An Cosantóir

| 15 www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE 'First View' and exercise 'Close Look'. This saw 'A Troop' deploy 40km beyond friendly lines. Friendly force armour was kept in defilade owing to the anti-armour threat and Scouts deployed forward into Stranahely forest. Dismounted Scouts conducted a search and utilised sensors to find active enemy in the area. Sensors deployed in this search included drones, FLIR RECON and Foxtrack Ground Surveillance Radar (GSR) along with dismounted patrolling. Once located, Scouts then transitioned into the FIX phase of the operation, maintaining eyes on the enemy who were occupying 'dug in' defensive positions. Scouts maintained 'eyes on' for a 48hr period through the use of dismounted Observation Posts. Once all useful information was extracted Scouts conducted an Artillery Call for Fire mission and withdrew to the protection of armour. Upon completion of the exercise, students transitioned to water confidence training undertaking detachment level river crossing at Poulaphouca Reservoir, a rite of passage for many reconnaissance trained soldiers down through the years. Assistance from the DF Dive Group ensured a safe and well-executed serial. Week three saw students change pace, transitioning to combat tracking. The aim of this week is to ensure students not only gain awareness of tracking quarry (enemy) but also make them aware of their own signature and how to reduce their sign. Students spent long days and nights learning to identify the minutest of sign up to large signatures such as footprints broken twigs, incident sites and identification of aging sign. This new skill was welcomed by all students and continues to be highlighted as a favourite element of the Scout Tactical Course. Students benefited from instruction on combat tracking provided by colleagues from the 4th Security Force Assistance Brigade of the US Army. Week four saw students deploy on confirmation exercise 'Sabre Strike'. Continuing the scenario from the previous exercise, enemy forces had withdrawn to a consolidation point some 15km rearward of their previous forward line. Having inserted in armour in defilade once again troops began combat tracking until information gained led to the location of enemy forces. Over the next 48hrs, students created the conditions suitable for Reconnaissance Handover (RHO) to Infantry Close Reconnaissance troops following behind in order to destroy the enemy consolidation point and push the enemy out of the Wicklow Mountains area. With friendly forces blocked, scouts had to affect their own raid destroying the enemy forces in the area. Upon completion, Scouts conducted a CASEVAC to an exfiltration pick up point where students were greeted by their CRVs and the long awaited "End Ex". At the end of week four, as is now the tradition, the award of Best Student is presented to the student with the overall top marks on the course. This year the best student went to Tpr O'Dare from 1ACS. This year's Tactical Course benefited hugely from co-ordination between the CIS and Cavalry Schools in order to field trial the THALES Software Defined Radio (SDR) scheduled for roll out across the DF at the end of this year. Scouts utilised both the SQUADNET and SYNAPS 'H' radio with crew utilising the SYNAPS 'V' fitted to CRVs during Exercise 'Sabre Strike'. The SDR is a generational change from the SINCGARs radio. Drone images were shared from the Scout in the training area in Wicklow through their SYNAPS 'H' and were viewed by higher command in the DFTC within minutes, not only proving the radios capabilities but marking the advancement in a Scouts ability to provide timely and accurate information. The Cavalry Scout Tactical Course continues to be a cornerstone that all personnel within the Cavalry Corps must achieve in order to advance their career within the Corps. This Course gives students the 'tools in the toolbox' to overcome challenges in demanding environments wherever they may deploy in future. Carpe Diem. A student on the course covers off with a training rifle during river crossing drills Students learn tracking skills as part of the course Mowags are vital for long range reconnaissance patrols Night orders being conducted under red light

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