An Cosantóir

www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 29 T he Defence Forces maintains several locations for the purpose of FIBUA (fighting in built-up areas) training. this type of training requires buildings and urban obstacles and the DFtC's Multi-training Facility (MtF) in the Curragh contains these. It was here that a composite platoon of 7 Inf Bn troops conducted a Young Entry FIBUA course from 18th – 21st April 2017. The course was attended by 24 students, all corporals or privates. Of these, 21 were RDF and three were PDF. The team of instructors were all PDF NCOs from 7 Inf Bn, led by Sgt Wayne Eastwood. The first day of the course involved learning the basics of non-tactical climbing over walls and up onto buildings by hand and foot, progressing to the use of specialist assault ladders. Once the basics were learnt, the difficulty was aug- mented by the troops having to wear their battle kit, includ- ing body armour, and carrying platoon-level weapons. Other skills developed included the effective use of as- sault ladders and heavy specialist tools for gaining forceful entry through locked doors and windows. The course then progressed to a more tactical phase, us- ing practiced infantry skills to advance over obstacles and enter buildings using fire-and-manoeuvre. This was when the platoon began to realise just how exhausting FIBUA can be; carrying personal battle kit, body armour, ammo, tools, water and weapons, and taking all this weight over walls, through windows, up ladders and through assorted obstacles. By the second and third day of the course, the platoon had conducted numerous platoon-in-attack drills on a string of buildings within the MTF. Some of these attacks were up to an hour in duration and required large amounts of pyrotechnics while moving from building to building, and from room to room, clearing the enemy. Indeed, the requirement for a large expenditure of py- rotechnic ammunition emerged as a characteristic of the FIBUA training; each rifleman in the platoon had to carry ten Steyr magazines, adding more weight to already heavy battle kit. But an even clearer requirement of FIBUA quickly be- came clear to all: sheer raw physical exertion. Carrying the platoon's combat equipment and ladders, along with battle kit, weapons, ammo and water through buildings, up and over walls and other high obstacles, requires immense physical effort. By the evening of the final day, the course had conducted numerous gruelling attacks. Key appointments had been shared among the students, giving them an understanding of various roles and responsibilities. As dusk fell there were still two more components of the course to be completed: a night platoon attack on enemy- held buildings, and a company ammunition re-supply mis- sion, which required moving ammo boxes and heavy stores in darkness almost 100m over, under and through obstacles to a predetermined point. The FIBUA course in the MTF is an intense physical ex- perience, and although only a few days in duration it is a strenuous course to complete for both PDF and RDF person- nel. It is certainly the most physically challenging course for RDF soldiers and a high grade in a recent fitness test would certainly be of benefit for future appli- cants. It is certainly a course that all RDF infantry troops should aspire to undergo.

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