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Training for troops was inadequate.

AN inquiry into the friendly-fire death of a British soldier in Afghanistan said troops learned lessons the hard way because training was inadequate for warfare.

Lance Corporal lance corporal
n.
1. Abbr. LCpl A noncommissioned rank in the U.S. Marine Corps that is above private first class and below corporal.

2. One who holds this rank.
 Mathew Ford, from 45 Commando commando, small, elite military raiding and assault unit or soldier. Although the word was coined in the Boer War (1899–1902), the role is as old as battles themselves. In 1940, when the British organized a number of such units, the term came into wide use.  Royal Marines Royal Marines
Noun, pl

Brit a corps of soldiers specially trained in amphibious warfare
, died after he was shot in Afghanistan in January last year as British troops stormed a Taliban fort.

A Royal Navy Board of Inquiry report into his death, released yesterday, said it was almost certain that L/Cpl Ford, 30, of Dundee, was shot by another British soldier.

But there was no suggestion of negligence on the part of the gunner, whose actions were attributed to a momentary mo·men·tar·y  
adj.
1. Lasting for only a moment.

2. Occurring or present at every moment: in momentary fear of being exposed.

3. Short-lived or ephemeral, as a life.
 error of judgment while disorientated.

The report said he had been given a hurried hur·ried  
adj.
1.
a. Moving or acting rapidly.

b. Required to move or act more rapidly; rushed.

2. Done in great haste: a hurried tour.
 briefing and added: "His actions were spontaneous on witnessing what he believed to be enemy fire."

Instead, the report criticised the training which the troops were given before they advanced on Jugroom fort.

They were "forced to adapt to a fast-moving environment quite different to that for which they had trained", the report said.

The report said it had originally been planned that 3 Commando Brigade would go to Iraq but a change of destination was announced in April 2006 which did little to aid training preparation.
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Publication:The Journal (Newcastle, England)
Date:Aug 16, 2008
Words:203
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