An Cosantóir

| 17 www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE O n the 30th October 2023, the 33rd and 34th Engineering YOs began the 1st Joint ICMD (Intermediate Conventional Munitions Disposal) course ran in the Ordnance school in the DFTC. This course is designed to qualify operators to a Conventional Munitions Disposal (CMD) standard of Level 2. Where a line officer will have received training in CMD level 1, certain blinds, and misfires, this raises that qualification to level 2 Intermediate Conventional Munitions. This allows Engineer Officers to dispose of munitions in service within DF up to the size of a 120mm mortar. This course saw the Engineer YOs benefit from the professionalism and expertise of the Ordnance Corps, the primary agency within the DF with responsibility for EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal). This is enjoyed due to the memorandum of understanding between both Corps, that allows for the marriage of search expertise with expertise in safe munitions disposal. Engineer officers that train in ICMD will be qualified to dispose of unexploded Ordnance (UXO) that may be found during Engineer Specialist Search & Clearance (ESSC) operations. Being that the primary responsibility for search lies with the Corps of Engineers, this makes good sense and allows for progressive skill and knowledge share between Corps. The 7-week course introduces the students to the philosophy of CMD, to the wide array of ammunition in and out of service in the DF and to the conduct of dealing with a tasking or disposal operation. The philosophy of CMD creates a priority list for operators to keep in the forefront of their minds; Save Life, Preservation of Property, Identify the Item of Ordnance and Return to Normality. This being the first Joint ICMD course, three Divers from the Naval Diving Section joined the course bringing with them vast experience and a completely fresh perspective on CMD. This served to only add to the enjoyment of the course but also the collective learning and skill-share on the course. This inclusion meant that by December 6th,14 students gained qualification in ICMD after two weeks of assessments. The first five weeks of the course consisted of theoretical learning and introduction to the employment of CMD tools such as incendiary torches and explosive cutting tape (ECT). Learning to use these tools offered aids in the safe disposal of munitions and offer alternative ways to rendering munitions safe. Coupling this new skill with learning the extent and range of munitions out in the world, by learning how to classify munitions with a view to positively identifying the type and series along with the hazards associated with it. Students are then challenged to marry the newfound skills and employ them in CMD scenario taskings, where a student may find themselves meeting a member of the public who has come upon a likely UXO or munition. The student is tested to manage the scenario from a public safety point of view along with performing an RSP (Render Safe Procedure) not before correctly classifying and identifying the munition and the hazards associated with it. These scenarios ranged from encountering UXOs found in public spaces to countermining blind mortar bombs in the Glen of Imaal, to test knowledge, composure, and drills in dealing with conventional munitions. The reality of these taskings allowed students to employ both low order and high order techniques learned throughout the seven weeks. Low order aims to deflagrate the energetic material at a slow rate such that is does not detonate and form an explosion; in cases where high order was possible and safe, this meant using an appropriate counter-charge to initiate and destroy the munition. After 254 sticks of PETN and 63 tasks, 14 new ICMD operators were qualified. Sincere thanks must be given to the Ordnance School, the admin staff and not least two Captains who instructed us. Along with the ever-professional team in the Ammunition Depot and the Ammunition Examiners course for sharing their knowledge and expertise in munitions. This course exemplified the importance and benefits of knowledge-share between Corps and across services within the DF. ICMD 33 RD AND 34 TH ENGINEERING YO'S ARTICLE BY CAPT OISÍN DUFF PHOTOS PROVIDED BY CAPT OISÍN DUFF Students prepare charges for a Low Order attempt on a 84mm round Students down range prepping charges for conventional munitions disposal Student prepares an SM-EOD 33 for disposal attempt on a 60mm Illum Mortar round Results of an SM-EOD 20 on a 60mm Illum Mortar Drone shot of High Order attempt on a 120mm Illum Mortar in GOI

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