Irish Defence Forces Personnel in Afghanistan

Saw an article in the Evening Herald about an Irish bomb disposal expert working in Afghanistan. I hadnt realised we had people over there. Is there anymore than just him?

Irish_Army01

blindjustice wrote:

Saw an article in the Evening Herald about an Irish bomb disposal expert working in Afghanistan. I hadnt realised we had people over there. Is there anymore than just him?

approx 10 personal...Senior Officers and NCO's

Judt

...I thought the front page article was of more interest...

Flying

They have been their since ISAF started, a token unit of Ruperts that stay in a compound and get a medal to say they were in Afghanistan. I saw them there and are as much use as a handbrake in a canoe.

In a nutshell Ruperts go there to get a few months away from Ireland as a break, they have Zero Operational use as do the 1 or 2 Senior NCO's that are there !

testicle

Flying wrote:

They have been their since ISAF started, a token unit of Ruperts that stay in a compound and get a medal to say they were in Afghanistan. I saw them there and are as much use as a handbrake in a canoe.

In a nutshell Ruperts go there to get a few months away from Ireland as a break, they have Zero Operational use as do the 1 or 2 Senior NCO's that are there !

Taliban using IRA bomb techniques in terror war
Sunday Independent, June 03 2007
JIM CUSACK


TERRORIST bomb techniques perfected in Ireland by IRA engineers and electronics experts have spread to theTaliban in Afghanistan, and the Irish Defence Force's unique know-how in dealing with the devices is being shared with peace-keeping forces there.

A senior Army Ordnance Corps officer has been appointed head of training in bomb-disposal techniques with the 5,000-strong International Security Assistance Force. One of seven Irish soldiers in Afghanistan, he is in charge of training the NATO-led forces and the Afghan National Army and police in dealing with the developing threat of improvised bombs.

Devices and bombing techniques almost identical to those used by the Provisional IRA in the North have reached Afghanistan via Al-Qaeda in Iraq who, in turn, learned the same techniques from other Middle Eastern terror groups such as the PLO and Hizbollah who trained with the IRA in Lebanon.

Among the techniques that have already been used in the war-torn region include the "proxy bomb", used to devastating effect in the North in October 1990 when a kidnapped catering worker, Patsy Gillespie, was forced to drive a van bomb to the British Army checkpoint on the Border outside Derry.

Since last year several "vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices" (VBIEDs) have been used in Afghanistan, having been used widely before in Iraq. In March this year one such bomb was detonated outside Jalalabad next to a convoy of US Embassy officials, injuring five officials. In January last year another such attack killed 21 civilians in Kandahar Province.

Until recently all such attacks have been simply defined as suicide bombings, but more recently the NATO forces have discovered that, as in the North, the drivers are often forced to transport the bombs after their families have been held hostage. They are deceived into thinking they simply have to park the vehicle and leave it to detonate but, instead, the bomb is detonated by remote control by bombers following in another car.

Another technique developed by the IRA that has spread half way across the World to Afghanistan is that used to kill 18 British soldiers at Narrow Water, outside Warrenpoint in County Down, in August 1979. A "primary" landmine killed several soldiers in a passing lorry, then the bombers waited as medics and other soldiers moved in to their aid, detonating a second bomb hidden on the other side of the road. The same technique was passed on to Hizbollah who used it against the Israeli Defence Forces during the 1980s and 1990s. NATO forces have also found an increasing number of similarities in the bomb-making techniques of the Taliban who are trying to seize control of the troubled country and re-impose Sharia government.

The Army Ordnance Corps officer in charge of training both the NATO and Afghan National Army in countering these attacks warned last week that the tactics andtechnology being used by the Taliban was becoming even more deadly. "We'll see an increase in the technology," he told a training course in Kabul last week.

A Defence Forces spokesman yesterday said the army ordnance officer was one of eight Irish officers currently serving in Afghanistan. Ordnance officers are not named because of the sensitive, high-risk nature of their work.

Flying

Amazing that ISAF need Irish EOD Officers, when they have several dozen British ATO's in Kabul alone.

No more than a news bite, I was there with the Brits and again the "Paddy the Pig" Officers were told to stand to one side and close the hole below their nose as they were spouting to much BS.

