An Cosantóir

24 Lifts the lid on Ireland's Special Forces By Sgt Wayne Fitzgerald A new book Shadow Warriors: The Irish Army Ranger Wing published in April 2020 which lifts the lid on this secretive special forces unit and is the first and only authoritative account that looks at their inception, their advanced training and a look at their operations at home and overseas – without breaching their operational procedures or tactics, which still remain secret. In March 1980, the Irish Defence Forces' Special Forces Unit the Army Ranger Wing or ARW was established - this year marks their 40 th anniversary. The ARW was officially designated as 'Sciathán Fianóglach an Airm' as there is no English translation of 'Fianóglach' the internationally recognised designation of 'Ranger' is used. The word 'Fianóglach' links the traditions of the ARW to 'Na Fianna', the "Glaine ár gCroí, Neart ár nGéag, Agus beart de réir ár mbriathar." "The cleanliness of our hearts, The strength of our limbs, And our commitment to our promise." SHADOW WARRIORS legendary Irish warriors, and also with Óglaigh na hÉireann or Irish Defence Forces. What do they do? The ARW's roles are divided into conventional warfare, i.e. offensive operations behind enemy lines, like long-range patrols (LRP), raids, ambushes, sabotage, counter-insurgency, and other tasks, and specialist aid to the civil power (ATCP) in anti-terrorist taskings including anti-hijack, hostage rescue, airborne and seaborne interventions, close protection (CP) of VIPs and counter terrorist/subversive threats, amongst others. Army Ranger Wing's Special Operations Force Qualification or SOFQ Course is open to all serving members of the Defence Forces, serving in the Army, Naval Service or Air Corps, both male and female. The SOFQ is a 36-week modular training course that requires a high level of physical fitness and mental fitness. The SOFQ syllabus is designed to test and assess all aspects of the candidate's character, military skills, ability and general suitability to become a member of the ARW. Successful completion provides the potential unit member with all the skills and knowledge necessary to function in the role of a Special Operations Force (SOF) assault team operator. The failure rate is very high, with only a small percentage make the cut to be the 'best of the best'. The ARW train hard and continuously work on their SOF tactics, techniques, and procedures or TTPs. Where they use the unit's now 40-years' of evolving knowledge and experience of operating at home and overseas, along with their cooperation with other security services and foreign special forces units. ARW assault team operators are held in a state of readiness 24/7, 365 days of the year, where operators are on call to their command centre in the Curragh Camp, Co Kildare. Operators are put into platoons and teams as per their skill sets. They are constantly training and upskilling in all different types of special forces tactics like HALO parachuting, amphibious assault craft, fast-roping from a helicopter, sniping and assaulting in their Ford F-350 Special An ARW member of the Special Operations Maritime Task Unit (SOMTU) emerging from the water, 2016.

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