LISTEN: Standing to attention as Limerick platoon salutes a bright future

AN EMPTY courtyard, marked by blue cones and ambushed by spectators and uniformed personnel, swallows a silent suspense as dozens await the sergeant’s orders.

A baby’s coo, the percussive winter coughs, the distant car on Lord Edward Street, every nuance of sound softly ping-pongs here in this historic, 18th century barracks.

And before freshly-polished boots shuffle onto the courtyard, a Captain Brian Prendergast waves his baton, with its gyre triggering a brigade of musicians to start the parade.

Many an iconic parade has made its inception here. Whether it’s a group of Irish Girl Guides or grand marshal gearing up for a Paddy’s Day parade, or the gargantuan Giant Granny waking up from her slumber, Sarsfield Barracks has been the harbinger of great Limerick memories.

And that applies to this parade, albeit a different kind of celebration. After 15 weeks of arduous military training, 17 young men—and one woman—commence their march into the ranks of the Defence Forces at this passing out ceremony.

Inducted on September 24, the new members of the 151st Recruit Platoon, of the 12th Infantry Battalion, carried out four phases of “rigorous and intense” training, divided into four phases.

After being inducted and accustomed to the military environment, trainees were instructed on foot-and arm-drills, rifle marksmanship and physical training. Phase three then saw the new recruits equipped with bayonets—particularly the Steyr AUG—and a general purpose machine gun, accompanied by health and safety. And the final phase comprised a focus on tactical training, unarmed combat and preparation for this very ceremony.

Following a few preparatory drills and a mandatory roll-call, awards are conferred on the most outstanding new recruits. The best tactical soldier is Kilkenny's 19-year-old Justin Cleere who “relished the challenges put forward to him and worked well under pressure situations”.

The Esprit de Corp allocade goes to Evan Spillane, 18, from Clonmel who displayed respect, loyalty and physical and moral courage. The sharp shooter of the brigade is Sean O’Connell, the Cashel 19-year-old who was awarded Best Shot, hitting 39—out of 40— targets and “demonstrated excellent weapon handling skills”.

But the best recruit, and man of the hour, is Abbeyfeale man and former Limerick FC man Gavin Dillon who displayed the “attributes and values with which the Defence Forces prides itself on”, according to the organisation.

While he says it was a nice feeling to receive this commendation, the two-star recruit says it was not an individual effort.

“What I was taught in the recruit platoon by the training staff is that you’re not a me-feiner, you don’t do things by yourself. You cannot get through the challenges that are ahead of you without the people that are in front of you, beside you or behind you.

“What I developed was to learn to work as a team. Coming from my own sporting environment, playing soccer, you can never win things on your own. The award I have here, in my own words if I could, on behalf of the 151st platoon, it’s not my own, for without them, I wouldn’t be here today. And that’s exactly how it is.”

Asked why he decided to join the platoon, Gavin says: “For myself, personally, I was a bit lost in a choice of career. I grew up in a sporting environment, so I presume I kind of put the career at a stall, and I spent so much time training and stuff that I never put any time into a career. So once I saw that the Defence Forces was there as an option with huge limits of physicality required, I obviously felt I had the ability to come in and see what was there for me. I knew it would make me more disciplined, more committed and a more respectful person, so that was something that I wanted to add to my own personality.”

Then comes a performance of fastidious footwork and bayonet handling, all choreographed in meticulous synchronicity, on the orders of Sergeant Jones, who gave his instructions as Gaeilge. And there was neither a slip nor fracture in the soldiers’ immaculate timing throughout the drill.

Lieutenant Colm Stapleton, the platoon commander who gave orders while holding the ceremonial sword, says that this troop will now start training for the their three stars next week.

“They will undergo 10 weeks of more physical training, more time spent on the ground, just to bring them up to the standard to pass out as three-star soldiers, so that they are able to conduct various duties that the army require them over the next couple of years,” he explains.

Recruit Catherine Jennings, who recited the oath of allegiance during the ceremony, was the only female recruit in the platoon. She says she was surprised by the “level of mental resilience needed” during the training.

“The easy option would have been to give up, which many people over the course of the 15 weeks did. Those of us that did not take the easy option have had to adapt and overcome some tough and testing times,” adding that the only way to overcome such challenges “was as a team”.

Lt Stapleton says there are more women joining the army, adding that it is “set out so that we can bring in anyone, of any shape or form, up to the standard required”.

And as they exit the courtyard, the One Brigade Band concludes the two-hour-long ceremony with the regimental drum-roll, fading out with the banging of heavy boots in the distance. But while the parade ends with a final beat, the march for this young garrison has only just begun.