An Cosantóir

www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 13 troduced in the early 1980s to distinguish personnel from the old DF Ranger Course and members of the ARW. The Green Beret was subsequently introduced in 1989. NATO defines special operations as 'military activities conducted by specially designated, organised, trained, and equipped forces, manned with select personnel, using uncon- ventional tactics, techniques, and modes of employment'. The ARW fits that criteria. Since its inception, the ARW have con- stantly revised their selection and assess- ment procedures and the present format which is in use since 2013 is called Special Op- erations Force Qualification Course (SOFQ). The ARW are an integral part of the Irish Defence Forces and in being so, have to adapt to various roles. They include, Direct Action, Special Reconnaissance, Military Assistance and Counter-Terrorism. Defensive operations include the pro- tection of VIPs, counter insurgency, the training and conduct of specialist opera- tions and delay operations. The unit is also an aid to the civil power and is involved in counter-terrorist operations. As with similar SOF units throughout the world, the ARW have been trained to conduct counter-hijack operations, hostage rescue, airborne and seaborne interventions, search missions, pursuit, recapture of terrorist held objectives, close protection and contingency planning to counter-act planned terrorist or subversive threats. The first overseas course that mem- bers of the ARW attended was an Anti-Terrorism Intervention Course ran by GIGN in Paris in 1981. Since then, the ARW has fostered a number of relation- ships with SOF and specialist counter- terrorism police units around the world and conducts regular exchanges and training courses. The ARW have conducted a number of operational deployments both at home and abroad. The first operation conducted by the ARW was in Ballinmore in Decem- ber 1983. The kidnapping of the prominent businessman, Don Tidy in December 1983 resulted in the ARW being despatched in an aid to civil power. They were used as a Quick Reaction Force, providing over- watch, search teams and stop gaps. Their first of ficial overseas mission specifically for ARW personnel was in Somalia in 1993 as par t of UNOSOM II. In 1999 they were deployed to East Timor under the mandate of the United Na- tions Security Council. They acted as a peace keeping force deployed to restore security in the region. In the af termath of the Second Liberian War, elements of the ARW were deployed as par t of peace keeping contingent with a mixed Irish- Swedish Force. In Chad in 2008, the ARW were par t of the initial entry force that completed reconnaissance missions to select a safe operating base for the main Irish and Dutch peace keeping Force. With the current threat of interna- tional terrorism there is a necessity for the Army Ranger Wing to continue to operate at a high level of proficiency at home and abroad in the protection of the state and its people. ARW members practising TTPs. An Cosantóir, April 1990, photo Armn John Daly

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