www.military.ie the defence forces magazine
| 23
The aim of the dismount course is to introduce students to the
Mowag Piranha III APC; the TTPs required in carrying out APC-mount-
ed operations; the vehicle's systems and safety features; and a work-
ing knowledge of its radio systems.
We followed the two courses for two days of the 72-hour exercise,
nicknamed 'Golden Heights'. During that period the students carried
out countless patrols, mimmicking those that would be carried out
overseas and the problems and issues they could come up against.
They also did rolling replens (replenishment of fuel, rations, water and
ammo on the move) and recovery techniques. The instructors trained
their students for every eventuality and we were left in no doubt that
they had given the students sufficient knowledge of the TTPs for not
only overseas missions but also any deployments they may carry out
at home, whether training or operational.
Despite, or maybe because of, the challenging nature of the
course, feedback from the students was very positive. Exercise
Golden Heights was deemed a great success, with everyone get-
ting the opportunity to perfect the skills they had been taught over
the previous weeks.
We wish the members of the two courses that are heading to
UNDOF the best of luck and hope their new skills won't be put to
the test. In saying that, after only two days spent following the
courses we have no doubt they will be able to deal with anything
they may face.