Irish Army EOD officers barely get out of bed in the morning, it is usually the NCO's in the EOD that actual do the real work.

testicle

Flying wrote:

Irish Army EOD officers barely get out of bed in the morning, it is usually the NCO's in the EOD that actual do the real work.

You will find that Irish EOD Officers are the ones that do the EOD work.

Now wake up and stop dreaming, it's 1751 on a Sunday.

Flying

testicle wrote:

You will find that Irish EOD Officers are the ones that do the EOD work.

Now wake up and stop dreaming, it's 1751 on a Sunday.

Is that so thats amazing my father is 37 years in Ordanance as also I was and I would think you are mistaken in that fact, oh but alas I know nada eventhough I have and family members have done it as a job.

Irish Army Officers would barely get out of bed in the morning given half the chance !

Maybe a bias opinion but based on experience and fact.

Manic Moran

There are commo types over there too. I have a SGT who worked with a Commandant in the signals area in Afgh.

NTM

redarse

Flying wrote: »

Amazing that ISAF need Irish EOD Officers, when they have several dozen British ATO's in Kabul alone.

No more than a news bite, I was there with the Brits and again the "Paddy the Pig" Officers were told to stand to one side and close the hole below their nose as they were spouting to much BS.

Irish Army EOD officers barely get out of bed in the morning, it is usually the NCO's in the EOD that actual do the real work.

Seems like someone had a bad experience with some 'paddy the pig' officers who couldnt be bothered to get out of bed in the morning?? Nice generalisations Flying.

So would it be fair to say that all private 'bod' soldiers wouldnt be able to tell their arse from their elbow unless they were directed by an officer or NCO?? True for some but I wouldnt say all!! Agree?

Morpheus

WOW:rolleyes: thats almost 2 years waiting a reply! I thought I was seeing things!!!

Is there an Irish contingent still over there?

arybvtcw0eolkf

Morphéus wrote: »

Is there an Irish contingent still over there?

Yes.

SIRREX

7 at a time on 6 month rotation

Uncle Fester

Irish Contingent Afghanistan (ISAF)• 1st IRCON - Dec 2001
• 2nd IRCON
• 3rd IRCON
• 4th IRCON
• 5th IRCON
• 6th IRCON
• 7th IRCON
• 8th IRCON
• 9th IRCON
• 10th IRCON
• 11th IRCON
• 12th IRCON
• 13th IRCON
• 14th IRCON
• 15th IRCON
• 16th IRCON
• 17th IRCON
• 18th IRCON
• 19th IRCON
• 20th IRCON
• 21st IRCON – Feb 2010 – Sep 2010
• 22nd IRCON– Sep 2010 – Feb 2011
• 23rd IRCON - Feb 2011 – Sep 2011
• 24th IRCON– Sep 2011 – Feb 2012

Defence Forces Link: http://www.military.ie/overseas/current-missions/isaf

LondonIrish90

I'm sure every contribution in this manner, regardless of size, is greatly appreciated by the rest of the ISAF forces in Afghanistan. Also a very telling contribution politically.

I wonder if Irish soldiers on a broader scale would be interested in going to Afghanistan? Especially those who sign up for frontline roles such as Infantry or Cavalry, surely going to war zones and fighting a hardened enemy is what they signed up for and wanted to do during their service?

I wonder if their is a general desire among PDF troops for the Irish role in Afghanistan to be expanded?

SIRREX

LondonIrish90 wrote: »

Especially those who sign up for frontline roles such as Infantry or Cavalry, surely going to war zones and fighting a hardened enemy is what they signed up for and wanted to do during their service?

Not what the Irish Army is about. Anyone who joined the DF expecting to be involved in fighting hardened enemies, as you put it, is guilty of a severe lack of research

LondonIrish90

SIRREX wrote: »

Not what the Irish Army is about. Anyone who joined the DF expecting to be involved in fighting hardened enemies, as you put it, is guilty of a severe lack of research

I suppose thats true and is why significant numbers of young Irish men are deciding to enlist in the British forces as opposed to the PDF currently. However, I'm sure there are many who do simply join to experience the life of an infantryman for example as opposed to being ready to defend Ireland in the most extremely unlikely of circumstances that a foreign nation acts aggressively towards Ireland.

Also, you used the phrase "as I put it" suggesting you would have worded it differently. I'm not sure where you are coming from there. Those who enlist in the British Army (from all over Britain and the commonwealth and of course Ireland) are fully aware they will more than likely experience the most testing war zone since Korea. To many that is at the heart of their decision to join.

SIRREX

LondonIrish90 wrote: »

I suppose thats true and is why significant numbers of young Irish men are deciding to enlist in the British forces as opposed to the PDF currently.

Also, you used the phrase "as I put it" suggesting you would have worded it differently.

There is currently an embargo on recruitment in the DF, only lifted briefly to take in less than 200 in the last 18 months, so that might explain the larger than usual numbers of irish joining the brits.

And yes I would have said battle-hardened. if thats what you were trying to say

Poccington

I'd eat Mary Byrne's beef curtains for a chance to go to A'Stan with the DF.

Uncle Fester

Poccington wrote: »

I'd eat Mary Byrne's beef curtains for a chance to go to A'Stan with the DF.

:eek:

arybvtcw0eolkf

LondonIrish90 wrote: »

I wonder if Irish soldiers on a broader scale would be interested in going to Afghanistan? Especially those who sign up for frontline roles such as Infantry or Cavalry, surely going to war zones and fighting a hardened enemy is what they signed up for and wanted to do during their service?

I wonder if their is a general desire among PDF troops for the Irish role in Afghanistan to be expanded?

I'd eat Mary Byrnes beef curtains through Poccington's arse to get over.

OS119

Lydia Late Supertanker wrote: »

I'd eat Mary Byrnes beef curtains through Poccington's arse to get over.

if you let me watch, i'll take you...

Crann na Beatha

This post has been deleted.

SIRREX

Lydia Late Supertanker wrote: »

I'd eat Mary Byrnes beef curtains through Poccington's arse to get over.

:eek: Now that's Battle Hardened!!:eek:

jill_valentine

Catch 22 for the 21st century - I'd question the sanity of anybody willing to make such a horrifying sacrifice.

Manic Moran

SIRREX wrote: »

Not what the Irish Army is about. Anyone who joined the DF expecting to be involved in fighting hardened enemies, as you put it, is guilty of a severe lack of research

There aren't many uses for an organisation with skills such as shooting howitzers or conducting close recon in armoured vehicles. Outside of fighting enemies, howitzers are used for avalanche control, but I can't imagine that's much of an issue for the Irish government to be concerned about. Otherwise, I guess I could see the use in crowd control, but that's about it, really.

I'd question the sanity of anybody willing to make such a horrifying sacrifice.

I'd question the worth and selflessness of someone who wasn't. Especially since Afghanistan hasn't been about killing enemies for quite a few years now, the focus is on the Afghan people.

NTM

iceage

Lydia Late Supertanker wrote: »

I'd eat Mary Byrnes beef curtains through Poccington's arse to get over.

The horror.... Great clip for live leak though!

SIRREX

jill_valentine wrote: »

Catch 22 for the 21st century - I'd question the sanity of anybody willing to make such a horrifying sacrifice.

Manic Moran wrote: »

I'd question the worth and selflessness of someone who wasn't. Especially since Afghanistan hasn't been about killing enemies for quite a few years now, the focus is on the Afghan people.
NTM

I think the questioning of sanity was in reply to the suggestion of "Eating Mary Byrnes' beef curt...." it's no use, I can't bring myself to even type it!

jill_valentine

Manic Moran wrote: »

I'd question the worth and selflessness of someone who wasn't. Especially since Afghanistan hasn't been about killing enemies for quite a few years now, the focus is on the Afghan people.

NTM

But Mary Byrne, Manic?

No sir. I could ask that of no man.

Manic Moran

My bad.

Local-womanizer

Manic Moran wrote: »

My bad.

Well,it's Poccington's bad actually.

Every time I see Mary on that Bingo ad now I cringe

Fred Cohen

LondonIrish90 wrote: »

I'm sure every contribution in this manner, regardless of size, is greatly appreciated by the rest of the ISAF forces in Afghanistan. Also a very telling contribution politically.

Not quite they chucked out one of our Foreign Affairs lads for going native with the tribesmen.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7161004.stm

Local-womanizer

Fred Cohen wrote: »

Not quite they chucked out one of our Foreign Affairs lads for going native with the tribesmen.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7161004.stm

In fairness it seems this is down to an over-zealous Afghan with a blinkered view on the war there, ie kill as many of them and this will win the war.

