An Cosantóir

www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE | 17 The guest instructor's inputs added value to the week's activi- ties, particularly for the NCOTW instructors who gained a lot from the exchanging of views and opinions on NCO training. To reciprocate, I was selected to spend two weeks with the IBS in October as a guest instructor. Based in Brecon, Wales, the IBS comprises the Platoon Commanders' Division, which conducts the Platoon Com- manders' Battle Course (PCBC); Senior Division, which conducts the Platoon Sergeants' Battle Course (PSBC); Junior Division, which conducts the Section Commanders' Battle Course; and the Infantry Weapons Division. Exercises take place in the Sennybridge Training Area (SENTA) located approximately 16km from the School. For the first week I was attached to Senior Division, which was running an Urban Operations Instructors' Course (UOIC), attending lectures as an observer and also getting to work with the instructor staff during their co-ordination and planning meetings. During this week I also got to engage with the instructors and gain valuable insight into the conduct of their PSBC, which is equivalent to our Infantry Platoon Sergeants' Course (IPSC). This was particularly relevant as the NCOTW were at that time updating the IPSC syllabus. The rest of the week was spent on the ranges in SENTA, where the students were taught close-quarter battle (CQB) shooting. The CQB shoot I observed was quite realis- tic and the students were exercised in engaging targets at www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE | 17 very short range and in crowded locations where precision firing is vital. The use of simunitions and unarmed combat during this course was a surprise to me and perhaps could be added to our toolbox to enhance our own FIBUA training. In my second week I spent time with the Platoon Commanders' Di- vision, who were running a Platoon Commanders' Battle Course, the equivalent of our Infantry YOs Course. During this I was attached to a platoon for a defence exercise in SENTA, accompanying the instructors and students on a long insertion march that led to a company attack against a well-entrenched enemy. From there, three platoons set up hasty defensive positons until first light, followed by a number of independent platoon actions, including advance-to-contact and fighting in woods and forests (FIWAF). Late on the second evening the platoons reached their limits of exploitation and began to dig full defensive positions. This car- ried on through the night and for the next two days, throughout which the platoons also carried out offensive patrol actions, such as ambushes and raids. As I left the training area on Thursday night the students were only four days into a ten-day exercise, with many more tasks ahead. At all times during my visit I was treated as a peer rather than a guest, and my opinions were not just welcomed but sought after. My trip to the IBS was very beneficial, not only in boosting relations between the two schools but also in seeing how our counterparts work. The IBS is world-renowned for its leadership and tactical training and I was exposed to the inner workings of the machine that produces strong NCO and young officer commanders and I left with an overall impression of professionalism and diligence. I also left with the satisfying feeling of knowing that the professional- ism and ability within the Defence Forces is at a similar level to that which I had observed in the IBS. Sgt Rory Behan and Sgt Major WO2 Stephen Mulhearn, Platoon Commanders Division. L/R: Sgt Rory Behan, Lt Col Chandler, CO Infantry Battle School, Regt Sgt Major WO1 Muldoon, IBS and Sgt Major WO2 Bennison, Senior Division.

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