CHAD DIARY:AS WE complete our last few days in Camp Ciara before rotating home, it's time for reflection and review. My armoured personnel carrier (APC) covered 4,087km since arriving 141 days ago, in a country with no roads, no infrastructure and where travel times are measured in days, not hours. I took part in seven long-range patrols over 40 days and too many short-range patrols to count, writes LIEUT SEÁN BYRNE
Our last patrol was a short two-day affair around our area of responsibility to introduce the new commanders to the various village leaders. Thankfully, I get down to Le Boutike to introduce Bako Moustafa to our replacements. It’s been a busy handover period, passing on operational updates, accounts and equipment to our replacements.
We ran through numerous potential scenarios, showing them what methods we used. I find myself using a phrase to reassure the new arrivals – one that was absolutely no comfort to me when I arrived. Whether it is in relation to the heat, the early mornings or the daily routine, it’s “You’ll get used to it”. I recognise the unimpressed glances I get in return.
In time, they will acclimatise and get their “Chadability” up and running.
One of the first lessons I learned after being commissioned was to always keep on the good side of your senior NCOs. These men and women make it happen at the sharp end, and show new officers the practicalities of motivating, working with and leading soldiers.
I may outrank them, but when they offer advice, I listen. Two very important people who worked tirelessly throughout the trip were Company Sgt Derek Allen and Company Quartermaster Sgt Lar Bracken. My platoon and I worked hard and learned a lot about ourselves, the Army and the difficulty of life in Chad.
It is a strange feeling knowing this will be the last time I will work with many of my platoon and company, considering we worked and lived in such close proximity for the past six months. We all disperse to different units and barracks in Ireland. I leave Camp Ciara on Friday and fly to N’Djamena. We are due to fly home on Monday, and will therefore be spending the weekend in Camp Europa. A trip to a swimming pool has been promised. At this point I’m very much looking forward to going home and having some time off. I wish the 99 Infantry Battalion a safe and successful mission. I can say without doubt that we’ve made a positive impact in our large area of operations. People’s lives are that bit more secure because of our presence.
Chad has been a positive experience for me, but I sympathise with the locals caught in this dispute. Like in Liberia it is these locals, particularly women and children, who suffer the most. And, like with Liberia, I will follow their progress in the newspapers long after I’m gone.
I may be here again. Other possible missions in other countries have been mentioned. I will apply to go overseas again soon, hopefully within the next 12 months.
At that point I will be turning 30, will have three overseas tours completed and am hopeful about promotion. Time to evaluate career and life goals and decide what direction to take.
In the coming six weeks I have no doubt my civilian friends will be sick of me, wanting to go out on a work night. It’s at that point I’ll provide a welcome distraction for my Army classmates studying for their finals in NUI Galway. But after a successful handover, for now my thoughts are solely occupied on going home, spending time with my family and enjoying my leave.
Lieut Seán Byrne arrived home in Ireland yesterday. The 99 Infantry Battalion, under the command of Lieut Col Joe McDonagh, has replaced his unit – the 98th. They are deployed for four months and Capt James Cahill of Reconnaissance Company will write a diary on his experiences for The Irish Times.