An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir November / December 2023 www.military.ie/magazine 30 | projects are in the tendering/competition stage valued at €77M. As part of this infrastructural roll out a number of significant projects in particular are under way, including a new Cadet School HQ for the DFTC, a new University Student Accommodation Centre in Renmore, two Accommodation Blocks in Collins Barracks, a new accommodation block in Haulbowline, a new Military Medical Facility for Baldonnel and McKee Barracks, and the Block F project in McKee Barracks. There has also been significant investment in overseas infrastructure with construction underway of a new Dining Complex at UNP 2-45, a new CST facility at Naquora, and a new TOC facility under design for construction at UNP 2-45. As well as IDP projects the Corps also has been busy delivering delegated projects, expecting to complete over 45 delegated projects across the Defence Forces by year end. D CS ISTAR BY LT COL SHANE BRADLEY Combat Support and ISTAR defined by the Artillery and Cavalry Corps continued to support on-island and Peace Support Operations throughout 2023. This included the continuous deployment of a Cavalry Recce Section (13) to UNDOF and both an Artillery Heavy Mortar (27) and Cavalry Troop (25) to UNIFIL each 12-month period to a total of 90 personnel annually. Our Units were also drawn upon for domestic ATCP security operations and ACA requested including responding to recent extreme weather events. In order to support this effort our Schools continued to progress education, training and capability development throughout 2023. Both Schools delivered domestic courses across the full spectrum of direct and indirect fires, ISTAR and GBAD in order to develop and maintain capability and support operations at home and overseas as mentioned above. We also sent students abroad to the UK, Germany and Canada covering areas such Joint Targeting, Air Defence and Cavalry Recce in order to validate School practices and ensure that TTP's remain current and evolving new practices are inculcated into future training. Both Corps continue to develop simulation programs with the Kongsberg Crew and Gunnery Simulator supporting Cavalry unit training, gunnery courses and commander training with further plans to expand this capability by decentralising capacity to the Units. The Artillery Corps trialled a new gunnery training simulation system which will significantly enhance gun crew practices and procedures thus adding tangible and measurable value to future training. Plans to maintain and further develop capability continue with a number of initiatives presented for consideration to include GBAD radar replacement, upgrade of the 105mm light gun, general utility and gun towing vehicles, unattended ground sensors, recce drones and submissions to the LTAV replacement Board to include both ISTAR and GBAD variants. Research and Development continues particularly within the context of CoDF recommendations. Work here comprises identifying gaps in extant doctrine and adopting, adapting or caveating current NATO doctrine to address shortfalls and align procedures to progress interoperability across both Corps in line with future ambitions. Furthermore, recommendations around increased firepower, mobility, protection and interoperability shape research in certain areas to include armoured direct and indirect fire platforms, future Fire Control and Command Systems, GBAD, C-UAS and ISTAR assets to include enhanced ground surveillance radar and UAV capabilities. It is important to recognise the high standards that we set particularly when benchmarked against our international colleagues. None more prevalent this year than the success achieved by the Cavalry Corps in the Gainey Cup, Cavalry Scout Competition in the USA. A team of 6 drawn from the Squadrons performed excellently against top teams drawn from the US, Germany, Canada and the Netherlands thus proving the standards that we continue to set and attain through our education and training practices. The result was also a fitting celebration of the 25th anniversary of 1 ACS who contributed to the collective team effort. Finally, 2023 also saw the centenary celebrations of the Artillery Corps where the Irish Free State first saw the deployment of artillery in June 1922 with the siege of the Four Courts and later formalised with the establishment of an Artillery Corps on the 23rd of March 1923 at Islandbridge Barracks (now Clancy Bks) Dublin, with a strength of 11 Officers and 62 Enlisted Personnel. Preceded by the Cavalry centenary celebrations in 2022, both Corps now look to the future with ambition and determination to continue to achieve excellence in all that we do. THE MILITARY POLICE CORPS BY COMDT DAVID FARRAGHER The main function of the Military Police (MP) Corps is to enhance the combat effectiveness of the Defence Forces by providing professional military policing services. Consisting of well-trained personnel drawn across from the Defence Forces, the MP Corps utilises their experience, knowledge, and Corps specific equipment to assist and facilitate the Defence Forces in executing government-assigned duties at all levels. Throughout the year 2023, the MP Corps has primarily concentrated on providing support to formation commanders through various means such as investigations, mobility support, security, and provost operations, as well as contributing to training and capability development. Additionally during this period, the MP Corps has extended their assistance overseas by aiding the 122 Infantry Battalion commander in UNIFIL and the 67 Infantry Group commander in UNDOF. At present, relief detachments from the MP Corps have been deployed to sustain operations alongside the 123 Infantry Battalion and 68 Infantry Group. The MP Corps places a high level of importance on the development of skills and education to ensure that its personnel are well-prepared and capable of effectively carrying out military police operations. In June 2023, ten members of the MP Corps took part in Exercise 'Guardian Angel' in Spain. This international exercise is designed to provide training and practical experience to MP units on NATO TTPs (Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures) that are relevant to the execution of MP operations. Additionally, MP personnel have successfully completed various international courses, such as the NATO MP Junior Officer course and Senior NCO course in Poland, as well as an international investigation course in the Netherlands. At the national level, the MP school continues to collaborate with An Garda Síochána to offer courses that enhance the skills of personnel and promote the adoption of best practices. These courses ISTAR: Recent Artillery shoot ISTAR: Defence Forces Cavalry member taking part in the Gainey cup held in the US ISTAR: Gainey Cup MP: Оn Ex Guardian Angel held in Spain MP: Military Police member on a recent parade

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