An Cosantóir

www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 19 Thanks to the training received during the week it was clear to all the onlookers that everyone knew their job. Strong leadership is vital for CRC and under the command of Lt Margaret Hogan the platoon was not left wanting in this regard. Firm and authorita- tive throughout, she quickly achieved her first mission in estab- lishing a foothold in the village and pushing the rioters back. After coming to a road junction that had to be secured the Irish platoon found itself light on numbers and they prepared to allow the Estonian CRC platoon to move through their forward line. From the outset it was clear that the Estonian platoon had dif- ferent tactics, techniques and procedures (TTP's) from their Irish counterparts, and it is from joint training like this that subtle nu- ances and differences in how nationalities operate are identified. This gives commanders an understanding of how best to deploy in a multinational environment and how other countries' troops will operate. The Estonians moved quickly and efficiently to push the rioters further back into their village before they encountered a number of obstacles. Operating in urban environments means the com- mander on the ground has many tactical considerations. Complex manmade terrain makes it hard for CRC units to gain ground. As well as road junctions, which have to be treated as obstacles, the typical urban streetscape contains multiple entries and exits, blind spots and high ground that rioters can use to their advantage. Building sites can give rioters access to improvised weapons and objects to be thrown, as we saw in 2006 in Dublin, where rioters used bricks and wire fences from building works on O'Connell Street as missiles and barriers. At UNP 2-45 the Estonian platoon identified all the threats and reacted to them in a professional manner. They also en- sured that those behind them also were aware of the possible dangers ahead. Dealing with makeshift obstacles constructed by the rioters, constructed obstacles highlighted another tactical difference between the two platoons. At the first obstacle the Estonian platoon went straight over it and once the first serial was over they quickly disassembled it and threw it to one side. The pla- toons then rotated and at the next obstacle the Irish stopped short and sent a three-man team forward to remove some of the debris. This continued until a hole had been made in the obstacle and the platoon could push forward. The Irish platoon now faced the rioters who were preparing to make their last stand. The Fijian rioters had acquired a large amount of missiles and with great enthusiasm they quickly set to the task of launching them at the CRC troops, who remained resolute as the rioters came at them in waves. Despite the increased aggressiveness, audacity and violence of the rioters, the CRC platoon remained calm and professional, slowly but surely inching forward to their next objective. In a last act of defiance and show of force the Fijian rioters put all their attention into performing a haka, the traditional warrior dance of Fiji and New Zealand. The Fijians roared their chant and danced aggressively while the Irish platoon held their line, staring back intently and responding to the haka by banging their shields on the ground. At this point the directing staff called 'end ex'. As soon as it finished both sides exchanged handshakes and the familiar greeting 'On the ball, Irish!' that has passed between the sol- diers of both countries for decades as they serve side by side in Lebanon could be heard everywhere. It was a great ending to an excellent exercise. In the exercise debrief everyone agreed that the co-opera- tion between all involved was excellent and that the commu- nication between all members of the CRC company was what made it such a success. As a result of this exercise, 115 FinnIrish Battalion has become a stronger, more cohesive unit, and a better understanding of the TTPs employed by the various nationalities was achieved.

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