An Cosantóir

www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 21 Operational capability has five essen- tial pillars: operational viability; sustainabil- ity; readiness; interoper- ability; and deployability. A brief exami- nation of each will give an overview of the complex- ity that is required in the military maritime en- vironment. 'Operational viability' is ensuring the ship can prevail in an operational situation. It is achieved through the synthesis of personnel, equipment, military doc- trine, organisa- tion, training and command and communi- cations. 'Sustainability' is ensuring that capability continues and the ship can maintain a mission tasking at the required operational tempo for the duration required. 'Readiness' is the immediate ability of the ship to execute a designated mission while balancing the constraints of time and capability. Many factors combine in this; current levels of person- nel, training, equipment, command, control, communications and intelligence. Readiness must be underpinned by appropriate doctrine and should be continually shaped by lessons learned. 'Interoperability' is concerned with ensuring that NS ships can operate jointly and successfully with other force elements or combined with other military organisations or civilian authorities. It entails familiarity with others operational procedures. Conse- quently, this requires suitable equipment, personnel, systems and infrastructural programmes, policies and procedures. 'Deployability' is concerned with ensuring that a ship can de- ploy to a mission area in a given time frame. It entails raising force elements to deploy nationally and/or internationally with the required training, preparation and equipment in place. The current pinnacle of seeing the five pillars in action are the Operation Pontus humanitarian missions in the southern Medi- terranean off the Libyan coast. A FORST team is embarked for the first seven or eight days of these missions as our ships steam south. They conduct a short but intense Mission Readiness Evaluation and Training (MRET) period onboard over this week. On completion of the MRET the ship will be at full operational capability, ready to meet whatever challenges exist in the area of operations. Speaking on the overview of the process, Cdr Minihane says: "I think the MRET is a fantastic development and through the mentoring style adopted by FORST, the crews of ships participating in Operation Pontus gain a significant amount of knowledge about the operation as well as proving their capability before they ever take a migrant onboard." Each MRET is tailored to the specific mission that the ship is assigned to at home or abroad. The MRET conducted on an Op- eration Pontus-bound vessel starts by having the basics recon- firmed; response to emergencies such as fire or collision and ship's protection operations, from small arms to main armament, which is tested, drilled and fired. As these competencies are being confirmed the ship's company are still working each day to adapt their vessels for the mission by the temporary addition to the ship's superstructure of items such as washing facilities, sun shelters, and shuttering around medical treatment areas. Then there is mission-specific training delivered by instructors with direct mission experience, such as SCPO/Sea Philip O'Connell, CPO/ERA Ruairí de Barra, and PO/HA Declan Tighe, on a wide range of subjects such as migrant handling; the use of personal protective equipment; searching techniques and intelligence gathering; gender and cultural awareness; and emergency first aid and CPR. The training culminates in full ship's drills where rescues are simulated, through which each individual becomes familiar with their role and the location of each item of equipment is tested, checked and rechecked. The next time these suits will be worn, these RHIBs launched, these guns uncovered, and that body armour strapped on, will be for real; when the ship is fully operational, perhaps at night with the lights of Tripoli glowing over the horizon and a migrant craft in distress to leeward with 150 persons crammed onboard. There, the balance between life and death is at close quarters. All the training and experience and the resolve of the crew is required to complete the mission without fear or failure. The training programme for the MRET recently conducted onboard LÉ Eithne was designed by Lt Cdr Cian O'Mearain (Fleet Marine Engineering Officer) and Lt (NS) Jamie Cotter (Fleet War- fare Officer). Lt Cotter explains: "There can be little doubt in my mind that an MRET period adds to and assists in the success of a mission. This is a concept that is not entirely new in the NS: it is a vital and key enabler to mission success that we have been carrying out for a number of years. The MRET is in fact only part of the third phase of a multiphase format followed by the unit as they prepare for overseas deployment." "Phase 1 is the individual training, which ensures personnel have completed TOETs, annual range practises, and medical and fitness tests. Phase 2 is collective training, and is conducted by the vari- ous branches while on standard maritime defence and security

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