WASHINGTON -- Congressman Vern Buchanan Tuesday grilled top Pentagon brass over the tragic death of Bradenton soldier Nicholas Panipinto, who was killed in 2019 driving a Bradley Fighting vehicle he was untrained to operate.
Buchanan's questioning came during an on-line public hearing by the House Armed Services Committee -- a hearing Buchanan requested last year to review training accidents.
Buchanan told the committee and the four vice chiefs of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines who appeared as witnesses about his work with the soldier's mother, Kimberly Weaver to highlight the issue of inadequate training.
Under questioning by Buchanan, who thanked the four Pentagon leaders for their lifelong commitment to serving their country, Army Gen. Joseph Martin expressed heartfelt condolences to Nick's family.
General Martin acknowledged that "rules and regulations were not followed" and he called Nick's death the result of "an unfortunate anomaly." He said an investigation found negligence by some of the officers involved who were subsequently held accountable. "It was a deviation from existing standards governing requirements for drivers," the general said.
Asked by Buchanan what assurances he could give the family that other parents would not have to go through similar tragedies in the future, General Martin replied, "I'm committed to making sure it doesn't happen again."
Panipinto's mother, Kimberly Weaver, said, "It's heartening to see the Armed Services Committee respond to Vern's request for a public hearing," adding, "I hope the congressman's proposals for reform ultimately are approved so that no parent ever has to go through what we did."
In addition to requesting the hearing ,Buchanan fought successfully for legislation to address training accidents, a proposal that was signed into law in January. Buchanan’s measure requires the Department of Defense to examine emergency response capabilities and services currently available at U.S. military bases around the world and requires the department to report to Congress on the potential benefits and feasibility of requiring bases to have properly functioning MedEvac helicopters and fully-stocked military ambulances.
A lack of emergency services on base and delays in medical response was cited in Panipinto's death. “The death of Specialist Panipinto is a tragedy that never should have happened," Buchanan said, noting he has suggested other reforms as well that he hopes Congress will consider this year.
Deaths during training exercises have risen dramatically in recent years. In 2017 alone, nearly four times as many service members died in training accidents than were killed in action.
The hearing, entitled “Learning From and Preventing Future Training Mishaps,” lasted nearly two hours. The list of witnesses included:
General Joseph M. Martin
Vice Chief of Staff
Department of the Army
Admiral William K. Lescher
Vice Chief of Naval Operations
Department of the Navy
General David W. Allvin
Vice Chief of Staff
Department of the Air Force
General Gary L. Thomas
Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps
Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps
