Irish troops are in Chad on a humanitarian mission as part of a UN force led by an Irishman, writes Defence Forces commander-in-chief, Lieut Gen Dermot Earley.
Last night members of the Army Ranger wing deployed to one of the world's most acute humanitarian crises.
With their headquarters in the Curragh, this high readiness unit has a wide variety of highly-skilled specialist conventional military and aid to the civil power capabilities.
Increasingly, the Defence Forces have used this unit as our initial entry force during peacekeeping operations. The Ranger wing also has an established role in the advancement of military standards and skills.
Recruitment into the wing is by way of an extremely challenging selection process. Thereafter, successful candidates undergo vigorous training developing wide ranging capabilities in order to produce the Defence Forces' most elite soldiers.
Our Minister for Defence, Willie O'Dea, has said participation in overseas service "is a concrete expression of Ireland's foreign policy objectives" and it is a stated role of the Defence Forces.
This deployment finally began Ireland's contribution to the UN-mandated, EU-led peacekeeping operation to Chad and the Central African Republic, known as Eufor Chad/CAR. The mission is to protect over 400,000 refugees and internally displaced persons in eastern Chad, with the ultimate aim of creating the conditions to allow them to return to their homes, mostly in Darfur.
The international non-governmental organisation community is working tirelessly to support these people, yet even their presence is in peril as many armed groups turn their weapons on these humanitarian agencies for the sake of common banditry.
Up to 450 Defence Forces men and women will eventually deploy to the mission area. During the 12-month period of the Government agreed participation, a total of 1,200 Irish soldiers will serve on this mission.
There have been a number of headline delays to the deployment of this force. The force's resource shortfalls have been addressed and conditions in the Chadian capital, N'Djamena, have stabilised enough for deployment to have started with French, Swedish and Austrian troops last week.
The latest delays have altered our initial departure dates but not our main deployment in the coming months. While these delays are deeply frustrating, military personnel are now keen to get on with the mission of providing a safe and secure area for refugees. Needless to say, it is never our intention to intervene in internal Chadian affairs.
Fourteen EU nations have agreed to commit troops operating under the unanimously approved UN Security Council Resolution 1778 in a multidimensional peacekeeping operation. The military force, authorised under Chapter VII of the UN Charter will work with UN agencies and the NGO community and will compliment the neighbouring UN/African Union peacekeeping mission recently launched in Darfur.
Limerick man Lieut Gen Pat Nash commands this 3,700 strong military force, which is a great honour for him, his family and the Defence Forces.
As the operational commander since October 2007, he has had the task of translating political decisions into military plans and objectives.
The operational HQ is based in Paris and Lieut General Nash will command the mission through his force commander on the ground, French Brig Gen Jean-Philippe Ganascia, who in turn is assisted by the deputy force commander, Galway man Col Derry Fitzgerald.
The Ranger wing will operate with other special forces units from Austria, Belgium, France and Sweden. They will be based in Camp Croçi in Abeche, in eastern Chad, where they will demonstrate a robust presence in the area of operations to deter any rebel groups from interfering with the refugees and internally displaced persons.
Initial activity will include reconnaissance operations and long-range patrols to familiarise themselves with the area of operations and to gain detailed knowledge on the armed groups active in the region. The deployment of these highly skilled soldiers will allow EUFOR Chad/CAR to set about enforcing UN Resolution 1778. Over time and in tandem with the many other elements of this operation, this will bring about much needed stability to the region.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Defence Forces participation in UN operations. Overseas service has been a major motivating factor for recruitment, retention and advancement and has provided great impetus for ongoing modernisation of the Defence Forces. All of the 73 previous overseas missions and over 58,000 individual tours of duty have had some risk attached and many Defence Forces personnel have lost their lives or been wounded in the cause of peace. As always, force protection is a priority and Defence Forces personnel on this mission will not be put at unnecessary risk.
As the Ranger wing starts operations in Chad, the balance of 372 personnel continues to train at home for their impending deployment. This mission-specific training combined with state of the art equipment and the experience of their leaders, at all levels, will contribute significantly to risk minimisation. The threat assessment for the mission is defined as "medium risk".
While there are armed militias operating in Chad, our deployment is not designed to favour any side in internal Chadian affairs. This international mission has a clear UN mandate. Our intention is to work specifically to the military tasks defined by this. The risk assessment for Lebanon in 2006 and Liberia in late 2003 was similar. The intention in Chad is that our soldiers will patrol in strength, as we did in Liberia. We will not initiate hostile action, but will always be prepared to react should the situation demand.
The Rangers will be followed by an advance party of military logisticians and engineers who will start building a camp for the Irish battalion to occupy as its main operating base adjacent to the town of Goz Beida in southeastern Chad. Living conditions will be basic initially.
Many of the personnel being deployed will have had previous experience in Somalia, Liberia, Cote d'Ivoire, Western Sahara and Eritrea and this will boost confidence in their ability to overcome such difficulties in pursuit of their mission. However, as the extensive array of transport, tentage, communications, medical, catering, electrical, engineering and welfare equipment are deployed conditions will improve.
The bulk of this equipment will arrive by sea into the port of Douala in Cameroon and will be transported approximately 2,500km overland.
The main group of soldiers will deploy in May and immediately start operations. Like all Defence Forces missions abroad they will also engage in limited humanitarian work on selected projects, in addition to their military tasks. This will bring soldiers into contact with the people this mission is mandated to protect and will enhance mutual respect, cultural awareness and understanding between the two groups.
Such a relationship is key to the success of any mission, especially one so strongly underscored by humanitarian objectives.
As chief-of-staff of the Defence Forces, I know the task ahead for our troops will be challenging, often complex, sometimes lonely, but ultimately professionally very satisfying. I am very aware of the families and loved ones left behind when the men and women of the Defence Forces deploy overseas and I am grateful to them for their continued support and understanding.
This is a very important contribution to the Defence Forces and one that I wholeheartedly acknowledge.
Chad and the Central African Republic are undoubtedly in need of our assistance and the deployment of this EU force is crucial in helping to return stability to this troubled African region.
I am very confident that the soldiers deploying to Chad will continue our proud tradition of professional, impartial and dedicated service.
This service has become the recognised international hallmark of Irish soldiers who have deployed all over the world.