An Cosantóir

www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 23 A ll RDF recruits in the greater Dub- lin area carry out their initial re- cruit training with C Coy (RDF), 7 Inf Bn, and from 24 June to 7 July the company ran a two-week full time train- ing course for the latest batch of recruits. The recruits had joined the RDF in late 2016 and in the first part of 2017 their initial train- ing by C Coy's officers and NCOs had included an introduction to the Steyr rifle, success- fully passing their TOETs, and firing the re- cruit qualification tables at Gormanston rifle range in June. Now, the two weeks of full- time training would allow a greater amount of the recruit syllabus to be delivered. The first week of the course was held in Cathal Brugha Bks, where the recruits spent long days on the square learning and practicing their foot and arms drill, eventually passing the star tests in both towards the end of the week. Daily physical training also took place, under the supervision of an RDF PTL, the aim of which was to build up stamina for the tactical phase in the second week. Cathal Brugha Bks was a busy location that week, with over 40 PDF recruits also entering the Defence Forces to start their own recruit training with 7 Inf Bn. Week 2 started with a 24-hour exercise in Kilbride TIS, which began with the recruits being dropped off to march the last 5km in full combat kit to their base camp loca- tion, a forest area close to Kilbride Camp. After establishing their base camp, the recruits began a series of onsite lessons in field craft, culminating in their star tests in and around the base camp. After 24 hours at basecamp, the course uprooted and be- gan a 4km route march, again in full kit, to a pick-up point where the transport was waiting to bring them back to Dublin. The next day the course moved to Gorman- ston TIS to begin a two-day tactical phase in which the recruits were introduced to section at- tack drills. Warm humid weather meant that the resupply of water by the support staff became a necessary task as the recruits practiced their new skills. The use of pyrotechnics, a first for the recruits, added to the realism and enhanced the infantry skills acquired over two long working days. On 6th July the course returned to Dublin, and the full-time training came to a conclusion. The next big objective for the recruits is their passing-out parade, while the staff of C Coy are looking forward to the next batch of new entrants to the RDF, who will hopefully arrive later this year.

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