An Cosantóir

| 11 www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE came into action, the OPs were set up and a defensive fire plan and target list were developed, a mobile FST and UAV team were deployed on patrol, where they discovered an emplaced IED. By carrying out their Vulnerable Point (VP) drills correctly, they were able to report it through the correct channels. That night, OPFOR were observed readying themselves to carry out an attack on the IDP camp; this was reported by the FST, who were able to call in an illumination mission to deter OPFOR. The second day of the exercise was the busiest, one of the FST's got eyes on an enemy mortar position being established. An Inf Pl, supplied by 1 Cn Cois, were tasked with assaulting the enemy position. As the attack moved forward, they came under fire. The FST working with the Manoeuvre Arm Commander (MAC), conducted their FST drills on the move, calling in fire, which was simulated with dems supplied by 1 Bde Fd Engr Coy and managed to clear the area. As the battle progressed, a second FST moved through the MAC to establish a new OP. On route to the OP, the IED, Medical and Casevac serial began. As the FST moved to the spot height in Glenatlucky, a gate had to be opened by a dismount, which triggered a victim operated IED. The medical training was put to the test here as the casualty was treated for a severe lower limb injury and internal chest injuries. The casualty was trained to conduct self-aid and applied a tourniquet to the wound, before he was casevaced from the area by the rest of the FST. The casualty was then transported to a predesignated landing site which was secured by the QRT (Quick Reaction Team) element and extracted by an AW139 helicopter. As everyone regrouped, more OPFOR activity was observed. Fast air was called in by an FST located in the AO, on the OPFOR position where 2 PC9's from the Air Corps conducted an air strike and neutralised the target, followed by a battle damage assessment conducted by the UAV element. On the third day of the exercise the bty prepared to deploy to a new gun area. A recce was conducted by the Gun Positioning Officer (GPO), however en-route to the new location, a neighbouring unit requested a fire mission from P Bty, resulting in P Bty conducting their quick action drills. The CPO and detachment commanders took control and got the guns into action, completing their fire mission within minutes. However just as the guns were taken out of action, "GAS, GAS, GAS" was called as a CBRN threat was encountered. A simulated fire at a chemical plant was the cause. The troops got into Dress Cat 4 Romeo and proceeded to a decontamination area established by 12 Inf Bn troops. The troops were put through the decontamination line as per the CBRN training conducted. This brought the end of the NEL and OCC for 1 Bde Arty Regt. Chief evaluator, Lt Col Mason of the US Navy thanked all personnel for their hard work throughout the exercise and in the build up to it, certifying 1 Bde Artillery Regiment as interoperable. Ireland signed up to the OCC in 2016 and quite a number of corps have been tested to date. The Engineer Corps will be the next corps to be assessed as part of the OCC. For 1 Bde Arty Regt, the OCC process was a success, not just in terms of being certified as interoperable by the evaluators, but it allowed the unit to refocus and relearn skills that had been lost due to skill-fade. The OCC process allowed all ranks to operate together in a tactical environment and has improved cohesion within the unit as personnel got to work together in teams and detachments for a sustained period of time. www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE | 11 The 12.7mm HMG set up in the air defence role Gnr King lays the 105mm onto a target A 105mm howitzer is pulled onto its platform by the gun crew as it comes into action The platform is made ready as the 105mm is brought into action

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