An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir Dec 2014/Jan 2015 www.dfmagazine.ie 22 | 2 bde Military skills Competition by SGT WAyNE FITZGERALD PhotoS SGT KARL ByRNE, CPL COLIN DELANy AND SGNM RyAN CONWAy FOR FINALIST GROUP SHOTS T he 2 brigade Military Skill's Competition took place in Kilbride Military training Camp, Co Wicklow, on november 4th 2014. the aim of the competi- tion, which was conducted by 2 btC, is to evaluate and assess the level of competency of the individual soldier and section in the execution of basic military skills, and to provide a focus for training at individual-, section- and unit-level. Skills tested include physical fitness, weapons handling and shooting, military intelligence, battle drills, tactical awareness, admin in the field, comms and leader- ship, as well as medical skills. This year's competition was contested by 2 Bde Engr, 2 Cav Sqn, 2 CIS Coy, 2 Fd Arty Regt, 6 Inf Bn, 7 Inf Bn, 27 Inf Bn and 28 Inf Bn, with the three top-placed teams going forward to the DF Military Skills Competition to compete against the three top teams from 1 Bde and the top two from the DFTC in Kilworth, Co Cork, on 11th and 12th November. Comdt McGrath (OC 2 BTC), Capt Andrew Shinnick, Coy Sgt Matt Masterson and the BTC staff were assisted in running the competition by 16 directing staff (DS) and eight umpires drawn from other 2 Bde units. Each team com- prised an infantry section (as per TM201) of two corporals and eight privates, and could include RDF personnel. After a briefing from Capt Shinnick and Coy Sgt Master- son, the competition started with a comms set-up stand, where the teams had to assemble a SINCGARs radio, input specified frequencies, complete an ERF and an MROAL, and communicate with competition control. The next stage was a military general knowledge test of 20 questions on subjects such as weapons, fieldcraft, tactics and tactical aide memoires (TAMs), before setting off on a 5km run to camp. At the next stand teams had to complete a range shoot on silhouette targets, and then conduct a 500m stretcher run carrying a team member. This was followed by a medi- cal drills test on two 'casualties' and a C-IED safe drills test. The teams then moved across open ground to No 3 Range, where they had to identify ten military objects con- cealed over an area extending approximately 50m, memo- rise them, and pass them on at the next stand. Next, teams had to conduct target grid procedure (TGP) on four targets with the M203 grenade and engage two targets with one round. The final stage involved map reading and navigation skills. Each team had to complete a resection to produce an eight-figure grid reference, compile a range-card with four targets, and a route-card containing four navigation legs, which they used to get back to camp. 22 |

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