An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir July/August 2019 www.dfmagazine.ie 18 | BY CPL SEAN FLEMING O n Monday, 10th April, 16 students from 1 Brigade made their way to 3 Inf Bn, in James Stephens Barracks for a four-week recce course. The group included representa- tives from 3 Inf Bn, 12 Inf Bn, 1 Cn Cois and 1 Cav Sqn. The role of the reconnaissance soldier is to gather timely and accurate information on enemy positions and ground, by day or night, in all types of weather, and in all types of warfare. The in- formation gathered is then passed to higher HQ via patrol reports, comms logs and back briefs, to enable planning for future opera- tions. The two main ways of gaining information are by conducting CTRs (close target recces) or OPs (observation posts). The former involves getting as close as possible to an enemy position, using natural cover as concealment, and getting the information required without getting detected. OPs, which can either be over ground or dug in, involve staying in situ with eyes on the objective at all times, logging and reporting any activity. The recce soldier has to be proficient in navigating, as they can be required to operate up to 10km forward of friendly lines and all tactical movement is primarily done during darkness. Consequently, week one of the course primarily concerned navigation and map reading, with day and night navigation exercises taking place in the Knockmealdowns, the Comeraghs and the Blackstairs mountains. Week one also included lectures on recce tactics, an introduction to battlefield first aid, and signals training. The second week began with a trip to Baldonnel, where the stu- dents rehearsed heli drills that they would use later on in the course for a heli extraction back to Stephens Bks. Along with more day and night navigation exercises students got their first introduction to TGP (target grid procedure) in the Infantry Weapons Wing, DFTC. (TGP is the ability to call in indirect fire and adjust fire onto a specific target.) Week two saw the students complete their first full-scale exercise 'Dark Hole', which saw them digging sub-surface OPs on Flagstaff Hill in Kilworth to observe and report on 'enemy' activity in the area. The students dug their positions throughout the night and were in position by first light. After 24 hours of observing the students were told their positions had been compromised and that they were to tactically withdraw from the area to the designated heli- landing zone for extraction. Week three consisted of a CTR exercise. Operating from a patrol harbour, each detachment commander was required to give a full set of orders for the upcoming mission. This was followed by the CTR on the objective before returning to the patrol harbour to sub- mit a detailed patrol report and back brief to the intelligence officer. The culmination of the exercise was a CTR on the FOB (forward operating base) in Kilworth, which had been occupied by enemy forces. Acting on the information gathered by the recce students, a two-star platoon from 3 Inf Bn conducted a raid on the FOB, clear- ing it of all enemies. Following this, A Company, 3 Inf Bn, occupied the FOB and set up a defensive position to prevent any enemy from re-occupying the area. This exercise gave the students a very good appreciation of the importance of gathering timely and accurate information, as friendly troops carrying out subsequent operations will be depend- ing on the recce information they have collected. Week three also saw the students conducting live-fire tactical training (LFFT), in which they rehearsed their contact drills, operat- ing in 'buddy pairs' to clear enemy as they traversed a 'jungle' lane set up by LFTT instructor, Sgt Henry Byrne. The week ended with a detachment-level river crossing near Kilkenny Castle, where any student feeling sleepy after the week's activity was quickly woken by the cold waters of the Nore before the course headed back to prepare for their final exercise. The last week of the course was taken up with the final exercise, which included CTRs and OPs, along with various other taskings throughout the week. The students prepared an excellent model for the exercise and Pte Connolly, the student tasked as platoon commander, gave a

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