An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir May / June 2025 www.military.ie/magazine www.military T he Irish Defence Forces Cavalry Corps secured an invitation to the biannual International Scout Competition (The Gainey Cup) in Fort Benning, Georgia. Hosted by the Commandant of the United States Army Armour School, the competition named in the honor of Command Sergeant Major (Retired) William 'Joe' Gainey, regularly includes command selected scout squads from the US Cavalry formations and Allied Nations. Encompassing a week of physically and mentally demanding events, the Gainey Cup showcases the competence, physical and mental stamina and competitive spirt of Cavalry Scout Troopers serving in formations that perform Reconnaissance and Security. Gainey Cup winners are recognized as the best scout squad in the world. 18 6-man teams from around the world were tested in every aspect of the scout skillset with events focusing on reconnaissance and security, navigation, stealth infiltration and exfiltration, observation, target positive identification, team communication, US Army doctrine, physical endurance, TLPP, call for fire and vehicle identification. The competition, conducted over a 4 day period, had teams engage in 9 events testing an array of military skills. In November 2024, RSM Cavalry School James Scanlon began conducting team trials in order to identify possible candidates for the 2025 team. These trials assessed personnel's competence to perform core Cavalry skills, along with their character when put in a pressurised environment. Following this, the successful soldiers would work along with the Cavalry School Scout Course from January to March 25. In March this year, the team consisting of Oisín Murphy, Darren Cronin, Conor Heffernan, Darren Daly, Josh Phelan, Andrew Gleeson, Jack O'Dare and Karl Doyle began a more Competition focused training programme. This intense program was designed and overseen by their coaches, Capt Alex McNamara and RSM James Scanlon. In contrary to 2023 where the landscape of training encompassed a large array of skills to ensure the team arrived ready for any scenario that the US Army Armour School staff could devise, the training for the 2025 team was better structured and refined. Although the restricted preparation timeframe presented to be a challenge from the outset, the previous competition experience from their coaches along with the assistance and guidance from the teams LO, Sgt First Class Chris Shirley, United States Army, put it in the best possible position to not just participate but to compete. During the training period the team focused its preparation on mastering several skills including United States Army Doctrine, Armoured Fighting Vehicle Identification, TLPP, Weapon Skills, Long distance rucking, Medical, Call for Fire and Reconnaissance and Security taskings. It is important to note that most of this training was not conducted just organically from the Cavalry School but the team was assisted in their training by many other units within the DFTC, notably, the ARW, The Artillery School, CIS group, IWW, Ordnance Group and the DFPES. Arriving at Fort Benning late on 20th April, the team began a three-day acclimatisation process followed by an intense three-day international training program. During the course of the three training days the team familiarised themselves with the US Army fitness testing standards, weapon systems, the US Army doctrine, Comms equipment, Call for fire procedures and Scout reports. All whilst acclimating to the unrelenting Georgia heat with morning physical training sessions. At 0500HRS, 28th April the competition commenced. Event 1 pitted all teams against each other in a combined score fitness test. The Fitness test, broken into six components, tested the individual team member's physical strength and endurance, along with their ability to conduct basic skills whilst being fatigued. A three-rep max deadlift of 160kg welcomed the team to the competition. This was quickly followed by a 2-minute max push up, a sprint/drag/carry and an overhead press station. Once physically depleted team members had to dissemble/ reassemble and perform Photo by Capt. Stephanie Snyder – US ARMY Photo by Capt. Stephanie Snyder – US ARMY Casevac event - Photo by Patrick A.Albright – US ARMY THE GAINEY CUP 2025 ARTICLE BY CAPT ALEX MCNAMARA PHOTOS BY VARIOUS CONTRIBUTORS 6 |

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