Speaking of live fire exercises, it reminded me of an incident with the French Army a year or two ago. They were putting on a demonstration for a happy crowd of civilian on lookers with blank ammunition.

They'd already done it without a glitch several times. On the last try, some how one of the soldiers loaded a magazine of live ammunition. He ended up spraying the crowd.

I think the French equivalent of the Secretary of the Army had to resign as a result.

Originally Posted by captiva303

the persons involved were special forces commandos preparing for their second tour of duty in Afghanistan i think the answer is yes they were well trained....

Third tour, and they would have been proficient in CQB drills etc, it is there job.

RIP Digger

I work around things such as these and have never seen anyone shot. When it comes to livefire training you always start at a crawl, move to a walk and then you run.

Do your SOF crawl?

Originally Posted by Wallabies

Do your SOF crawl?

They do, it's called a dry run.

Originally Posted by SigJohnson

Third tour, and they would have been proficient in CQB drills etc, it is there job.

RIP Digger

Don't doubt it at all. But kill houses are unforgiving it only takes one misstep or one bobble when your going full speed for s#it to go wonky.

Wouldn't say anyone is questioning their proficency or skill. I for one I'm sure that this was an anomoly and an unforunate incident. No reason to cut live fire, that would counter productive to their mission.

They do, it's called a dry run.

I think every military for thousands of years has been doing dry runs.

Originally Posted by Wallabies

I think every military for thousands of years has been doing dry runs.

Then what exactly is your question?

Let me break it down for you.

Crawl = Going over what is expected outside the shoot house using mock up villages, glass houses and classroom.

Walk = Going on a dry run in the shoot house exactly like you would with live rounds.

Run = Doing the deed with live rounds.

Really Man.

Pretty sure that this unit given that they are SOF did the whole walk thru, quarter speed, Half speed, Full speed thing. They weren't I'd like to think a buncha cherries.

It happens regardless of the level you are at. Some cuts wrong. Someone crosses out of their sector. Someone mis-counts. Someone stumbles. It's thae nature of the beast.

Originally Posted by 03USMC

Really Man.

Pretty sure that this unit given that they are SOF did the whole walk thru, quarter speed, Half speed, Full speed thing. They weren't I'd like to think a buncha cherries.

It happens regardless of the level you are at. Some cuts wrong. Someone crosses out of their sector. Someone mis-counts. Someone stumbles. It's thae nature of the beast.

If this comment was directed at me I was not bashing these troops, they are world class soldiers. I am explaining how the process works to people who have never done it or don't understand it.

Understood. But the how and why are unknown since the defense ministry of Oz isn't releasing it. So I'd say it's safe to assume that the unit in question was trained.

I also believe that Wally is currently serving as a grunt in the Aussie Army and probably has a working knowledge of CQB.