An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir July/August 2017 www.dfmagazine.ie 14 | of Harris HF training before the start of the exercise then it was into command roles to be tested. Students stayed in the same detachments for the week and swapped roles as they were tested through the week. Within the detach- ments the students were tested on construction of their OPs, logging and reporting enemy activity and their back briefs to a company commander for further operations. Compared to ex 'Hard Graft', 'Black Hole' was an extensive push forward in intensity of enemy activity, giving the stu- dents plenty of information to log, report and send back. Week 6 had a more relaxed pace feel to it, with students being sent to the MP School in the DFTC to carry out a basic camera course. They learned basic skills of exposure of im- ages and how to use the camera in order to send images and live data over a Toughbook laptop to a higher HQ ele- ment. That finished, students were then given battlefield first aid lectures and practical exercises within the IWW. Learning how to apply tourniquets, dealing with gunshot wounds, treating and extracting casualties and also lean- ing the '9 liner' system of sending a medevac (Medical Evacuation) an explanation of which can be found online. Week 7, and the pressure increases again with a 5 day ex- ercise 'Dead Man Walking' carried out in Kilworth, Co. Cork. Again students are broken up into detachments and tested in command roles. This week of testing is the culmination of all the subjects the students have covered over the previ- ous 6 weeks. The most important serials of testing were on CTR, OP construction and location, raids, medevacs, live letter drops (logistical resupplies), navigation and logging and reporting. During the week there was heavy enemy activity, which took its toll on the students and really tested their resolve as a soldier, to push on through the pain bar- rier and to carry out the tasks given during the exercise. Week 8 and the tests continue. This time they are in the comfort of the nice warm and dry lecture rooms of the IWW. Class taking although not as in- tense as the exercises is an essential part of the course, as this confirms that the students can pass on the knowledge they have learned over the 8 weeks to students of a basic recce course which will be held in their own home units in the future. Class taking practice took place over the first two days of the week and then into the tests on the Wednesday. The penultimate day sees them undertake a general test, another way of confirming that the students had taken in the information and knowledge given. After 8 weeks of a gruelling block pro- gramme, the course finished with 13 of the 20 students that started passing the course, 3 failing on the night navigation tests, 3 failing through injury and 1 student RTU'd himself due to personal reasons. These figures are the signs that standards don't drop and don't think you'll have a handy few weeks in the IWW and get a point for your promotion case file, you won't, you'll work every minute of every day on this course for it. This is very evident in the results that Ireland have achieved in the UK's 'Cambrian Patrol' exercise, by claiming either silver or gold in that event since 2013. If you're thinking of becom- ing a Recce Commander Instructor you will want to make sure you're both physically and mentally ready, it's just not the type of course you want to be detailed to do against your will. Instructors in the IWW would advise anyone thinking of going on it to brush up on their military skills and their their fitness needs to be of a high standard. cpl barry mckenna, 27 Inf bn "This was my Second instructor course I have completed in the IWW. I found the course both mentally and physically challenging throughout the 8 weeks. Many military skills are honed during the course with navi- gation, battle prep and orders receiving a lot of attention. I enjoyed the opportunity to work with many like minded and enthusiastic soldiers" 2/lt david kelly, 2 cav sqn "The 'Reconnaissance Commanders Course' has a steep and testing learning curve. It requires students to maintain discipline and tactical awareness at all times while being physically capable of achieving the mission. It provides you an opportunity to test yourself and your military knowledge" cpl phillip scollard, 2 cav sqn "An interesting and physically robust course that refined and tuned my reconnaissance skills set. I would strongly recommend the course for all cavalry NCO's as I thoroughly enjoyed it and have no regrets taking on the challenge" pte richard carroll, 3 Inf bn "Physically one of the toughest courses I've taken part in and com- pleted in the Defence Forces. A challenging course as the soldiering skills are at a much higher standard but very rewarding to be awarded the title of Recce Commander" Vox Pops

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