If you accidentally kill some of your own fellow troops with friendly fire, what are the punitive consequences, if any?
In some recent well-publicized cases where negligence has been alleged, the culprits get court-martialed. I’m thinking most specifically of the case where American soldiers killed Canadian ones; last I heard, the defendants were trying to shift the blame onto their commanding officers and to their mandated use of stimulants. That was several months ago, so perhaps the trial is over by now.
There is an old artillery saying, “Every time you pull the lanyard, you put your bars on the line.” (Presumes that the guy metaphorically pulling the lanyard is a lieutenant or captain.)
Each incident of friendly fire is investigated. An effort is made to ensure that sufficient precautions were taken to avoid an error. If an error in judgment is indicated, the person may face disciplinary action, up to a court martial, to determine the level of culpibility. Someone found guilty of recklessness or negligence will be sentenced for a specific crime. Someone found “guilty” of bad judgment will probably have their career stalled with a letter in their personnel folder. Or, conditions may indicate that they should be completely exonerated (which may still result in the loss of a career if they got too much publicity).
There is a difference, for example, between firing a round across an encircled enemy in a fierce fire-fight and striking your friend on the far side of the battle and the clown that shot down an H-60 Blackhawk in the Iraqi no-fly zone in the early 1990s and claimed that, after a purported visual inspection, he still confused it with an Mi-24 Hind (sort of like “confusing” a pickup truck with a sedan). Each case is different and must be treated separately.
Specific details regarding the incident psychonaut alludes to. (And no, it’s not over) It’s likely similar proceedings will occur for the more recent, but similar, incident mentioned here.