An Cosantóir

| 17 The students received lectures from the different corps in the Defence Forces. These included lectures on cultural diversity from the Inf Sch; the legal aspects of multinational missions from Legal Branch; and talks from a weapons intelligence team in relation to the gathering of evidence. All of these subjects were treated in a way that related back to the MPs and what they need to be mindful of in an overseas context. There was also a series of guest speakers including Professor Marie Cassidy the State Pathologist; Comdt Mark Hearns, who talked about his recent experiences in Syria; Brig Gen Ger Aherne who spoke about MINURCAT and EUFOR Chad/CAR; and Col Colm Doyle (retd), who has been giving evidence in the International Criminal Court in The Hague. In exercises in the Glen of Imaal simulating overseas operations, the three key concepts were 'integration', 'communication', and 'co-operation', with the instructors monitoring how the students integrated, how messages got passed along, and how they co-operated to achieve their mission. The students faced a range of scenarios that they might encounter overseas, such as road traffic accidents, route reconnaissance, VIP escorts, managing an investigation and seeing it through until the end. At their disposal the course had a heli for aerial reconnaissance, a CIS detachment commanders course, and a mini unmanned aerial system (MUAS) from the Artillery Corps "The students were quite surprised at the standard of instructorship and equipment we provided," Lt Col O'Loughlen told us. "With the MUAS they were able to watch live footage of incidents taking place on the ground and respond accordingly." One scenario involved an ambush on a peacekeeping foot patrol. When the MPs arrived they had to secure the scene, investigate it, take witness statements, and eventually arrive at a suspect. Major Jon Hipkins from the UK and WO Mark Kluke from Canada assessed the MP students as they went through their procedures. Facing the students was a scene of empty bullet casings from friendly and enemy forces, bandages and other medical implements left over from the medics that came in to take care of the wounded, vehicle tracks, and footprints. The provost MPs moved in first to secure the scene, making sure nobody tampered with the evidence, keeping all relevant personnel on-scene and gathering as much information as possible on what happened. Next to enter the area was the investigation team whose job is to process the scene in a manner similar to that portrayed on a CSI programme with everything they came across being photographed and tagged. We learnt that while there are different forms and terminology used by MPs around the world, the fundamental practises and procedures of MPs are somewhat similar and at the core of all the nationalities is the MP motto Securitas Copiarum (Guardian of the Troops). Students' Views Capt Kirsten Pilotte, Canadian Armed Forces "This was a fantastic course and a fantastic opportunity to come over to Ireland. We have learned a lot. The resources here are phenomenal and the training facilities and the instructors are great. The knowledge we have gained, not just on the course but also in the off-time in discussions with our MP colleagues from all over, was very informative. There are people here from many different nations who have much domestic and international experience. To learn from each other is great. And of course just visiting here was great too." Capt Michael Brimage, US Army "This international military police course was awesome. I learnt about a lot of things that we as US soldiers don't typically do on a daily basis, especially working with our MP counterparts from NATO/PfP, the EU, and the UN. Bringing everyone here together, working, and learning from each other is great. "These MPs are from around the world and yet, generally, all our practises and procedures are the same; we just have different names for things. For example, we have an Emergency Operations Centre but over here you call it an ICP: same concept, different name. That might seem small but these are very important things when it comes to working together in an international environment. "I have loved the scenery here in the Glen of Imaal. The exercise up here in these surroundings with the standard of people… amazing." Inspector Ray Mulderrig, Garda Training Centre, Templemore "I have to say the course was excellent. The standard of instructorship was very professional, and for me the international dimension was brilliant. To work with people from so many different countries and to gain their views and experiences from their countries and their overseas service was great. "It is very important for members of the Garda Síochána to come and work with our military colleagues in environments like this. We deploy personnel on overseas missions and training as well and as a result would be working with police from all over the world. At present there are members of An Garda Síochána in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Cyprus, and we had personnel in Afghanistan. So courses like this are very important for us." WO Jean-Pierre Leclercq, Belgium "This is my first time to visit Ireland. It has been really good. Courses and exercises like this are very important for us, especially for overseas deployments. You can find overseas when we are working with our international counterparts we don't understand how each other works. In this environment you can learn how each country works, the materials they use, their procedures. The MP Sch and the instructors were great. The fact that the MP community is very small is obvious when I find that I have served in ISAF with the British instructor on this course and also one of the students from Poland." www.military.ie the defence forces magazine

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