We hear from the defence forces as they prepare for deployment to Lebanon.
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Over 40 members of the Defence Forces recently took part in an intensive four-day training exercise at Fort Davis in County Cork as part of a programme to turn them into the next leaders of the Defence Forces. Our Southern reporter Jamie O'Hara went to Fort Davis to meet with some of those taking part and he joins me now. Morning, Jamie. Good morning, Pat. Now, what exactly is this programme?
So, Pat, this is a very intensive course to become a non-commissioned officer, which it takes place in various locations across the country. But when I got to Fort Davis during what was probably the hottest day of the year, I spoke to Captain Joe Everett and he explained what the course is all about.
Captain Joe Everett, I'm the course commander for the 26th Potential NCO course and the training officer for One Brigade Training Centre, Kongsbergs Cork.
What training exercise are the defence forces participating in?
This week we're in week 15 of 20 of the potential NCO course. It's the junior leadership course that we have in the Defence Forces, those of private rank looking to become corporal. Week 15 specifically is military operations in urban terrain down here in Fort Davis. It is physically arduous, you can see the weather here today as well. So they'll be here for the next three days, but we'll take them through different stages of how to clear a building, how to enter buildings, high level, low level, how to attack a building, assault a building. i suppose up until now before they came on the course they were private soldiers in their units so they would have been i suppose followers so it's the very first time that we developed their leadership capability and their abilities so that they can draft up a plan themselves draft up a set of orders for the section and then execute a plan to i suppose achieve mission success no one gets through this course on their own initially teamwork is a massive thing taking ownership learning from your mistakes and showing a bit of initiative as well
If they deploy out to say the likes of Lebanon and stuff like that, like they are the section commander, they're the patrol commander on the ground. They are going to be the front face that are operating out in say South Lebanon and stuff like that. It's not going to be the captain, it's not going to be the lieutenant. So there's massive responsibility on them. Love the role. This is my fourth involvement with an NCO course. It's massive for me. I love it. There's a start, you know, you get an end product at the end of it.
captain joe everett there well two of the soldiers taking part in the course to become a non-commissioned officer it took some shade to speak to you jamie they did of course trooper emir walsh and trooper francois olivier they were standing out in the sun in their gloves and their helmets with their rifles on their back when i got there being instructed and being instructed rather on how to enter clear and secure a building during wartime
Trooper Eimear Walsh. It's a very physical week because we carry obviously full gear and it's going in and out of rooms and up and down stairs. So there's a great saying. Weapons, feet, eat, sleep.
What is the purpose of the intensive course for non-commissioned officers?
So that's the order that you do your priority of working. You learn to operate at that level though. That's the level you're expected to operate even if you are sleep deprived. I'm after doing four years and I'm after doing a lot of courses and two overseas trips. So this is kind of just the next, it's the next progression in my career because I have to be able to move on and do instructor courses on the courses I've already learnt. This isn't full equipment yet. There's body armour and day sacks to go on yet. This is the basic webbing, so this carries all your ammunition. I have pelters and first aid field dressing in this. I was overseas. I did Lebanon in 2024, so they were interesting trips. They were one of the ones where Israel was across the border, so plenty of bunker time.
Trooper François Levert is right.
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