An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir March 2015 www.dfmagazine.ie 22 | by SGT KARL BYRNE PhOtOS by SGT KARL BYRNE & CPL NEVILLE COUGHLAN A s we arrived at Finner Camp we found a hive of activity, just inside the gates we came across four Mowags with troops coming and going, gear and equipment being packed and stowed, ammo being bombed up, rations being traded to suit individual tastes, and camo cream being applied generously. The troops were prepping for a 72-hour deployment on a combined exercise involving two Mowag courses, a com- mand course and a dismount course. The courses were being run in conjunction with each other so they could learn and work together as part of a mechanised infantry company, and to give commanders a chance to exercise their new skills with mech troops. The command course commenced on 12 January and was conducted over a three-week period, incorporating the 72- hour exercise in the Barnesmore area. The course had nine students from 28 Inf Bn, 6 Inf Bn, 7 Inf Bn, 27 Inf Bn, and 2 Arty Regt. The aim of the command course is to familiarise students with the tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) associ- ated with the Mowag Piranha IIIH APC operating as part of a mech inf coy, so that commanders at all levels can fully utilise the vehicle as a resource. The course familiarises students with the layout, configu- ration and safety features of the Mowag Piranhna III (all variants); gives them an overview of the tactical employment of APCs in all phases of mech inf operations; and familiarises them with the Rovis intercom system. It also helps to ensure unifor- mity of TTPs at unit level. The majority of students on the command course were junior NCOs hoping to deploy with 48 Inf Gp, UNDOF, and who had never been deployed as mechanised infantry be- fore. However, they easily grasped the concept of the role over the duration of the course. This is the fifth command course to have been con- ducted by 28 Inf Bn to date and Finner Camp appears to be an ideal area to conduct these type of courses, with access to ample training areas, including the use of an unused runway ideal for practicing rolling replenishments, and contact- and dismount-drills, to name but a few; and not forgetting the beaches and mountains in close proximity to the camp. The dismount course started a week after the command course. This had 30 students from 2 Arty Regt, 28 Inf Bn, 6 Inf Bn, 7 Inf Bn, 27 Inf Bn, 2 Bde Fd Engrs and 2 Bde Tpt Coy, with ranks ranging from from private to sergeant major, most of whom were also seeking qualification to deploy with 48 Inf Gp. and

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