www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE
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experience to be using the FOB on exercise
in an operational manner and hopefully it
will have prepared us for real life scenarios
we may face in the future. The trails in the
area provided a beneficial complex location
to perform our foot patrols and conduct
deliberate actions. For the second 96 hr
exercise we inserted into our patrol harbour
by going up and over Mount Leinster. This
was a very demanding insertion. We were
again greeted by non-stop rain, although the
coverage from forest trees gave some relief.
It was enjoyable to be in an area no one in the
class really had any experience in, and no one
knew what to expect. The week of training
was focused on mastering ground soldiering
and offensive actions. At ENDEX on the Friday
morning, the CS had a breakfast roll ready for
everyone as we boarded the ROPS completely
exhausted but having completed the largest
hurdle of the cadetship.
ADVENTURE WEEK – 2/Lt Kevin
McNeil, 2 BDE TPT COY
After a long seven months of phase two, our
cadet class reached a significant milestone in
our training, "Adventure week". The class were
split evenly and made our way to opposite ends
of the country.
The first contingent travelled to Finner Camp,
Co. Donegal to partake in a wide variety
of kayaking, rock climbing and surfing set
amongst the stunning Donegal scenery.
While the Donegal scenery and wild Atlantic
sea waves gave us incredible memories, and
the activities provided us new skills, the real
learning was found in trusting ourselves, and
the team when it mattered most.
The other half of the class travelled south to
Sarsfield's Barracks, County Limerick to take
part in a scuba diving course. During the day,
the class explored the bottom of the Atlantic
Ocean off the coast of Co. Clare and during the
evening, they created unforgettable memories
with one another. At the end of a testing week
familiarising themselves with diving equipment
and conducting guided dives, many came
away with a scuba diving qualification and a
brand-new hobby to carry with them in the
future.
Adventure week was widely regarded as one
of the major highlights of our Cadetship and
was the ideal way to celebrate the completion
of phase two together before the class split to
enjoy some summer leave.
