An Cosantóir

16 | An Cosantóir May / June 2025 www.military.ie/magazine WHAT HAVE YOU GOT IN RESERVE? R eservists from 1 MIC, 1 ACS, 2 CAV, 2 CIS, 2 TPT CMU, and 2 MP Coy joined forces to commence their Army Reserve 3 Star course which began on a cold Thursday evening back in January. For newly upgraded 2* Privates from the DFTC and 2 BDE, starting the course marked an important milestone for our time in the Reserve. Progressing from the RDF Joint Induction syllabus, which focused on induction to the Defence Forces and consisted of foot drill, arms drill, weapons handling, marksmanship, and physical training, the Three Star course introduced a tactical block which was unfamiliar territory for all of us. With some uncertainty and nerves as to what the future held for us; one thing was clear – everyone was up for the challenge ahead! The Army Reserve Three Star course consists of weekly training nights and a series of training weekends, the highlight being a two-week block of full-time training (FTT) where past theory comes into practical delivery. On completion of the course, students return to the respective units as Three Star Privates and begin local unit training which typically includes the recently launched Army Reserve Platoon Skills syllabus. Our course began with a series of lectures on weekly training nights encompassing one of the most essential military skills, Land Navigation. This was new ground for most of us, our instructors covered all topics ranging from grid references, pacing, bearings, back-bearings, map orientation, and judging distance. Our instructors put massive time into teaching us these skills and used their experience from both military and civilian backgrounds. Our skills were put into practice during our first training weekend held in the Curragh Camp, DFTC. Students from the DFTC met with students and instructors from 2 BDE for the first time, resulting in a diverse group of students from various home units. This resulted in a course numbering approximately fifty students with a wide array of civilian backgrounds such as IT and Cyber Professionals, Barristers, Airport Police Officers, Chemists, Students, Astrophysicists, Firefighters, Medics, Mechanics, and many more. Due to this amalgamation, it required significant efforts of logistical organisation and commitment from our instructors in the DFTC and 2 BDE. As we covered the practical aspect of Land Navigation over the weekend, it began to consolidate the theoretical lectures that our instructors provided over the various weekly training nights. ARTICLE BY PTE KELAN DEMPSEY (AR) 1 MIC

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