An Cosantóir September 2014 www.dfmagazine.ie
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n 24th June, An Cosantóir visited the Glen of Imaal to see how the RDF members of 1 CIS Coy were getting on
during the infantry company group exercise, which tests infantry tactics and training including oPs, patrolling,
a loaded march and LFtt. the inclusion of the RDF element into 1 CIS is a result of the introduction of the Single-
Force concept, with most of the RDF personnel coming from the recently disbanded 34 Inf bn.
Coy Sgt Darren Foley explained to us that Comdt Ian Travers (OC 1 CIS Coy) was tasked with providing CIS support to this
year's exercise, and that he had assessed the RDF element of the company as being up to the tasking due to their earlier
participation in Exercise 'Viking' in the Curragh in May.
RDF officers Capt Peter Hayles and Capt Seán Murphy were given a warning order to check which of the company's RDF
personnel were available for the exercise.
"Initially we were to deploy with 15 personnel," Coy Sgt Foley told us, "however, sadly one of our signalmen had to return
home due to a death in the family and an NCO started a new job.
"With 13 personnel (a bakers dozen) we are operating on a minimum level for this type of exercise considering the
amount of hours involved, but RDF personnel have to manage their private and professional commitments with their RDF
ones. For example we have two NCOs who are full-time farmers and getting time to attend RDF commitments presents a
major challenge; one of them had to hire in staff to manage his dairy farm – at a substantial financial cost to himself."
The RDF element deployed with a self-contained detachment trailer that has enough fuel to power its diesel generator
for an initial 72-hour period. There are currently only three RDF drivers qualified to tow the trailer at present, but the unit
by SGT WAyNE FITzGERALD
PhotoS by SGT KARL ByRNE & SGT WAyNE FITzGERALD
The
Dozen
