MIRAMAR, Calif. — As the minute hand on the clock in the barracks duty hut ticked toward 0705, the muscles on Lance Corporal Jay Hulterman’s face tightened further. The door to the duty hut remained empty, meaning Hulterman’s duty relief was now a full five minutes late.

“This is bad,” muttered Hulterman. “Really bad. I’m gonna give it another minute but Pfc. Salucci isn’t here by then, we may need to put a working party together to go find his body before the coyotes do.”

Hulterman’s assistant duty stander Pfc. Kathleen Clegg, whose duty relief was on time, explained the situation as she returned to her barracks room.