An Cosantóir

www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE | 27 THE COMPETITION CONTAINED THE FOLLOWING STAGES: Stage one was a modified "Murph Test". Each team had to com- plete 100 pull ups, 200 push ups and 300 body weight squats. There were additional points up for grabs at this stand if one member of the team was able to climb from the top of a Finnish SISU APC, underneath it to the other side and then back to the top without touching the ground, an extremely difficult task. Stage two was a distance judging stand. The teams stood at an OP and had to judge distance to set landmarks visible from that point. The overall challenge gave additional points for the fastest team to complete it, so teams ran between stands in extreme heat. These factors combined with the fatigue from stage 1 increased the difficulty for this task, which was completed with a high level of accuracy by all teams. Stage three involved each team being given matches, kindling and wood. The task was to build a fire big enough that it would sever a rope suspended a foot off the ground. Points were given based on how quickly the teams accomplished this task, an ad- ditional minute was added on for every match used. Tactics and planning were important for this task and several teams lost out on valuable time and points due to rushing into the task without a set strategy. Stage four tested each team in grenade throwing ability. Teams threw mock grenades a distance of twenty feet into a crate. Once each team had landed five grenades into the crate they were able to move on to the next stand. The Irish teams in particular excelled at this task, gaining valuable time in the overall competition. Stage five had each team tested in observation and threat analysis. The teams had to observe a ten foot square grid from a distance and record what they saw. The square contained various items from anti-personnel mines to artillery shells. The teams had to lo- cate and identify the items and then assess the threat that it posed. Stage six was a medical and CASEVAC stand. The teams came across a casualty that had to be triaged, treated and then evacu- ated. This stand was both mentally and physically challenging as the casualty had to be evacuated to the top of "Snake Hill", anyone who has been to UNP 2-45 knows well that this is no easy feat. Stage seven: At the beginning of the competition each team was shown a picture of six flags, at the finish line they then had to identify the six flags and the order they came in. With body and mind exhausted at this stage, this memory test proved harder for the teams than anyone predicted. Six teams from 118 IRISHFINBATT took part in the competition. The winning team was made up of Recce Coy personnel Capt Ralph, Cpl Leonard, Tpr Thoms, Tpr Kelly and Tpr Brennan. The Estonian team came second. The heat on the day had a significant impact on the competition, but all teams persevered and made it to the finish. The competition was well run by the Finnish contingent and recieved a lot of support from the members of 118 IRISHFINBATT.

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