An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir January / February 2025 www.military.ie/magazine I n late June 2024, a 10 person Advanced Search Team (AST) from the Corps of Engineers took part in a European Defence Agency (EDA) Search Exercise hosted by the Cyprus National Guard – Ex SIEGE ENGINE. The participants in the exercise were formed into the Multinational Military Search Company (MMSC) consisting of over 100 "live exercise personnel" from 4 nations: Belgium, Cyprus, Ireland and Sweden. This exercise was a continuation of the Military Search Capability Building (MSCB) Cat B project. The MSCB programme allows partner nations to develop and test their interoperability in new and challenging environments. Simply put a category A project is one with involvement of all 27 member states with each having the choice to 'opt out', a category B project is one which is planned by a small number of partner nations with the rest given a chance to 'opt in'. The key objectives of this series of live exercises are to bolster and benchmark the capabilities of European forces to combat the evolving threat posed by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) across various military and counter-terrorism operations. Ex SIEGE ENGINE enhanced interoperability, coherence and resilience between contributing partner nations to the EDA MSCB Cat B Project. An additional objective of the exercise was to test military search and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) personnel operating in desert like conditions. With average daily temperatures of 33ºC and humidity over 80% the conditions were challenging for stewards wearing pants and a UBAC so it got interesting for the searchers when the TAC 6E suit weighing 15.5kg was required. The exercise scenario centred around a fictional enemy with its roots in the Covid 19 pandemic, the extremist political party Defenders of Cyprus and the media organisation Trust, who together worked to spread disinformation and destabilise the government. Their campaign began with workers strikes & vandalism but culminated with home made explosive (HME) manufacture and assassinations. The Irish contribution to the Exercise consisted of 14 personnel, 10 of which were live exercise personnel and 4 had supporting roles in: Logs, Exercise Control and stewarding of search serials. Training and preparation: The training phase for the Exercise began on 10th May when key stakeholders met in the School of Military Engineering (SME)to be briefed by Comdt Jane O'Neill who had assisted with planning the Exercise scenario and schedule. The key point on the agenda was for logistics staff to agree and commence a strategy to pool all necessary equipment in time for delivery to the NSRC for transport to Cyprus by the 101 Sqn of the Air Corps in the newly acquired Airbus C295W. On Monday 13th May the search team formed up in the SME to commence a 5 week training programme planned by the team IC Capt Donal Clare. This training period was designed to refresh advanced search techniques and procedures while developing cohesion within the group drawn from the rival units of 1 Fd Engr Coy, Cork and 2 Fd Engy Coy, Athlone. Recent procurement efforts meant that numerous pieces of upgraded equipment were available to the team and upskilling was required to utilise the additional capabilities available. As well as refining existing skills, some new ones would be required to meet the demands of Ex Siege Engine. The Advanced Search Team moved to Collins Barracks to begin a Rope Intervention Search Access & Rescue (RISAR) course which would allow them to safely insert and extract searchers, medics or other specialists from terrain inaccessible on foot. This training consisted of four days covering the fundamentals rope work and working at height, followed by an exercise in the beautiful Ballykeefe Quarry, Co. Kilkenny. The exercise, co-ordinated by our instructor CQMS Shane Barry, tested the team in preparing abseils and use of descent equipment such as the Petzel I'D and ASAP fall arrest device. To enable the ESSC team to operate in hazardous environments containing low 02 or hazardous gasses, they undertook a Working in Confined spaces (WICS) course, which taught the students to understand how to safely select, use, visually inspect and maintain confined space equipment including full working compressed air breathing apparatus. They learned how to enter and work safely in high risk confined spaces and react swiftly to an emergency. A relatively recent addition to our capabilities is a pair of Remotely Operated Vehicles which enable Advanced Search teams to EXERCISE SIEGE ENGINE ARTICLE BY CAPT PIERCE DALTON PHOTOS PROVIDED BY CAPT PIERCE DALTON Pte Sean O'Connell preparing to cut his way into the TRUST HQ 14 |

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