An Cosantóir October 2017 www.dfmagazine.ie
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T
he Military Training School (MTS) is responsible
for the military training of Air Corps person-
nel. The school conducts career courses from
recruit and three-star training for line recruits and
apprentices to potential nCO and standard nCO
courses, range management courses, and weapons
proficiency training for Air Corps personnel. In addi-
tion to the conventional military training courses and
skills, MTS has developed the SERE and joint person-
nel recovery capability within the Defence Forces.
This small school in the corner of Casement Aerodrome
proudly holds the title of Centre of Excellence for SERE
and Personnel Recovery Training for the three services
of the Defence Forces. Traditionally an Air Force skill set,
the school took up the mantle for SERE (Survival, Eva-
sion, Resistance to Interrogation, Extrac-
tion) following the introduction of the PC-9M aircraft
in 2004 and the requirement for post-ejection survival
training for cadets and instructors. Initial training for the
first cadre of flying instructors, cadets and MTS instruc-
tors was provided by instructors from Pilatus, until
the responsibility was handed over to MTS in 2006.
The initial training involved operation of the ejec-
tion seat in flight, post-ejection drills in the air, on the
ground and at sea, and then the basic skills to survive
on land for 24 hours. The survival skills taught on the
course at that stage were very basic and the MTS in-
structors undertook the development of these skills on
their own initiative with the enthusiasm of a hobby.
The development of basic survival skills and research
into military survival led to an opportunity for four MTS
instructors to undergo the Swedish SERE instructors
course, a highly respected qualification that included
advanced bush craft; escape and evasion; 24-hour con-
duct after capture; resistance to interrogation train-
ing; and, at a later stage, Arctic survival training.
By CAPT BARRy JOnES, DF SERE InSTRuCTOR
An Cosantóir October 2017 www.dfmagazine.ie
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