An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir February 2017 www.dfmagazine.ie 18 | F or most members of the Defence Forces tuesday 22nd November 2016 would pass off like any other normal day in the units and barracks across the country. however, for the members of 109 Inf bn, UNIFIL, at post 2-45 this was the day of change that they had spent three and a half months of vigorous preparation and training for; the transfer of authority from Finland to Ireland and beginning of life for IrishFinnbatt. Early that morning a team from An Cosantóir was on hand to hear OC 109 Inf Bn, Lt Col Stephen Howard, brief the Minister with Responsibility for Defence, Mr Paul Kehoe, TD; the Irish Ambassa- dor to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Mr Damien Cole; the Chief of Staff, Vice Admiral Mark Mellett DSM; and other dig- nitaries on how the change from an infantry group to a battalion would take shape and the responsibilities that would go with it. Starting his brief Lt Col Howard stated the unit mission was "to deploy a capable and flexible force to gain and maintain control in our area of operations (AO) in order to maintain a safe and secure environment, increase UNIFIL's acceptance among the local popula- tion and create the conditions consistent with the requirements set out in UN SCR 1701", adding that this would be achived through "credible posture, conducting our operations with flexibility, unity of effort, civil-military co-operation and liaison". He stressed the importance of engagement with 'key leaders' in the communities, the ongoing relationship with the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and civil-military co-operation (CIMIC). The change from an infantry group to a battalion sees the unit increase in numbers from 181 to 336 personnel in the IrishFinnBatt. The Defence Forces also have personnel in HQ Sector West and UNIFIL HQ, bringing the total to 378 across the mission area. The statistics and figures for the Irish personnel in position 2-45 and its OPs are as follows: 2 Bde is the lead brigade and 28 Inf Bn, with 59 personnel, the lead unit. The next three largest contributing units are 7 Inf Bn (32), the Naval Service (21) and 6 Inf Bn (19), and 24 counties are represented. There are 21 females - 10 officers, 5 NCOs and 6 privates. For 95 personnel this is their first trip overseas, while Sgt Decky Higgins, from 1 Cav Sqn, is on his 12th tour of duty. The youngest soldier is Pte Oisín Redican (21), from 28 Inf Bn. There are five family-friendly appointments. Three sets of brothers are serving in the unit; Ronan and Glen Matthews, and Ronan and Brian Corry, from 28 Inf Bn, and Robert Transfer of Authority by SGT MICK BURKE PR SECTION PhotoS SGT MICK BURKE, CPL NEVILLE COUGHLAN AND PTE AIDEN SHERLOCK Brig Gen Cillo, Commamder Sector west hands the flag over to Lt Col S Howard. Lt COl S Howard, Brig Gen Cillo, and Lt Col V Vainio.

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