An Cosantóir

| 5 www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE overwhelmed enemy positions with audacity and verve. Moreover, the attacks tested the cohesion and aggression of the Platoons; Commanders who acted quickly and decisively often gained an edge, even when the tactical picture was unclear. The last attacks concluded at 2030 hrs. For the competitors it was a successful day and all participating Platoons should be commended for the enthusiasm and skill they displayed. On the 3rd of September, the focus shifted to weapons proficiency. Along the Lateral Road at the foot of Cemetery Hill the Infantry Weapons Wing (IWW) established five stands to test each of the Platoon's integral weapon systems. Two stands were allocated to assess Rifle marksmanship. One group (consisting of the Platoon Commander, Runner and Section Commanders) had five minutes to carry a simulated casualty to an elevated platform before engaging targets with their rifles. A second group (consisting of the Platoon Sergeant, Signaller and three soldiers) had four minutes to load and engage their targets. The third stand tested M203 accuracy with the Platoon's six gunners moving between two bunker positions to engage targets with their rifle and M203 respectively. The fourth stand focused on the Fire Support Groups (FSGs), with each FSG allotted five minutes to engage a number of targets, testing not only accuracy but also the FSG Commander's fire control orders. The final stand tested the ability of the Platoon's six SRAAW gunners ability to move into an area and accurately engage a target in a time constrained environment. Following safety briefs and armourer checks at 0800 hrs, platoons rotated through the stands in 30-minute intervals from 1030 hrs onwards. Each stand demanded technical precision, team coordination, and disciplined fire. The SRAAW stand proved a crowd favourite, with soldiers relishing the chance to demonstrate accuracy on anti-armour targets. Meanwhile, the GPMG stands tested FSGs in the fine balance between suppression and ammunition control. This phase exemplified the Infantry ethos of demanding excellence. Marksmanship was not just about hitting targets but doing so with purpose, under the pressure of time and tactical constraints. By 1600 hrs, all scores were collated, setting the stage for the closing ceremony and at 1630 hrs, the teams gathered for the prize-giving ceremony, where the top-scoring Platoon across all phases of the competition was awarded the Infantry Platoon Attack Trophy by the Chief of Staff, Lt Gen Mulcahy. Congratulations to the 28th Infantry Battalion team on their victory, followed closely by the 3rd Infantry Battalion and an Céad Chathláin Coisite in second and third place respectively. Behind the scenes, the competition represented a significant effort across the Infantry Corps and indeed the wider Army, who provided Assessment Teams (from 1 BTC, 1 MIC and the EUBG), Safety Staff, Armourers, Enemy Party, Exercise Security and Cooks. Special thanks must also be made to the staff of the NCOTW, IWW, Infantry School Store and Coolmoney Camp for their enthusiasm and dedication to this competition. The Glen of Imaal once again proved its worth as a demanding training ground—rivers, gullies, dense vegetation and open fields combined to create the perfect setting for testing Infantry soldiers at Platoon level. Above all, the competition reinforced that Infantry soldiers succeed when they fight as a team. From the cohesion of Sections under fire to the mutual trust between commanders and soldiers, teamwork proved to be the decisive factor in every phase.

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