An Cosantóir

| 17 Posts 6-52 and 6-50 by Wesley Bourke Photos Cpl Colum Lawlor I rish/Finn Batt is responsible for two OPs along the Blue Line. Post 6-52, manned by A Coy, is close to the villages of Maroun al-Ras and Bint Jubayl, and Post 6-50, manned by B Coy, is near Yarun. Both posts are heavily fortified with bunkers and reinforced walls, and watchtowers allow for a 3600 view of the surrounding area. As always in South Lebanon, things can get a bit surreal. The posts are separated from the Blue Line and the Technical Fence by minefields, with Israeli OPs beyond more minefields on the other side; and in the middle of it all we watched as a local goatherd went about his business as if nothing was out of the ordinary. Each post is of platoon strength, equipped with Mowag APCs to conduct patrols. Of the two posts 6-50 is slightly more isolated and has a helicopter pad for resupply or casevac if the post gets cut off. Personnel from the two OPs are responsible for monitoring the Blue Line and conducting framework patrols. Generally, the platoons are rotated by their company every eight weeks. ���It���s great to operate as a platoon away from the main battalion��� says Lt Kieran Monahan, (4 Pl, B Coy). ���Once you settle into your routine the two months pass quick enough. When not patrolling we have an excellent gym here, and if the guys want to go out for a run we put security out with them. We also do little things like running a ���movie night��� to keep morale up.��� From both posts you can watch the IDF patrolling their side of the Blue Line. ���When you are on the tower you can see the Israelis watching us,��� Pte John Paul Stevens (4 Pl) told us. ���They monitor our patrols and we monitor theirs. Both sides also look out for hunters who sometimes try to cross the Blue Line. In the evening the Israelis are often out smoothing the sand on their side of the fence with rakes so that they can check the next day it to see if anyone crossed over during the night.��� ���Our job here is the same as back in Camp 2-45,��� Pl Sgt Joni Kuusiaho (3 Pl, A Coy) told us as he supervised his men, who were gearing up to go on patrol from Post 6-50. ���The only difference here is we are right on top of the Israeli border. At times you can feel a bit enclosed but we make the best of it. Each platoon adds a bit more to the facilities to make life that little more comfortable.��� www.military.ie the defence forces magazine

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