An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir February 2019 www.dfmagazine.ie 12 | BY CADET JACK SETRIGHT & CADET SEAN GREENE PHOTOS BY SGT KARL BYRNE F ighting In Built Up Areas (FIBUA) exercis- es enhance a soldier's ability to operate and succeed in close quarter combat and challenging environments by gaining intel- ligence on the enemy's location, their tactics techniques and procedures, whilst also de- veloping a soldiers decision making abilities, with the ultimate objective of destroying the enemy and clearing the area. The 94th Cadet Class recently conducted a FIBUA exercise in Fort Davis, Co. Cork in November 2018. This is our story. ORDERS: Beginning in the early hours of the morning Cadet Platoon Commanders delivered orders under the watchful eye of Sgt Major Fitzsimons, who for the exercise was our act- ing Coy Cmdr and Sgt Sargent as acting Coy Sgt. The question pondered during pre-orders was "What exactly is our mission?" It was a simple yet effective one: "Seize Vital Installa- tion Points (VIP's), close with and destroy the enemy". The Stage was set! The anticipa- tion was further enhanced by information received that we would be inserted by sea using two Naval Service vessels, the LÉ Niamh and LÉ William Butler Yeats. We were to anchor off the Cork coast and be quickly transferred as assault teams onto RHIBs (Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boats), and then make a covert fast approach to our objective, Fort Davis. EMBARKING ONTO NAVAL SHIPS: Ar- riving at Dublin Port on a brisk chilly morning only to be greeted by the sight of two mammoth naval ships, it was an eye-opening experience. After being split into our platoons we boarded our own designated ships. Having grown up in the Curragh I had little experience about the workings of a ship and those who operated it, but I can- not emphasise the professional- ism of the crew whilst working alongside them. A full tour was given, explaining the functions and capabilities of the ships along with information about the tours both ships have made to the Mediterranean mission and shores further afield. The crew were incredibly competent, excep- tionally friendly and passionate about their duty as Naval person- nel. Their expertise contributed to the overall enjoyment of the exercise by making us feel as if this was a 'live situation' rather than an exercise. More importantly, they also aided us in combatting the dreaded seasickness, which many of us suffered from. After a 13-hour trip from Dublin Port to roughly 5 km from the Fort Davis shore we

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