It was a section leaders live-firing exercise in SAFTI. Before, one section was given one area for this exercise, each conducted by a commissioned officer, assisted by the section instructor. The exercise was for the section to move in a single line on patrol when they were fired upon by the "enemy," upon which the appointed section leader was to shout, "Take cover. Enemy at 9 o'clock." They took cover and started firing with blanks. "Support Group! Flanking to the right and give support fire." The support group then ran whilst the rest continue firing. The Section Instructor follows the support whilst the officer remained with them.
The small hillock where the "enemy" (represented by targets placed on the ground)was, are hard to see sue to the heavy growth of very tall grass. With the support group firing blanks, the leader shouted, "Attack!" They then stood up running towards the "enemy" abreast of one another inline and started firing from the hips with live rounds.
This was practised again and again to make sure the section knew the drill (dry runs). After 7 dry runs the officer told them to rest before the final exercise using live rounds. One trainee said how was it when they reach the "enemy" the support group appears to be in the line of fire. The officer was angry and smack the trainee with the wooden staff he carried with him. In those days, instructors do not dressed as the men, they just wore combat uniform. The officer then explained again the procedure to show everything was in order and the support was where they were suppose to be. In fact, the stupid Section Instructor brought the support group further than where they were supposed to be which was why they were facing each other and the officer did not realise the mistake.
Well, as expected, when the live exercise was carried, whilst they were attacking and reaching the "enemy," the assault group saw the Section Instructor jumping up and down and the soldiers of the support group likewise shouting, "Stop! Stop!" But it was too late, one of the support group soldiers had been shot through his thigh. His leg was bleeding badly and there was a lot of blood that even the field dressings the men carried could not help, until the medic came and staunched it with a shell dressing. Fortunately, he wound was a flesh wound and did not hit any bone, otherwise he could have been crippled for life.
That was a real cock-up and it is a true story. Sorry about having to write such a long story as it has to be fully explain how that happened.