MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine Air Force cadet found dead

The aspiring Air Force NCO seems to have taken his own life with a 9mm gun

A student at Argentina's Air Force academy for non-commissioned officers in the Córdoba area has been found dead in what appears to be a case of suicide, it was reported.

Federal agents are investigating the death of the soldier who at the time of his demise was reported to have been patrolling the academy on foot.

The victim is believed to have shot himself with a 9mm pistol. He was identified as Emiliano Olmedo, a sophomore student at the Air Force's NCO School (ESFA), in the outskirts of the provincial capital on the road to the nearby mountain lake resort of Villa Carlos Paz.

The incident was reported to have occurred at around 10 am Sunday.

As he was late to return to one of the guard posts, his fellow soldiers went to look for him and found him lifeless.

Forensics experts were summoned to the area at once and as every case involving the national government it automatically fell under federal jurisdiction.

The ESFA is located in the area of ​​the Córdoba Air Garrison.

Previous incidents in military settings have led to major nationwide changes. The killing of Private Carrasco, for example, resulted in the lifting of mandatory military service.

It remains to be seen whether the Olmedo incident will end up an isolated case of suicide or just the tip of something far worse.

Ignacio Suárez, claiming to be a close friend of Olmedo's, said on Facebook that it was the second time a friend of his had taken his own life and encouraged people in distress to seek help before it was too late.

It was still unclear whether that first case also involved a serviceman.

“Please do not make bad decisions remember that behind those bad decisions we have a family, friends, siblings, children etc that we always end with that anguish that we will never forget in life... The truth is that it is the second time that I come back traveling home with a terrible pain in my chest...,” he said.