An Cosantóir the official magazine of the Irish Defence Forces and Reserve Defence Forces.
Issue link: https://digital.jmpublishing.ie/i/830475
An Cosantóir June 2017 www.dfmagazine.ie 14 | By CAPT ARW A group of candidates stands at ease on the main square of Plunkett Barracks in the Curragh Camp on a blustery September evening. At each candidate's feet are two bulging bags which have been carefully packed with uniforms, equipment and supplies in accordance with the Joining Instructions for the course. As some discreetly look to their left and right they may catch a glimpse of someone they know or recognise, howev- er they will not have met most of the other candidates. Did I pack my TAMs? Have I trained hard enough? Will I pass? These are just some of the questions that are racing through their minds. The whispering amongst the ranks is silenced as the Directing Staff (DS) from the Army Ranger Wing (ARW) round the corner and approach the square. For many candidates it is the first time they have seen a Green Be- ret, let alone met a Ranger. As the DS approach the group, a candidate calls the Special Operations Force Qualifica- tion (SOFQ) course to attention… Some of them will be gone within hours, others will be there for decades. The ARW has significantly revised its selection and assessment procedures for prospective unit members in re- cent years. The ARW Selection & Basic Skills courses have been replaced by a new single course combining the two, which is now called the ARW SOFQ Course. This article provides an over- view of the new course and highlights some recent trends and statistics. The target audience for the SOFQ course is still officers, NCOs and soldiers of the PDF who possess high levels of physical fitness, navigation skills, personal motivation and the as- piration to serve in the ARW. The SOFQ syllabus is designed to test and assess all aspects of the candidate's charac- ter, military skills, ability and general suitability to become a member of the ARW. It also provides the potential unit member with all the skills and knowl- edge necessary to function in the role of SOF Assault Team Operator on suc- cessful completion of the course. The SOFQ course is 38 weeks long and is divided into 5 distinct modules: Mod- ule 1 Assessment & Evaluation; Module 2 Skills & Leadership; Module 3 SOF Tactics Techniques and Procedures (TTPs); Mod- ule 4 Counter Terrorism (CT) TTPs and Module 5 Continuation Training.