Special Forces Sgt. 1st Class Elliott J. Robbins died on Sunday in Afghanistan from injuries not related to combat, defense officials have announced.
Robbins, 31, was serving as a medical sergeant with 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), said U.S. Army Special Operations Command spokesman Lt. Col. Loren Bymer.
He was on his third combat deployment at the time: The first was to Iraq in 2007 and he then deployed to Afghanistan in 2017 and 2019, Bymer said.
Robbins was born in August 1987 in San Diego and he joined the Army in 2006, Bymer said. After serving with the 101st Airborne Division, he completed the Special Forces Qualification Course and was assigned to 10th Special Forces Group in 2016.
His military awards include the Army Commendation Medal with Combat Device and one Oak Leaf Cluster, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Army Service Ribbon Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Military Freefall Parachutist Badge, and Parachutist Badge.
Two other members of 10th Special Forces Group have been killed in Afghanistan this year: Master Sgt. Micheal B. Riley, on June 25; and Sgt. 1st Class Will D. Lindsay, on March 22.
“We mourn the tragic passing of Sgt. 1st Class Elliott Robbins.” Col. Lawrence Ferguson, commander of 10th Special Forces Group, said in a statement. “The 10th Special Forces Group has paid a heavy toll in recent days. While we mourn, we will support Sgt. 1st Class Robbins’ Family and honor his service.”