An Cosantóir June 2019 www.dfmagazine.ie
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BY 'CAPTAIN X', ENGINEER OFFICER, ARW PHOTOS BY SGT KARL BYRNE
"Good Breach", a team of Special Operations Forces (SOF) operators quickly move through the entry
point and roll through the hostage scenario as it plays out in front of them. "Status", the Bravo Team
Leader (TL) asks over the Personal Role Radio (PRR) set, calmly and with purpose, not for a second
looking anywhere other than his arc as he absorbs the flood of information coming back to him in
a deliberate sequence. Hotel (Hostage) secure, two Tangos (Terrorists) dead. A mixture of 5.56mm,
9mm and shotgun shell casings lay smoking on the floor alongside two used stun grenade bodies. It
is all over in seconds, quicker than the world's best athletes can run a 400m track lap but for the SOF
operators involved, this is the culmination of years of dedicated training to become members of
Irelands elite unit, the Army Ranger Wing (ARW). Combined, the team have accumulated decades
worth of military experience from operations and training on four different continents. The TL
depends on the best from each member of his team every time. The margin for error is slim
and consequences of mistakes are very real and extreme in these Close Quarters Battle (CQB)
live fire exercises. Each operator is equipped with a multitude of weapons systems includ-
ing the HK416 assault rifle, Sig P226 pistol, Benelli M4 tactical shotgun, stun grenades and
breaching equipment including explosives. The close coordination
and teamwork involved is crucial to succeed in the mission and
only through the repeated and consistent drilling will the team
ensure that they are prepared to do it for real when the
time comes.
