An Cosantóir

www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 27 An engaging exercise scenario and lot of free- dom of action in achieving their aims forced the students to rely on their own initiative and drive to find, fix and assault an enemy position and conduct a successful extraction. The confusion of FIBUA and the complexity of OIWAF (operating in woods and forests) were captured in the last exercise, 'Belt Buckle'. These intricate operations represent the next level in infantry tactics, where command and control and tactical awareness can make or break a per- son's test appointment. If you include having to casevac a casualty from the centre of a built up area through safe lines and add in some CBRN later on, you have a recipe for a tasty week of command test appointments that exam- ine students' decision-making process. The students were continuously assessed throughout the course under a number of headings but also had both a major and minor test appointment. The minor test appoint- ments were the key positions for the three main exercises described above. On the Infantry Platoon Sergeants Course there is no hiding behind a GT or a submission to pass the course, and the major test appointment was the pass-or-fail command test during the last two weeks, which was done through an advance to contact (ATC) exercise. The ATC gains and maintains contact with the enemy. It's an aggressive form of advance that tests both a platoon commander and a platoon sergeant under great detail and time pressure. Two weeks of platoon attacks after a tough three weeks on the ground really displays the calibre of an individual and the results accurately show how people react under mental and physical pressure. This test has to be experienced in full fighting order and body armour to be fully understood. In the end, all students passed, either as platoon commander or platoon sergeant. Just as the situation in the world and our experiences overseas change, the Infantry Platoon Sergeants Course will continue to evolve. After a comprehensive series of debriefs, looking at the various aspects of the course, and involved, focused feedback from the students, the next step is to con- solidate relevant points and incorporate them into the next course, which will continue to educate and train the junior leaders at the core of the Defence Forces. As Sgt Thomas Devereux, a long-standing instructor in the NCOTW said, "I'm all over that."

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