THE family of the soldier killed in a training exercise south of Darwin have released a heartfelt statement.

“Our beautiful boy has gone,” they said of Private Jason Walter Challis. “His cheekiness and loving ways will stay with us forever.

“His personality pleased and brought so many people together. Everyone he met loved him and fell in love with him.

“Jason was the best son, step-son, brother and mate you could ever ask for.

“Rest in peace, our darling Jason, we love you forever. Until we meet again.”

Defence personnel are in shock following the death of Pte Challis, who was killed at Mount Bundey Military Training Area on Wednesday.

Members of the NT Police Major Crime Unit and Forensics are in Mount Bundey to investigate.

Pte Challis from Geelong in Victoria, was medevaced to Royal Darwin Hospital.

Doctors at the hospital were unable to save his life. It is believed he sustained a gunshot wound to the head.

media_camera Australian soldier Jason Challis. Picture: Facebook

NT Police guarded the crime scene over night ahead of the investigators return Thursday morning.

Military vehicles were coming to and from the training centre Thursday through a entry point manned by a soldier.

Several signs on the entry to the Mt Bundey site warned of the dangers within the facility.

One sign read: “Military target area. Do not touch anything it may explode and kill you”.

It is unclear if anyone from the US Marine Corps rotation was on site at the time of the incident. “At this stage we have no further details,” police said.

Late on Wednesday night, Defence said: “It is with regret that Defence confirms the death of an Australian Army soldier in the Mount Bundey Training Area near Darwin, Northern Territory, at approximately 12.45pm local time on Wednesday, 10 May 2017.

“The soldier was taking part in a routine training activity at the time of the incident. He received immediate first aid at the scene and was transported to the Royal Darwin Hospital for treatment. The soldier was subsequently pronounced deceased. The soldier’s next of kin has been notified and is being supported by the Army.

“The Army and ADF community extends its deepest sympathies to the soldier’s family and friends. It is a deep shock to the organisation and will be felt by the broader Army family.

“The Chief of Army and Army commanders acknowledge the gravity of this and recent incidents and take all matters relating to personnel and training very seriously.

“As such, Army has instigated a suspension of training activities across its combat brigades to review risk assessment processes and training safety management.

“Defence will not be releasing any information relating to the soldier’s personal or service history at this time. Northern Territory Police are investigating the incident and will prepare a report for the Northern Territory Coroner. The ADF are assisting police in their inquiries. Defence requests that the media respect the family’s privacy at this very difficult time.”

media_camera An Australian soldier was flown to the Royal Darwin Hospital but doctor were unable to save his life.

Darwin-based Defence personnel are expected to be briefed this morning about the death of their comrade.

Exercise Predators Walk, which has involved US Marines in previous years, was taking place at Mt Bundey at the time.

The training range was also scheduled to hold the biennial Exercise Talisman Sabre — a combined US and Australian military training — starting next month.

Defence has not confirmed if TS17 will be impacted by the current exercise suspension.

The soldier is the second to die during an Australian military training exercise within the space of a week.

A Sunshine Coast man was killed in a freak ­accident during an Army exercise at Shoalwater Bay last week.

Stuart Reddan, 21, died when a tree branch fell on him while he was a ­passenger in an armoured ­personnel carrier at Shoalwater Bay Training Area near Rockhampton on Thursday.

The Mount Bundey Training Area is 75km southeast of Humpty Doo, south of the Arnhem Highway, between the Mary River and Kakadu National Park.

Previously a cattle station, the property was acquired as a training area in 1988.

United States and Singaporean forces both conduct joint tank exercises with Australian forces at Mount Bundey, which also features an Urban Operations Training Facility constructed in 2005.

The training facility has been heavily used by the US Marine Air Ground Task Force since its first deployment in 2012.

The last recorded death at Mt Bundey training range was Tasmanian trooper 25-year-old Angus Lawrence who died of heatstroke in November 2005.

Originally published as Family pays tribute to Digger