Irish military personnel, who are members of a new EU Battlegroup, are taking part in an exercise to test their ability at Gormanston Camp in Co Meath.
Some 172 Irish Defence Force members have been in training along with up to 5,000 soldiers from other EU countries including Germany, Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands and Sweden.
The German led Battlegroup will act as a rapid response force to stabilise a situation pending the deployment of a follow-on force.
It will provide support for UN-authorised missions and will also be deployed to aid humanitarian crises and support existing peacekeeping missions that face heightened difficulties.
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Training is being undertaken this year and the Battlegroup will be on standby throughout 2025 ready for deployment.
While there have been no deployments of previous Battlegroups with Irish soldiers the Commander of this Irish contingent believes there's an "increased likelihood" they will be.
Lieutenant Colonel Donal Burke said there's "kind of an understanding that the European Union has to act, why have these forces and not deploy them"
"It depends on what circumstances exist in 2025 and whether the political will is there from all member states to deploy the Battlegroup."
He said it is ultimately the Irish Government who will make the decision to deploy the Defence Forces with the Battlegroup.
Soldiers have to pass a National Certification exercise this week before going to Germany in November for an international assessment with personnel from the other member states involved in the Battlegroup.
The training exercise is taking place at Gormanston Camp with a simulation of a camp in a "hot zone".
Lt Col Burke said "the full battlegroup, 172 personnel, are deployed here in Gormanston Camp, we are simulating the main operating base for the EU Battlegroup."
"We're responsible for the protection of this base, manning the perimeter and looking after access and entry points."
There are six women in the unit, four on the medical team including company Sergeant Brigid McCormack.
This is her first Battlegroup.
"On a professional side of things, I know our training is up to standard and on the personal side of things, because I have nine previous [Defence Forces] missions if we get deployed, we get deployed."
The mother of four said she is from a military family who are a great support and know she may be deployed next year.
The unit will be the first group equipped with the new Software Defined Radio System and demonstrated this new capability today.
This is the eighth occasion where the Defence Forces have participated in an EU Battlegroup.
Ireland has previously participated in the Nordic Battlegroups in 2008, 2011 and 2015, the UK-led EU Battlegroup in 2016 and the German-led Battlegroups in 2012, 2016 and in 2020.
In January 2023, the Government approved the participation by the Defence Forces in a German-led EU Battlegroup for a two-year term, 2024 and 2025.
