www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE
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Phase one began with the use of Heli assets
to insert Scout Reconnaissance teams to the
Lullymore area of Kildare from the DFTC. Two
Cavalry Scout Detachments were tasked with
answering Commanders Critical Information
Requirements (CCIR) on a Named Area of
Interest 1001. For this action to be effective
the scout soldiers needed to FIND the enemy
and deliver accurate reporting to feed into
the intelligence cycle. The use of indicators
both positive and negative allow the scout
teams to establish what the intentions and
capability of the adversary was. This meant
soldiers needed to utilise stealth, gain
the required information and exfiltration
from location, without being decisively
engaged, in accordance with commander's
reconnaissance guidance.
Phase Two consisted of a Squadron Red Level
search in the Mowag CRVs which concluded
in a dismounted direct action. This task
exercised both mounted and dismounted
elements of the 1 ACS in order to FIND, FIX
and DESTROY all subversive elements in the
confines of Mount Lucas Windfarm in Offaly,
thereby preventing the destruction of critical
infrastructure by adversary groups. An
operation that required detailed planning,
organisation, command and control and the
ability to adapt as circumstance changed on
the ground.
Conclusion
Exercise Cosaint Solais effectively exercised
troops of the 1 ACS in the assimilation of
orders, reconnaissance and security taskings,
search techniques, and above all else allowed
troops the manoeuvre space to perform
under their own initiative while executing the
cavalry mission command philosophy. Special
thanks to Bord na Móna and private land
owners in Lullymore Heritage for facilitating.
Mount Lucas Windfarm – Red Level Search
