An Cosantóir

16 A SINGLE DROP weapons, armoured vehicles and advanced equipment will easily steal the attention of the cameras. However, behind the cameras are a collection of individuals that have been selected to serve for roles not traditionally associated with a soldier. The Battalion Support Group (hereinafter BSG) is a combination of society's most skilled individuals. These include Doctors, Engineers, Mechanics, Fire Fighters and arguably the most important individual - the barista. Thus, the BSG is a congregation of people designed to facilitate the mission, with the added forbearance of any other soldier within the Battalion. The Company acts as the catalyst to the mission, while the operational elements conduct patrols, convoys, provide assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces, and monitor some of the Lebanon's most conflict-stricken regions. The BSG provides the backdrop for operational efficiency. The hidden soldiers contribute the mission's mechanics, who enable vehicles to patrol the elevated terrain of the south Lebanon. Meanwhile the weapon specialists guarantee the proficiency of every soldier's weapon, their last line of defence. All whilst the medical staff implicitly quell the internal echo that it only takes one incident, or one act, on one day. The proclivity to assume that life's most basic amenities, such as water, are instant and plentiful is far from the reality for the United Nations Post 2-45. Arguably, the anecdotal depiction of the Irish Soldiers acquisition of a single drop of water will accurately define the framework required to provide the most rudimentary of conveniences. An alarm will likely wake the driver of the day, unable to roll over and hit the snooze button, the soldier will bear their uniform and collect their weapon. On the walk to the thirty-six tonne armoured mammoth that is the water truck, the majority will consume a freshly brewed coffee with hope for a quiet day. The driver will mount the water truck accompanied by the security element of the patrol, commonly referred to as a shotgun due to the seat they occupy in the vehicle. A short journey to the Tactical Operations Cell will offer a security brief, it will likely be short and to the point, a mere summary of the security threat within the area of operations. On completion, the parties will travel north for roughly 20 kilometres to the designated water well. The dialogue on route will more often than not include a brief history of the area. The conversation captures the contrast in age and experience that commonly separates the drivers and the security element; the discussion is draped in the legacy and rich history of the Irish solider in the Lebanon. They are often A Water Container being loaded into the Water Truck A SINGLE DROP By Lt David Kelly, BSG 117 Inf Bn UNIFIL Photos by Lt David Kelly v The MOWAG fleet that is serviced by the BSG's mechanics v The Water Trucks at 0600 prior to 9 daily rotations The nuance of the noun is often the seminal distinction of a soldier. A green, black and brown uniform, complimented by the tri colour, graces the shoulders of every member of the Irish contingent in UNIFIL. However, the skill set, experience and educational accomplishments of the individual are the reasons why they have been selected to serve. The Irish Polish Battalion is comprised of four companies. The mission design provides two operational companies, namely infantry and reconnaissance, complemented by a HQ staff and a Battalion Support Group. The former are undoubtedly the pillars of the mission: the parades of

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