SSG Bryan C. Black

4 October 2017, Niger

Special Forces

Born at Camp Pendleton, California, but raised in Puyallup, Washington, Staff Sergeant Bryan C. Black was killed while conducting a reconnaissance patrol near Tongo Tongo, Niger, on 4 October 2017.

Black enlisted in the Army in October 2009 as a Combat Medical Specialist. After Basic Combat Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, he was assigned to Fort Carson, Colorado, as an Emergency Care Specialist. He graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2014 as a Special Forces Medical Sergeant, and was assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation FREEDOM’S SENTINEL in 2015.

SSG Black was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, when he was killed by enemy gunfire during contingency operations.