Death of soldier in training

Tragic deaths of British soldiers in training have come to the public’s attention again in recent times, highlighting the fine balance between testing potential combatants to their limits and placing them in unnecessary danger.

We have become accustomed to hearing of military personnel collapsing on gruelling marches or overland treks, but now we hear shocking news that a Royal Regiment of Scotland soldier was shot dead on a night live-firing exercise. It happened at the UK’s largest livefiring range at Otterburn in Northumberland, where 30,000 combat troops pass through every year.

Live-firing, on the face of it, would appear to be the most hazardous training exercises of them all, yet such tragedies seem rare.

This would bear testimony to the quality of training and safety drills. Simulated live-firing and training in pairs are part of careful preparation for the real thing – the ultimate test of a nerve-wracking night live-firing exercise.

This is why the incident must be investigated in minute detail, to learn any urgent lessons which are required.

Some might question why the Army puts troops in potential danger from live-firing at all. The answer is that you would put soldiers in more danger in a real battle if they had not been exposed to it under controlled training conditions beforehand.

There is no substitute for being comfortable with firing real ammunition and learning the field craft that goes with it, in terms of safety and awareness on a battlefield.

“Live-firing would appear to be the most hazardous training exercises of them all”