The two diplomats were trying to make contact with locals on the ground affected by the conflict, and they said this may include those opposed to the government.

Now I see it a good thing that they are putting themselves at risk to find out why people fight for the Taliban against ISAF. Address the issues at grass roots level to keep people happy in the hope they won't pick up an AK and shoot at you out of frustration and in turn destroy the support base of the Taliban in country.

And that article is also from 2007. I'd say things over there have developed a lot in 4 years.

Fred Cohen

Local-womanizer wrote: »

In fairness it seems this is down to an over-zealous Afghan with a blinkered view on the war there, ie kill as many of them and this will win the war.

The two diplomats were trying to make contact with locals on the ground affected by the conflict, and they said this may include those opposed to the government.

Now I see it a good thing that they are putting themselves at risk to find out why people fight for the Taliban against ISAF. Address the issues at grass roots level to keep people happy in the hope they won't pick up an AK and shoot at you out of frustration and in turn destroy the support base of the Taliban in country.

And that article is also from 2007. I'd say things over there have developed a lot in 4 years.

I would agree with you totally there, I just wanted to point out that the Irish involvement does not consist of just hanging around the bar as some posting here seem to think.

As to this being 4 years old, these two lads were 3 years ahead of the game and things only started to develop (in a good way) when Gen David Petraeus took over in 2010 and guess who's methods he followed?

Hopefully things will continue to improve over there but I'm reading a book on Alexander the Great at the moment and if he couldn't subdue it, I don't think we have much hope.

Uncle Fester

Irish Soldier and Tri-Colour at ISAF HQ


COMISAF General Stanley McChrystal with Irish Troops ISAF HQ 2010

constantg

jill_valentine wrote: »

Catch 22 for the 21st century - I'd question the sanity of anybody willing to make such a horrifying sacrifice.

,


Seriously? Personally I'd love to go, but as a mate of mine in 1RIR said after coming back,

"Was REALLY wired before I went. Was TOTALLY buzzing on the ground. First time I was hit up felt EPIC. The other 50 or so times after felt a lot less epic and in the end I was just glad to be coming home alive and in one piece, unlike some of my mates."

jill_valentine

I can only assume y'all are missing the Mary Byrne beef curtains thing because the fragile human mind prefers to block it out in self defence.

cyrusdvirus

jill_valentine wrote: »

I can only assume y'all are missing the Mary Byrne beef curtains thing because the fragile human mind prefers to block it out in self defence.

Ah stoppit will ya!!! I'm trying to eat my brekkie here!!!

SIRREX

gatecrash wrote: »

Ah stoppit will ya!!! I'm trying to eat my brekkie here!!!

Not Rashers I hope!

Perkina3

No probably a big side of beef... with plenty of Mary Byrnes fat! :P

Uncle Fester

I had a few more photographs that I was going to share on this thread, but it a pity that it has gone astray from the original post

Maybe_Memories

Uncle Fester wrote: »

I had a few more photographs that I was going to share on this thread, but it a pity that it has gone astray from the original post

Post 'em! Would love to see them!

jill_valentine

*Unless they're of Mary Byrne.

kickboxer

Flying wrote: »

Amazing that ISAF need Irish EOD Officers, when they have several dozen British ATO's in Kabul alone.

No more than a news bite, I was there with the Brits and again the "Paddy the Pig" Officers were told to stand to one side and close the hole below their nose as they were spouting to much BS.

Irish Army EOD officers barely get out of bed in the morning, it is usually the NCO's in the EOD that actual do the real work.

AS do all the nco,s in the army ,they carry the officers throught their entire carrer.

cruasder777

Fred Cohen wrote: »

I would agree with you totally there, I just wanted to point out that the Irish involvement does not consist of just hanging around the bar as some posting here seem to think.

As to this being 4 years old, these two lads were 3 years ahead of the game and things only started to develop (in a good way) when Gen David Petraeus took over in 2010 and guess who's methods he followed?

Hopefully things will continue to improve over there but I'm reading a book on Alexander the Great at the moment and if he couldn't subdue it, I don't think we have much hope.

Im a bit lost ? Whos method did General Petraeus follow ?


You mean the two diplomants explled as MI6 agents a few yrs back ?

Obviously there is going to have to be compromise in Afghanistan, its inevitable the Taliban will end up in power in some regions.

DipStick McSwindler

This post has been deleted.