Members of the 1st Infantry Battalion (1 Cathlán Coisithe ) from Mellows Barracks in Renmore, travelled to Arkansas in April to participate in the prestigious Armed Forces Skill At Arms Meeting (AFSAM ), where a tornado was an unforeseen complication to the high-profile marksmanship competition.
The Galwegian unit was selected as it won the Defence Forces’ 2024 Infantry Skills competition. The eight Galway riflemen scored mid-table amongst a dozen finalists at AFSAM, considered impressive as this is only the second time Ireland has sent a team to the 34-year-old competition.
Personnel from several US military branches, and international teams from the Netherlands, Italy and Britain, participated in the ten-day slog. Three days of events had to be rescheduled after a tornado shut down North Little Rock, Arkansas.
To prepare, the Galway team undertook a seven-week-long daylight and nighttime pistol and rifle course, including close combat training from the Army Ranger Wing. They were equipped with new, weapon-mounted laser modules.
Competitions included barrier shoots, close quarter battle shoots, stress shoots and an anti-body armour team match. These shoots included day and night events, engaging targets at ranges of between 90 to 450 metres.
“This unique military competition demonstrated the standard of Irish soldiers is on par with their international counterparts, and that the level of training available in Ireland can allow soldiers to perform confidently on the international scene,” said Lieutenant Donal Staunton of Renmore Barracks.
The competitors will be available to discuss their experience and display new equipment at an open day in Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa, Renmore, on Saturday, July 19, with all ages welcome.
See www.military.ie for more details
