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Army Revises Weapons Training
USA TODAY
May 10, 2005
WASHINGTON - The Army is toughening its safety training following 16 deaths and at least 121 injuries from accidental gunfire in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001.
The Pentagon said many of the accidental shootings, which the military calls "negligent discharges," resulted from simple carelessness and the lack of rigorously taught safety habits. But even some highly qualified veteran troops, some ranked as high as captain, have had accidents, said David Martin, a civilian who manages troop safety in Iraq.
Defense Department figures show that 14 troops in Iraq were killed in accidental shootings. The total could rise; 17 more deaths from "non-hostile" gunshot wounds are under investigation, Pentagon spokesman James Turner said.
Such shootings wounded 121 U.S. troops in Iraq, Martin said. The Pentagon has not provided statistics for wounds from accidental gunshots in Afghanistan.
Deaths and injuries from accidental weapons discharges are an occupational hazard of the military. Although statistics aren't available for all wars, the number of incidents in the past three years seems smaller than in other wars, said Conrad Crane, director of the U.S. Army Military History Institute in Carlisle, Pa.
Crane said about 8,000 troops suffered "non-battle" gunshot wounds during World War I, and 224 were killed and 3,000 wounded during the Korean War.
The current problem, however, is serious enough for the Army to overhaul training and stress safety.
Soldiers in basic training now must carry their M-16 rifles everywhere -- even to the bathroom and chow hall -- to become more familiar with safety procedures. The Army has also started teaching rifle marksmanship and weapons handling in the first few days of training, instead of three weeks into boot camp.
Col. Kevin Shwedo, a senior Army training supervisor at Fort Monroe, Va., said training soldiers early is essential, "so commanders in the field don't have to."
The ways troops can inadvertently fire their weapons include not activating a "safety" switch; stumbling or losing balance with their finger on the trigger; and not realizing a weapon is loaded.
Army soldiers have tougher procedures for carrying and storing their weapons. When entering a dining hall, for example, soldiers must remove ammunition from their rifles and double-check they're clear by pulling the trigger while the rifle is pointed into a sand-filled barrel.
Sound Off...What do you think? Join the discussion.
Copyright 2005 USA TODAY. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Army Revises Weapons Training
USA TODAY
May 10, 2005
WASHINGTON - The Army is toughening its safety training following 16 deaths and at least 121 injuries from accidental gunfire in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001.
The Pentagon said many of the accidental shootings, which the military calls "negligent discharges," resulted from simple carelessness and the lack of rigorously taught safety habits. But even some highly qualified veteran troops, some ranked as high as captain, have had accidents, said David Martin, a civilian who manages troop safety in Iraq.
Defense Department figures show that 14 troops in Iraq were killed in accidental shootings. The total could rise; 17 more deaths from "non-hostile" gunshot wounds are under investigation, Pentagon spokesman James Turner said.
Such shootings wounded 121 U.S. troops in Iraq, Martin said. The Pentagon has not provided statistics for wounds from accidental gunshots in Afghanistan.
Deaths and injuries from accidental weapons discharges are an occupational hazard of the military. Although statistics aren't available for all wars, the number of incidents in the past three years seems smaller than in other wars, said Conrad Crane, director of the U.S. Army Military History Institute in Carlisle, Pa.
Crane said about 8,000 troops suffered "non-battle" gunshot wounds during World War I, and 224 were killed and 3,000 wounded during the Korean War.
The current problem, however, is serious enough for the Army to overhaul training and stress safety.
Soldiers in basic training now must carry their M-16 rifles everywhere -- even to the bathroom and chow hall -- to become more familiar with safety procedures. The Army has also started teaching rifle marksmanship and weapons handling in the first few days of training, instead of three weeks into boot camp.
Col. Kevin Shwedo, a senior Army training supervisor at Fort Monroe, Va., said training soldiers early is essential, "so commanders in the field don't have to."
The ways troops can inadvertently fire their weapons include not activating a "safety" switch; stumbling or losing balance with their finger on the trigger; and not realizing a weapon is loaded.
Army soldiers have tougher procedures for carrying and storing their weapons. When entering a dining hall, for example, soldiers must remove ammunition from their rifles and double-check they're clear by pulling the trigger while the rifle is pointed into a sand-filled barrel.
Sound Off...What do you think? Join the discussion.
Copyright 2005 USA TODAY. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
