An Cosantóir

21 DF PODCAST reconnaissance the ISTAR framework." What was involved was going out beyond your lines, he said adding: "Reconnaissance in one sentence, is the gathering of timely and accurate information. In close reconnaissance, Cavalry units operate up to 10 kms ahead of your main body while medium reconnaissance you are 10 to 75 kms ahead. "So, it is going forward, gathering information, creating a picture for your Unit or Battalion Commander on the information that would be sent back into your operations. You are supporting troops from other Corps." Within the Defence Forces there are four Cavalry units: three squadrons and the fourth unit is the Cavalry School which is located next to our Squadron HQ in Plunkett Barracks in the Defence Forces Training Centre. Sgt Havens mentioned the very distinctive and recognisable headdress which marks the Cavalry Corps out. "We wear the Glengarry Cap: it's a cap green with black band and two black ribbons on the end. It's a Scottish cap which dates back to late 1700s. It was designed for the Corps back in the early 1930s. "The standard headdress for the Defence Forces at the time was the peaked cap but with the introduction of tanks and armour within the Corps for troopers, NCOs and officers getting in and out of armour, it was more comfortable for them to wear a smaller cap without the peak. And that's how the Glengarry cap was introduced to the Cavalry Corps." He highlighted too how the Cavalry Corps are the people you see on motorcycle escort duty for the President and visiting dignitaries etc. The escorts are based at the 2nd Brigade in Cathal Brugha Barracks. "This duty is another point of pride for the Corps", he said. A major feature of the Corps, Larry said, was self-sufficiency and flexibility. "For example, various taskings we might get within the battle space would be close target reconnaissance and observation post screen taskings. A reconnaissance team is dropped off and given a task to conduct close target reconnaissance on an objective or a target area of interest. They have to gather information in relation to strengths, location and say how hostile forces are operating and getting it back so that the Unit Commander can launch other elements he has at his disposal." As regards training, he said this takes a considerable amount of time. "In our two to three star recruit training we do a certain amount of navigation and map reading training. On completion, once posted to a Squadron the first course you will have to complete as a Cavalry person is the basic reconnaissance course. Six weeks in duration, it is physically robust, time-consuming and there is a massive emphasis on navigation." In the reconnaissance course the main emphasis in on map reading and navigation along with a high level of physical fitness as well. This is tested on day one when all students have to complete a combat fitness assessment which involves carrying a certain weight across undulating terrain within a timeframe. It is a Pass or Fail situation and if the recruit fails, they have a 24-hour period in which they can have a retest. But to progress on the course they have to pass the combat fitness assessment. This sets the standard as to where a student needs to be coming on the course. It is 10km distance with 35 lbs weight. "It is basically to have you ready for further on in the course when you go into the night navigation exercises and you are operating self-sufficiently, on your own, carrying a weight for maybe up to 96-hour period," stated Larry. It is mentally and physically demanding and involves map- reading, use of the compass, getting from A to B and on to C and on to D and being physically fit and robust and ready for that. The first two-week block of the reconnaissance course is based solely on map-reading and navigation before the students move on to the tactical block. Once they pass the navigation test they move on to the tactical block. It means the instructors and training staff are happy that when the students are out on the ground, self-sufficient, navigating on a close target reconnaissance or observation post tasking, that Cavalry Recce Vehicle combined shoot. Light Tactical Armoured Vehicle- LTAV – Cav variant.

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