An Cosantóir the official magazine of the Irish Defence Forces and Reserve Defence Forces.
Issue link: https://digital.jmpublishing.ie/i/907882
www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 23 On the first weekend in October, B Coy, 7 Inf Bn (PDF) organised and con- ducted an LFTT exercise for the battal- ion's RDF elements in the Stranahealy area of the Glen of Imaal. Coy Sgt Gerry Duff and Sgt Wayne Eastwood, the principle LFTT instruc- tors, briefed and exercised 36 RDF troops - all NCOs and Ptes from the bat- talion's C, D and E Reserve Coys in the basics of LFTT safety and procedures. The training exercise had the RDF troops moving tactically, initially as indi- viduals, with one of the LFTT instructors close behind and advancing some 200m into a forest track. Along the route, fig- ure targets would appear randomly and these were to be engaged with live rifle fire by the troops under instruction. Quick location of each target and speedy, safe response with accurate rapid rifle fire was monitored by both instructors, who provided guidance and advice as required. The terrain was wet and muddy, forc- ing each participant to carefully monitor their foot placement as they advanced with loaded rifles while listening to the instructors' constant refrain of 'Watch your front!' Next, the Reservists went through the exercise again, this time operating in pairs, using buddy-buddy methods and fire and manoeuvre techniques to close in and engage the targets. LFTT training compels each soldier to move out of his/her comfort zone. The soldier must focus intently on the im- mediate task at hand; scan for potential target areas; spot the figure-sized tar- gets as they pop up; watch the terrain they move over; control the direction their rifle is pointing; and count off the rounds they fire, so that magazine changing only takes place during lulls in the exercise, avoiding 'dead man's click' (having no ammunition when you need to fire a shot). OC 7 Inf Bn, Lt Col Murphy was present to observe the training and spoke to the exercise troops afterwards, asking them what they thought of the exercise and what lessons they had learned from it. While it was a short but intensive training exercise, the LFTT was enjoyed by all, particularly as it is unusual for RDF soldiers to get the opportunity to take part in this type of activity. Fire, fire, fire. Pte Byrne (L) and CQMS Dunne (R) prepare to advance. Engage targets.