A few thoughts on live fire training & training deaths... informed by discussions with troops. Troops believe live fire is vital training to be able to survive in a war zone. Real bullets mean a very different experience. It is dangerous, but they believe the risk is justified
We don't know what happened in the incident that killed Corporal Choi, but I have seen how training deaths affect troops. It's absolutely heart wrenching. While everyone knows training is a risk, the mental space is very different on exercise than overseas.
The soldiers in Corporal Choi's Regiment have suffered a terrible shock and the grief is tinged with how did this happen. For the troops there when he was shot - incredible trauma. There is always a great deal of guilt that goes along with training deaths too.
As a very young journalist I was at CFB Wainwright when there was a training death. The ashen faces of the soldiers who wonder why and question what they should have done differently is heart wrenching.
This is death will be particularly hard to process because Corporal Choi was shot versus in a LAV that suddenly rolled (more common).
Hardened Canadian Special Operations Forces operators say they are struggling with this one (lots came in via reserves, tons are PPCLI, & all of them do high risk training frequently). Infantry troops with multiple tours say training deaths are a special kind of heartbreak.
My heart breaks for Corporal Choi's friends and family. Nobody is expecting that knock at the door during an exercise. Somewhere a family was shattered last night and we all hold them in our hearts.
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