An Cosantóir October 2019 www.dfmagazine.ie
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BY PTE FINN MCHALE
1
Inf Bn hosted the 1 Bde Army Reserve three-star training
course in Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa, Gaillimh, from 3rd to 16th
August 2019. With many of us having completed recruit
training in Tralee in 2018, and others in Kilworth this year,
this course was the next milestone for myself and the other
students in our Army Reserve careers.
The three-star course built on the basic military skills we
had learned throughout recruit training, adding further tacti-
cal training and navigation, and qualifying us to operate the
general purpose machine gun (GPMG).
The course started with refresher training in foot and arms
drill and we also completed our tests of elementary training
(TOETs) on the Steyr AUG assault rifle, in preparation for firing
our annual range practices (ARPs).
For many of us, the ARPs served as the first time firing on
the electronic target range at Oranmore, which was just one
of many new experiences throughout the first week. We also
had our first exposure to the GPMG and were trained and
examined on all aspects of this section-level weapon; from
stripping and assembling, immediate action (IA) drills, firing
and cleaning.
Our navigation training covered both day and night naviga-
tion and we quickly became accustomed to producing route
cards. We also conducted a 7.5km navigation exercise over
hilly terrain, which, while challenging, we found to be an
excellent test of our new found abilities.
The members of the course also took part in adventure
training, facilitated by local PDF staff, who organised and
set up an abseiling activity that allowed us to rappel off
Students and Instructors after the 24 hr tactical exercise.
Pte Steven Riordan abseiling.
