An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir May / June 2024 www.military.ie/magazine 30 | T he 1st Army Reserve Probationers course commenced on a cold Saturday morning in January 2023 and ran over 7 months. The course contained students from 2 Brigade, including troops from Infantry, Cavalry, Transport and MP units. The six students brought a wealth of experience garnered through over 100 years of combined service in both the Army Reserve and Permanent Defence Forces. This was the first Military Police Probationers Course since the reorganisation and single force concept was introduced, and like other Army Reserve PNCO courses it was split into two distinct phases. Phase One was focused on introducing students to what is required to be a military instructor and giving them the skills to become instructors following the completion of the course. This phase concluded with an MIT block run over a week of full-time training with the 2 BTC in Custume Barracks Athlone. During this training the MP Probationers joined students from the 5th AR Potential NCO's course. This combined approach provided for a great training environment, ensuring the students gained key instructional skills while also giving them the opportunity to learn from students and instructors coming from varied units and backgrounds. It also allowed students to build out their military networks with troops from across the Defence Forces. The second part of the course focused on knowledge specific to the Military Police role. The initial phase aimed to broaden students' understanding of military law and legal procedure; this was accomplished through classroom-based learning delivered during training nights and weekends spent in the Military Police School. The knowledge gained will be vital in ensuring the Probationers are properly armed with the correct know-how to successfully carry out their future roles as MPs. There were also practical lessons during this phase of training, this training focused on multiple skills that will be required by the students during their careers as MPs, lessons included search of the individual and of vehicles, police holds, arrest procedure, cardiac first responder, admin and a refresher on map reading and navigation. Instruction was also given on MP garrison and ceremonial duties. The second block of full- time training took place at the Military Police School in the DFTC. The focus of this phase was on Provost Operations and it was during this training students put into practice the knowledge and skills they gained during training over the previous months. Students' knowledge was tested during a 72-hour exercise which saw them deploy to a location and construct a hide. They carried out route reconnaissance from this location to a predetermined position, and following this they commenced a detailed route signing exercise, a prisoner of war scenario and also established multiple straggler points which were manned by the Probationers. As part of this training students also manned a duty room and reacted to multiple situations that they will likely encounter in the course of their future role. The importance of procedure and the need for proper procedure became very evident during this training with students starting to realise how precise MPs must be with their notes while on duty. Finally, students received instruction on the HK USP and fired this on the range in Gormanston. The remaining element of the course consisted of three written examinations, covering everything they learned during the police specific element of the course. Upon completion of these exams students met with the course instructors and were provided with their overall course results. All six students passed all the required elements and they passed out on hot afternoon in September alongside the 5 AR PNCO course in Cathal Brugha Barracks. A family connection: Cpl Ruairi de Stanlaigh joined the AR in 2015 always with the intention of following in his Grandfather's footsteps and joining the Military Police. Cpl de Stanlaigh's Grandfather was the late CS Patrick Stanley. Patrick Stanley joined An Slua Muirí in the late 1940's before transferring to 6 Fd MP Coy (FCA) upon the formation of the FCA, eventually rising to the rank of CS within the MP Company and serving in this appointment up until his retirement in 1988. Some current members of the unit had fond memories of Ruairi's grandfather to share from their time serving with him. In particular CQ Gunn, who was a member of a recruit platoon in that was instructed by CS Stanley. www.military The Probationers Cse students during their passing out ceremony THE 1ST ARMY RESERVE PROBATIONERS COURSE ARTICLE BY CPL (RDF) LUKASZ GANCARZ PHOTOS BY CPL (RDF) LUKASZ GANCARZ Students being presented with scrolls on parade Land Navigation was an important part of the training Putting the learned skills into practice

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