An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir Dec 2015 / Jan 2016 www.dfmagazine.ie 24 | A truly multinational unit, the current Finnish/Irish battalion serving with UnIFIL consists of Finnish, Irish and Estonian peace- keepers working together to en- hance cooperation and cohesiveness amongst all UnIFIL nations. As part of this effort FinIrishbatt recently organised a number of EoD/IEDD training activities. An EOD/IEDD day was held at FinIrishbatt's UNP 2-45 with the aim of sharing information on EOD tech- niques and procedures, and knowl- edge about different IED devices, with other UNIFIL EOD/IEDD techni- cians. Participants from 11 different countries attended the event and the feedback was very positive. The day commenced with IED/WIT/demining briefs and continued with an exhibi- tion where representatives of differ- ent nations described their own EOD/ IEDD equipment. Several other EOD-related activi- ties were organised by FinIrishbatt Ordnance Section during the last five months. These included: a visit to the Cambodian UNIFIL demining site at UNP 4-28; a visit to a civilian Lebanese Mine Action Centre demining site; and an EOD day held hosted by UNIFIL's Spanish battalion at UNP 7-2. During the visit to the Cam- bodian demining site, mem- bers of Estonian, Finnish, Fijian and Irish EOD teams observed mechanical clearance (20m 2 per day) and manual clearance (1m 2 per day), as well as receiving equip- ment briefs. The visit to the civilian demin- ing site was also beneficial. Af ter observing the Lebanon Mine Ac- tion Centre personnel at work, the UNIFIL EOD team members deemed their equipment and procedures very similar to UNIFIL's. At the Spanish battalion's EOD day the visitors received a demonstration of EOD robotic capabilities, a canine explosive detection exhibition, IED detection and survey techniques, and a fire power demonstration. These events have helped to foster good relations between UNIFIL person- nel, while also providing valuable op- portunities for information sharing on recent EOD/IEDD incidents that have occurred in the area of operation. The determination by FinIrishbatt to remain current with EOD/IEDD trends and activities sees personnel train- ing with the most contemporary concepts and leads to the high standards of skills required to deal with what- ever they encounter in the AO. In addition to the events already mentioned, several C-IED briefs and C-IED training sessions have been arranged for FinIrishbatt troops during this mission. These included presentations and practical demon- strations that reinforced the need for all personnel to remain vigilant regard- ing any possible IED threat. These activities and the positive interactive experiences at battalion level have had a significant effect on UNIFIL HQ level also, as FinIrishbatt has been requested to execute the IED devices and scenarios for an im- minent UNIFIL-wide exercise, 'Angel Rescue', which will test all national EOD/IEDD teams and medical team responses. The initiative for these events was formulated by FinIrish- batt Ordnance Officer Lt Cdr Clodagh McConnell, whose home unit is Naval Ordnance Section. FInIRIShbAtt EoD tRAInIng by LT EMMA VALLI (FIN), FINIRISHBATT PIO & LT CDR CLODAGH MCCONNELL, FINIRISHBATT ORDNANCE OFFICER Pictured L/R are the members of Ordnance Section: Sgt Ian Harrington, Lt Cdr Clodagh McConnell, Pte Joyce Byrne and CQMS Joey Donnelly.

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