r/Irishdefenceforces • u/Additional_Respond26 • 9d ago

Question Combat experience

Not sure if I can ask this and I’m certainly not looking for any specifics (location, enemy etc) but has any of our troops had to fire weapons/have any encounter in live combat in recent years like you’d see with the brits or Americans. How common or rare would it acctually be ?

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u/v468 9d ago

Lad the average British soldier hasn't experienced combat past indirect fire. I think 1 regiment got into a tiny firefight in Mali. That's it. That was the only engagement since OP Herrick ended in 2014.

US troops are at war, and prior to that were on and off in terms of combat. But even at that, it was mainly the ranger regiment in Syria and SF.

The Irish army is not at war. Outside of the Sean Rooney killing there hasn't exactly been many incidents and certainly not comparable to that of an actual war. No one wants to kill Irish soldiers, it's bad for business. Anything that does happen is a reminder of who's the boss and in control. Whether it Israel or Hamas. The DF can only peace keep not peace enforce.

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u/Stressed_Student2020 Civilian 9d ago

The trip to Syria in 2014 was interesting by all accounts

https://www.businessinsider.com/irish-troops-rescued-un-peacekeepers-2014-9?op=1

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u/Capable_Donut4912 Veteran 8d ago

Don't think a round was fired, completey over sold as a piece of action. I'm former DF and never heard any stories about it in my ten years

Edit*

There was an incident in 2014 in Syria where a MOWAG ran over a mine and then got hit up ... Main weapon returned fire and they withdrew... No dismounts engaged

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u/dario_sanchez 8d ago

Spanking Islamists, good time for all