An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir May 2015 www.dfmagazine.ie 18 | On 6th March 2015 the recruits held citement was palpable as the recruits ready for the big day, a day that of rigorous training, 17 weeks of weeks with only a few weekends Pl Sgt Alan Walsh, 135 Rec Pl, said: great success. Having the members wide dispersion of counties it may together but they worked hard and tough and we lost eight of our recruits During the parade members of to read out qualities and attributes training. Rec O'Higgins read from "it binds the recruit to all orders", to dignity in the workplace" as enunciated Rec Twohig spoke about duties and selflessness, integrity, physical and While delighted to now bear the soldiers know their training is not in intensity as they face into their The change from civilian to military life involves a major cultural transition for a young recruit. Their freedom to go out or plan for anything changes dramati- cally to that of an organised, structured and regimented environment, where the working day is laid out from breakfast to bed-time. Embracing this change takes time and demands careful monitoring by the officer commanding the training unit and the training staff. The recruit training syllabus is of 17 week's duration and is now accredited with a certificate in leadership management and defence studies from Carlow IT. Subjects on the syllabus include: arms drill, foot drill, sentinel drill and guard mounting, rifle marksmanship, the GPMG, grenade, basic unarmed combat, physi- cal education, occupational first aid, tactical training, field craft, operating in a field environment, communication information services (CIS), C-IED introductory training, hygiene and sanitation. The recruits are under continuous assessment from their instructional staff and are required to pass all star tests in order to become two-star privates. Outdoor training includes basic field techniques like cold weather survival and shelter construction, how to avoid exhaustion and dehydration, and how to pre- pare meals using the ration pack system. Their tactical training includes the organisation and armament of the infantry section and platoon, how to function as a rifleman and as a member of a fire- support group (FSG) in an infantry section, the basics of offence and defence, foot patrolling, and personal admin in a tactical environment. After approximately ten weeks training in sentinel drill, guard mounting, guard room security and, most importantly, learning the circumstances when a soldier may fire live ammunition, the recruits are introduced to their first 24-hour regi- mental guard duty. During their rifle marksmanship training, nine of the recruits received a 'marks- man' qualification after achieving an accuracy of over 93% in their firing practices. In training they start to work in sections and learn how sections work together as a platoon, how platoons form companies, and how companies form battalions. This helps build cohesion, morale, and esprit de corps. The bond that develops between the members of the platoon is an essential characteristic and a dynamic of recruit training and establishes friendships that can continue for a lifetime.

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