CHAD DIARY:Lt Seán Byrne is back home. Capt James Cahill takes up the story of the Defence Forces' European Union peacekeeping operation in Chad. This is his first dispatch
WE TEST fired our weapons just before we left Camp Ciara in our Close Reconnaissance Vehicles (CRV), it’s to make sure we don’t get stoppages if we need to use them but it’s also a useful way of focusing the mind.
The thick, powdery red dust of the Chadian desert is kicked up by my forward vehicles and has covered my goggles already.
Thankfully I had wrapped my scarf tightly around my nose and mouth or I’d be choking right now, the smothering heat is preferable to the smothering dust.
The morning sun is already hitting 40 degrees and my pasty Irish skin is feeling it, factor 50 or not. This is my first time commanding a patrol, on my first trip overseas.
I’m leading my troops into the African desert with rebels and bandits known to operate in the area.
It’s a strange feeling, a mixture of adrenaline, fear, excitement and self-doubt. Have I done everything I can to get my troops ready for this? Will they follow me? This is it, this is Chad.
As the cavalry troop commander for the 99th Infantry Battalion, my specific preparation for getting this far started last June where I was put on courses along with some of the soldiers I would be serving with.
These covered training on the new CRVs, our protection, our mobility and when out of camp – our homes – for the duration of trip. Lots of getting down and dirty with field reconnaissance and, in my case, a cavalry young officers’ course.
Once these were done we were finally ready to begin what is known as “form up” training, where the unit to serve overseas comes together and begins mission specific training to prepare it for deployment.
Given that the political, cultural, medical, operational and environmental conditions are so different to home, we had endless briefings covering cultural awareness, the political situation in Chad, our mission and most importantly for soldiers our rules of engagement, when, how and if we can open fire in a hostile situation.
Along with this we also underwent live fire manoeuvring, first aid, and communications training. This all happened in the freezing, wet Glen of Imaal in Co Wicklow, where the battalion assembled for weeks as we carried out final firing practices and a three day mission readiness exercise.
Here the whole unit was exposed to worst case scenarios they could encounter overseas. This serves as the Army’s final assessment at all levels, from the battalion commander to the private soldier, to establish whether or not the unit is ready for deployment and to highlight any potential shortfalls in training.
Following the two weeks leave over Christmas, we paraded in McKee Barracks for Minister for Defence Willie O’Dea, where he wished us the best in our mission and our safe return.
This was the final stage of our form up which is believed by most to be the worst part of any overseas trip.
I’m in Camp Ciara now and glad of every piece of training, every brief, every ambush drill, every recovery drill I have done since last June. It’s four months overseas, but about eight months preparation at home, just to get me and my soldiers to this stage.
The first thing I heard after getting off the aircraft at 4am in N’Djamena was an unmerciful roar. It was the group from the 98th battalion we were replacing, lined up on the tarmac to board our aircraft and head home. This was followed by a customary rendition of “I’m leaving on a jet plane” and another roar of laughter. I better learn the lines because in four months I’ll be clearing my throat.
Over the next few days we were ferried down to Camp Ciara the Irish base in southeastern Chad. The two week handover was critical to ensure the smooth transition from one unit to the next. This handover involves accounting for all equipment such as vehicles, weapons, and ammunition. The standard procedures used, being shown the local area and introductions to the local authorities which is so important to get a first feel for the atmosphere. It gets us new guys finely tuned. We are briefed and rehearsed to the point of boredom at home, but there’s no substitute for the real thing.
On our handover patrols we visited a lot of villages and refugee camps in our area of operation. One of the first things that became apparent to me was that nobody is lying at the side of the road starving to death as is the case in other parts of the continent.
Instead you are met with unsure glances which quickly turn to waves and smiles when they recognise friendly faces. This to me highlighted the unease in the country at the moment and was a real eye-opener.
The following week we officially took over the camp and duties from the 98th, and anxious to get rid of these “veterans” and get stuck into it.
That weekend we were all stuck to the Ireland v France game along with a number of French army signallers also based here. It was projected on to a big screen in the mess hall, which all led to a great atmosphere. A few days later the remainder of our battalion arrived, meaning we were now fully operational and ready to rock.
James Cahill is aged 24 an comes from Barna in Co Galway. He is single and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from NUI Galway. He has five years service in the Army as a cavalry officer. This is his first overseas tour of duty as troop commander with reconnaissance company, 99th Infantry Battalion that deployed to Camp Ciara, in Goz Beida as part of the EUfor Chad/Central African Republic Mission. His home unit is 4th Cavalry Squadron which recently marched out of Connolly Barracks in Longford town when it closed in January. On March 15th the unit will “blue hat” and become part of the UN peacekeeping mission Minurcat that takes over from EUfor, which is a bridging operation