Live ammunition training for special forces has been suspended following an incident at the firing range

The Army has suspended all live-fire exercises for the 1st Special Forces Command and its subordinate units after a soldier was accidentally shot during a training event at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, last week.

The injured soldier was taken to Madigan Army Medical Center on base and is in stable condition. The factors that led to the event are still unclear.

The 1st Special Forces Command issued a 72-hour safety shutdown on all live and empty ammunition ranges Tuesday through Thursday following the April 25 incident, said Maj. Russell Gordon, a spokesman for the 1st Special Forces Command.

Subordinate units were directed to conduct a round-the-clock amnesty sweep/self-inspection to identify improperly stored ammunition and to conduct an inventory of all ammunition storage facilities. These units include special forces, civil affairs, psychological operations and elements of sustainability. Unit leaders were also asked to conduct a review of responsibility for ammunition storage and shooting range security to strengthen efforts.

“It was now necessary to take prudent measures to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone,” Gordon said in an emailed statement.

Soldiers from the 7th Infantry Division and 1st Special Forces Group both used the firing range on April 25, but the 1st Special Forces Group supervised the firing range operations.

“The way ranges work, a group has to be responsible for the day,” Gordon said.

The soldier who was shot belonged to the 7th Infantry Division. However, it is still unclear which unit the soldier who accidentally fired the weapon with live cartridges belonged to. The investigation should clarify this.

According to Military.com, which first reported the incident, soldiers from the 7th Infantry Division, along with soldiers from the 1st Special Forces Group, were involved in a training event that used blank cartridges as a standard exercise. Somehow live cartridges got mixed in and were accidentally fired by a soldier with an M249 light machine gun. The investigations currently underway are intended to clarify what exactly went wrong.

“Our thoughts are with the Soldiers and their families during this difficult time,” Army spokeswoman Lt. Col. Jennifer Bocanegra said in an emailed statement.