Troops from the Defence Forces have entered the final phase of training for their upcoming deployment to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria.

The 138 troops, who head out on 3 October, will be deployed for six months.

The group contains soldiers of varied experience. For 41 troops in the group, this will be their first tour of duty overseas, and the youngest of the group is just 21.

Their mission is to maintain the ceasefire between Israel and Syria.

The 58th Infantry Group, have been put through three months of intensive preparation to mould them into what is known as a Quick Reaction Force.

A QRF is a small, highly mobile and flexible force that can respond to any request made by the force commander within 15 minutes.

The group has a wide range of capabilities including armoured force protection, patrolling and mobility, surveillance, medical and operational expertise.

A Mission Readiness Exercise took place at the Glen of Imaal in Co Wicklow this morning,

The soldiers were put through a series of demanding scenarios, taking part in a simulation of being under attack and reacting to danger based on potential situations they may encounter on the Syria-Israel border.

Today they simulated a "CASEVAC" casualty evacuation in Glen of Imaal, Wicklow. Rescuing a fellow soldier from an exploded vehicle - while contending with gunfire & shelling pic.twitter.com/tr6hsuJDPQ — Tommy Meskill (@TommyMeskill) September 5, 2018

For Cork native, Corporal Jonathan Scott, this will be the 60th overseas deployment undertaken by members of Cpl Scott's family.

Relatives have deployed to eight other mission areas on multiple occasions, and he has two brothers and two cousins currently serving in the Defence Forces in the Army and Navy.

He says that with such a long military history in his family, they take great pride in their work.

He said: "Family occasions are interesting, there's a lot of bragging and jeering about who's been away the most and all that.

"However, my family have pride in the work we do, and what the United Nations does.

"This is my first time going as part of the UNDOF, it's a new mission, it will be a challenge but the Irish Defence Forces always put their best foot forward".



