An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir March 2017 www.dfmagazine.ie 12 | by CPL LEE COYLE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE 61 AND 62 RECRUIT PLATOONS BY SGT BRIAN CASSERLY AND OF THE 6 INF BN RECRUITS IN TRAINING ON THE SLIEVE BLOOM MOUNTAINS BY ARMN ADAM MURPHY O n a cold wintery morning, with the grass wet from a recent downpour, I sat with my back to an earth mound, heart pounding, breathing heavily; my body twitching with the adrenaline pumping through my veins. I listened intently to the section i/c's orders while the sounds of assault rifle fire and the sharp percussive sound of GPMP bursts pierced the air nearby, filling it with the almost sweet smell of sulphur. Although I was only an observer on the ground with 61 and 62 recruit platoons, the sounds and sights brought back vivid memories of the ground phase of my own recruit training, even though it was nearly 20 years ago. The modern syllabus of recruit training is laid down in TS INF 29/2012, and its objectives are 'to induct a recruit into the Defence Forces, to develop them physically, mentally and socially, while developing character, morale and disci- pline, and to ensure a keen sense of duty, patriotism and an awareness of DF ethos and traditions, loyalty and service to the state'. The aim of the tactical training phase is to give the recruit the basic military skills required to to operate as a member of a section in unpredictable environments and physically demanding conditions. In the lead-up to the tactical training phase the recruits are given instruction in a variety of subjects, including rifle marksmanship, operating in a field environment, and fieldcraft. The physical training and the PCMLCT (physi- cal conditioning for minimum load carrying tests) are designed to progressively improve the recruit's physical fitness and ability to be able to carry the minimum load required on route marches and in operational conditions. It can be a lot to take in as a young recruit, especially sitting in a classroom being lectured on standard section- in-attack and patrol harbour drills. It is only when they get to put it all into practice during the first, and probably most memorable, ground phase of their course, that all the lines and diagrams they saw in the classroom start to make sense, as they go from two-dimensional plans to three dimensions; having all their senses hit at once and needing to push themselves through pain and discomfort with the controlled aggression required of a trained soldier. The ground phase is usually conducted over a two-week period during which the recruit is tested in a number of

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