An Cosantóir

12 On 07 APR 21, 63 Inf Gp was deployed to the Golan Heights, in Southwestern Syria. The sixteenth Irish contingent took up the role of Force Reserve Company since the first Irish troops deployed in 2013. Since beginning its pre-deployment training, 63 Inf Gp has built on the hard work of all of those contingents that went before, and has faced its own unique challenges along the way, achieving its mission while confronting the difficulties imposed by a global pandemic at every turn. UNDER GOLAN SKIES UNDER GOLAN SKIES IF YOU ENLIST, YOU MAY SOLDIER FORCE PROTECTION, OUR CENTRE OF GRAVITY 63 Inf Gp has the unfamiliar honour of being the first Irish DF unit to deploy overseas having conducted the entirety of its pre-deployment training under Level 5 COVID restrictions. That the 129-strong contingent deployed to UNDOF in April having remained COVID free throughout the intensive and demanding pre-deployment concentration, is testament to the efforts of leaders at all levels within the group and to the buy-in exhibited by every member of the group throughout the training phases. Speaking to Newstalk's Henry McKean in the Glen of Imaal during the LFTT week, the group's youngest member, Sgmn Cian Brennan (20), when asked about the additional difficulties forming up during the pandemic and the absence of leave placed on every member deploying, he replied "If you enlist, you may soldier." This was typical of the can-do and positive attitude which has been characteristic of the group from the initial concentration in Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa, Galway. That positivity has been evident on operations in the UNDOF mission since the group deployed to Syria on 07 APR 21. By Lt David Franklin Photos provided by Lt David Franklin The pre-deployment training of the group was defined throughout by the range of COVID mitigation measures which ensured the safety and wellbeing of our personnel. A COVID action group was established to ensure compliance with all DF and HSE guidelines and instructions. All training was carried out in line with current best practice. The logistical support elements of the group were unstinting in the provision of all required individual PPE and additional supplies for all training areas. "Everyone is a COVID leader" was the mantra adopted by the group from the beginning, with the primary emphasis on individual behaviours, including hand washing, mask wearing and social distancing to the greatest extent possible throughout training activities. OC 63 Inf Gp emphasized mission command, and much of the group's training was decentralised. Sections conducted both their corps and section specific training and the central APC's conducting LFTT in the Glen of Imaal in preparation for the mission area APC training and LFTT conducted by night during MRE

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