Military officials are investigating the death of a 22-year-old soldier, whose body was found Tuesday in an accommodation room in Kandahar Air Field.
The soldier has been identified as Bombardier Jeremie Ouellet, of the 1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, based in Shilo, Man.
Brig.-Gen. Guy Laroche told reporters that the soldier was found at 2:15 p.m. Tuesday and that his death "is not related to combat."
But he could not specify how Ouellet died.
"The Canadian Forces National Investigation Service has initiated an investigation to establish the details and circumstances of this tragic incident," he said. "As a result, no other details can be provided at this time."
The CFNIS is the major crimes investigative unit of the Canadian military police. The organization must look into all incidents involving Canadian military personnel or property at home or abroad.
Ouellet, born in Matane, Que, had arrived at the base within the past two weeks.
"Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Bombardier Ouellet," said Laroche. "Our primary focus at this time is to provide the best possible support to his family and colleagues."
More than 10,000 soldiers operating in Afghanistan as part of the International Security Assistance Force reside in Kandahar Air Field.
It's the centre of Canadian operations, but also home to troops from the U.S., Britain and the Netherlands.
The last incident in which a Canadian soldier died on the base was in March 2007, when Corp. Kevin Megeney, 25, was shot in the chest. Officials are still investigating.
According to The Canadian Press, only one soldier has committed suicide while on duty in Afghanistan.
Soldiers speak with a psychiatrist, social worker and mental-health nurse before being deployed to Afghanistan. They can visit with those same professionals at Kandahar Air Field.
Canada has now lost 80 military personnel in the war-torn country since 2002, along with one diplomat and a civilian aid worker.
The latest death comes as the Canadian government prepares to decide whether to extend the mission until 2011, in a House of Commons vote expected Thursday.
With files from The Canadian Press
