www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE
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Battle PT is designed to emulate
soldiers having to carryall all manner
of heavy military stores or equipment,
sometimes over difficult terrain, it is
never easy, and is certainly very differ-
ent from 'normal' civilian' fitness!
Part of this fitness training involved
the sections carrying heavy logs, at
running speed, competing against
each other in competitive races. Other
aspects involved runs in combat order,
helmet, battledress etc, along the
beach near Gormanston Camp's range,
stopping to do a few push-ups!
After the tactical drills and Battle
PT, the culminating event of the C Coy
training week was Exercise 'Forward
Step' a 24-hour duration event, which
began with a 10km loaded route
march carrying a full kit and weapon.
This march was done in tactical mode,
on the side roads moving North from
Gormanston Camp towards Laytown.
Carrying full kit while wearing a hel-
met and carrying a weapon and other
platoon equipment is not easy, and
has to be experienced to be appreci-
ated, the moving platoon was closely
followed by a transit van, acting as
medical wagon if needed - to move
anybody quickly to medical attention
if required, but despite one or two sore
feet, all the platoon members finished
the 10km distance carrying all their kit.
At the end of the 10km march, by
which time the light was beginning
to fade, the platoon settled down in
a secure area and began a process of
base camp routine and an introduction
to night vision equipment and patrols,
OPs and LPs, before clashing in the
small hours with a designated enemy
party in a pyrotechnic firefight.
Although this tactical course was
just a short 7-day duration, a lot of
physical activity was squeezed in. It
was a rigorous physical challenge for
all the RDF soldiers involved, all of
who completed the week without
requiring medical attention, and
returned to Cathal Brugha Bks
on the final day of the course.
They are now on the
home run to becoming
fully trained 3-star soldiers
in the 7 Inf Bn RDF.
