or mission requirements,” Nelson said. Law enforcement officials stated earlier that foul play is suspected in the deaths of Jones-Smalls, Vang, and Kruse, based on “forensic experts on the scene.”
Suicides remains a leading cause of death among young military members. A detailed analysis of suicide deaths in 2020 released earlier this year found that of the 117 Air Force and Space Force members who died by suicide that year, 90.8 percent were enlisted and 69.2 percent were on Active Duty. The average age was 30.6. Confirmed suicides dropped to 91 in 2023, according to the Defense Suicide Prevention Office.
Individuals posting on the unofficial “Air Force amn/nco/snco” Facebook page who said they had been based at Kunsan voiced concern about the base’s isolated location. Home to the 8th Fighter Wing and some 2,800 military and civilian personnel, the typical assignment there is a one-year unaccompanied tour.
Most Airmen at Kunsan live in dorms and public transportation is scarce. The base is about 120 miles south of Seoul, in a rural area near the Yellow Sea. The nearest tourist destination is Jeonju, 40 miles away. Without a personal vehicle, travel is difficult. One study suggested that isolation can be especially dangerous for younger service members, who are at higher risk of suicide.
Airmen posting anonymously on Reddit called the base “depressing” and cited the lack of mental health support and connection opportunities at Kunsan.
“It has been a difficult summer for the Wolf Pack with multiple losses over the past few weeks, and we are reinforcing existing support entities to care for our Airmen,” said Col. Peter Kasarskis, 8th Fighter Wing commander, in a statement.
Nelson said leadership is working to “increase the number of daily opportunities for connection between Airmen at all levels to strengthen our community,” but offered no details on how they are doing that.
Minot Air Force Base, N.D., suffered a similar spike in possible suicides last year, with three deaths last October that remain under investigation. Minot officials called in additional chaplains, counselors, and mental health professionals, but also cited the base’s remoteness, its harsh winter weather, and shortages of advanced medical care and childcare as persistent issues of concern