One of the biggest training exercises in the history of the Defence Forces began yesterday in the Glen of Imaal, Co Wicklow.
It is intended to prepare troops for participation in the European Rapid Reaction Force (ERRF) and other peacekeeping operations.
The State has undertaken to have an infantry battalion trained and ready for deployment in the ERRF by the end of 2003.
The number of troops committed to the force and to UN operations is 850.
Up to 800 soldiers will be trained and assessed in the Glen of Imaal in the coming days. The troops being trained this week are from the 4th Western Brigade. More than 200 of them will take up a tour of duty with the UN in Eritrea in December.
Troops from the 2nd Eastern Brigade will take part in the operation next week and about 250 of this group will serve with the UN-authorised Kosovo force (Kfor) from early next year.
Also taking part are 70 members of the Defence Forces reserve, formerly the FCA. Those troops are drawn from the 24th infantry battalion in Donegal, the 19th infantry battalion in Roscommon/Sligo/ Leitrim and the 5th field artillery regiment in Galway.
Lieut Col Ger Aherne, commander of the operation, said it was one of the Army's biggest training operations. "It basically tests their skills and operational readiness," he said.
As part of the operation to test soldiers in similar situations to what they would encounter if sent on peacekeeping missions, the soldiers undertook an overnight eight-km trek over Table Mountain last night and were ready to meet other troops in a simulated battle scene at dawn today.
They carried with them their personal Steyr weapons, 60 and 81 mm mortars, 105 mm light guns, Milan anti-tank weapons, and large GPMGSF machine guns, which will also be tested during the operation.
All the soldiers are wearing special sensors which when hit by laser beams fired by their Steyr weapons during the simulated battle scenes emit a high-pitched sound, indicating they must be dealt with as a casualty.
This will serve to warn soldiers of the dangers they are likely to encounter in combat situations.
Comdt Kieran McDaid said the exercise was part of an overall strategy "to improve collective and combined all-arms conventional training.
"Reviews of training conducted by the Defence Forces have shown that while the standard of training of the individual soldier was high, a renewed emphasis on collective training at all levels was necessary," he said.
He added that the process of assessment of collective training had started in 2000 but on a smaller scale.
This year more than 2,000 of the Defence Force's 8,500 personnel will receive training.
The entire operation will be evaluated when completed.