An Cosantóir

www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 15 The relocation from more than a dozen posts in the AOS became the impetus for Exercise 'Go- lan Days'. The purpose of Golan Days was to evalu- ate members of the FRC in the tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) involved in the clearance and re-occupation of previously vacated UN posts located within the AOS. What resulted was a collaboration of efforts between the mecha- nised company, the Improvised Explosive Device Disposal (IEDD) Detachment, the Engineer Specialist Search and Clearance Team (ES- SCT) as well as CIS and medical detachments in a comprehensive ex- ercise that heralded a new training focus for the Irish FRC in UNDOF. On completion of initial planning, the exercise was rolled out over four phases. Phase 1 involved continuous training, comprising C-IED, first aid, mine awareness, CBRN, CIS (including ECM training), anti-ambush drills, and urban patrolling. The most challenging posts to reoccupy inside the AOS would be those located inside urban centres therefore, the focus of the training had to include an urban aspect. Phases 2 and 3 covered exercise preparation and the exercise itself, which took place on 13th December 2014. Phase 4, perhaps the most relevant phase to future operational planning, involved a detailed after-action review (AAR). This re- vealed some interesting developments and was the genesis for the creation of mission-specific, combined mech, ordnance and engineer standard operating procedures (SOPs). The AAR highlighted a number of areas, many of which had yet to be addressed in routine training events. The AAR docu- mented various LIs (lessons identified) during Golan Days I and allowed for relevant corrective action, deliberated upon by the respective section heads, to be applied during Exercise Golan Days II, conducted on 24th January 2015. The lessons learned from the second running of the exercise may well be the vital legacy of 46 Inf Gp. Since 46 Inf Gp's deployment, the publication of UN General Assembly Resolution (69/94), dated 5th December 2014, has reaffirmed, in robust terminology, the international commu- nity's perspective on the 'occupied Syrian Golan', while UN SCR 2192 (18 December 2014) strongly condemned 'the use by armed Syrian extremist groups of improvised explosive devices in the UNDOF area of operation'. It is clear that the future of the FRC in UNDOF will neces- sitate continual close integration of mechanised infantry/ cavalry, ordnance, and engineers, and the review of enhanced TTPs, to effectively counter any future threats, and to meet the standards required for the new operational environment. Mech Coy deploy to clear and secure a route to their destination. Brig Gen Hanlon, DFC UNDOF, and BSM Lamb observe a Medevac from within the ICP during the exercise. Comdt Owen McNally delivers the scheme of manoeuvre for Exercise Golan Days.

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