An Cosantóir

23 The observation post does not want to be compromised by a hostile force. There are different types of observation posts: surface OPs are above the ground looking out; sub-surface Ops are when you are digging into the ground and mounted OPs and Urban OPs. A comms log is kept, radio checks are conducted and an observation log filled out. "You are logging everything you see, time, enemy vehicle pulling up, two personnel dismount and conduct foot patrol for 15 minutes and they move on. Sentry rotation etc. Routines, conducting training. Various scenarios. The objective is to get eyes on and relay that information back to HQ. Troop commander comes up with a plan to launch a raid on the objective and that is the culmination of everything at the end of that tactical week." The observation posts, he said, were completely self- sufficient in relation to water, rations, weapons, spare ammunition, everything they need. "If you are going in there for 72 or 96 hours you need to plan and pack to be self- sufficient," said Larry. As regards the Cavalry Corps actually conducting a raid themselves, Sgt Havens said: "Based on what you see, and the information you gather from your reconnaissance tasking in relation to the strength, the size, vehicles, the equipment the hostile might have, the Squadron Commander – or the Battalion Commander – says yes we can task the Reconnaissance troop with a raid. The troop Sergeant will plan to conduct that raid". After all of that Phase 1 training comes driving skills. The would-be drivers start with Mitsubishi Pajeros, learning the Defence Forces Rules of the Road and what you do when driving a service vehicle. If a student has a full driving licence for over two years, they can go on a shorter course but if they only have a Provisional Licence, they have to start from scratch. After the basic level training on a Pajero is completed and the person gets an Army licence to drive, they progress on to Transit driving, which is a week-long and after passing this, it is on to the truck driving course which is over three weeks. "Before you do the armour you have to do the truck, before the truck the Transit and before the Transit the Pajero. You have to do those before you get to the armour. Before you set foot in armour and to be trained as a driver of an armoured vehicle you have to do your basic level training. " To be a fully qualified Mowag crew person it takes 12 weeks training. Students are not just taught how to drive the vehicles, they are also taught the various operating systems of the vehicle. As a crewman they have to check all fluids and oils before operation and then carry out similar checks on return. Larry added: "Drivers of all vehicles, not just within Cavalry Corps but within Defence Forces, have to have knowledge of the various systems and checks. They are taught that. It is not just matter of picking up the keys, they have to carry out checks before leaving barracks. It is a big vehicle. These vehicles are the 'horse', and we need to look after them." And then there is gunnery training. This involves three weeks close reconnaissance vehicle gunnery training and three weeks medium reconnaissance vehicle gunnery training. On the close reconnaissance vehicle you have mounted a 12.7mm machine gun and also you can mount a 40mm grenade machine gun and they also have a 66mm smoke grenade launcher as well and the students are taught everything about those weapons. The three weeks gunnery training is based on the 30mm Bushmaster cannon. Mounted next to it in the turret is a 7.62mm machine gun and also mounted on top of the vehicle is a 7.62mm machine gun and the MRV also has a 66m smoke grenade launcher. Vehicles are fitting with a stabilisation system which means targets can be identified and engaged while the vehicle is on the move. After the various vehicle gunnery training, it culminates in a live fire shoot. Students are taken from firing the vehicle static to firing single car on the move to a pair of vehicles firing on the move; conducting live fire manoeuvre on both weapons systems day and night including conducting a night shoot where thermal targetry using thermal imagery systems is used. The gunner and Commander have a coloured screen in front of them. They can zoom in, zoom out on targets and then effectively engage targets. After all of the recruit training, reconnaissance training, driver training etc, you can move on to instructor courses if that is the path you want to pursue. "You are going from being the student to being the teacher", Larry said adding that there are various instructor courses available. But, he said, the Commander course, in particular, was one of the tougher ones: "It's the next level of skill, physical robustness and fitness. It is quite a tough and intense course. But you are going to need that if you are instructing recruits." He explained that reconnaissance and communications courses are conducted in the infantry weapons wing while the Cavalry Corps instructor courses are conducted in the Cavalry School in the Defence Forces training centre. Many of the basic level courses are conducted within the three squadrons, he said adding that infantry have their own courses. Ends DF PODCAST Scorpion conducting river crossing and fording exercise.

• Cover