A total of 133 Irish troops are undergoing intensive training in Co Wicklow ahead of their deployment to the Golan Heights later this year.
The members of the Defence Forces will represent the final unit from Ireland to take part in the United Nations peacekeeping mission along the Israeli-Syrian border.
The Government announced in March that it was withdrawing from the UN Disengagement Observer Force .
The Defence Forces began participating in the UNDOF mission in 2013, as part of a UN mandate to maintain a 75km-long area of separation.
At the time of the announcement, the Department of Defence said the decision followed an assessment of the sustainability of overseas commitments and would ensure the Defence Forces has the capacity to fulfil its commitment to the new European Union Battlegroup.
The 68th Infantry Group, which is predominately drawn from Custume Barracks in Athlone in Co Westmeath, is currently taking part in a two-week Mission Readiness Exercise in the Glen of Imaal.
The unit's commanders and soldiers are being put through a series of scenarios based on the current situation in the Golan Heights and potential threats that may be encountered in the area.
In preparation for deployment, the detachment has been facing simulated explosive strikes, air strikes and helicopter drills.
The troops are also being tested in anti-ambush tactics during the day and at night using a variety of advanced weapons systems, as well as detailed planning and traditional peacekeeping methods.
The Defence Forces said the personnel being deployed have a wide range of capabilities including armoured force protection, patrolling and mobility, surveillance, communications, medical and operational expertise.
Lieutenant Colonel Oliver Clear, who is in command of the 68th Infantry Group, said the mission will be historic for the force.
"The Government announced in March that we will be withdrawing and it does look like we will be the last unit to deploy.
"I'm looking forward to the challenge of bringing it home for us, it adds another element to the mission," he added.
Lt Col Clear said the operation is about monitoring a ceasefire between the Syrian Arab Republic and Israel.
"We're on the Golan itself, as a force that's in there to observe that the ceasefire is being maintained," he said.
He added that the Irish troops will be "on constant standby to react to any incidents that may arise" as well as patrolling the area and monitoring and recording what happens.
Lt Col Clear said the unit is made up of "fantastic people with massive amounts of experience and often we undersell that".
"I'm bringing almost 75 people who have previous overseas service and I have personnel with up to 13 trips overseas. That experience you can't buy, you can't sell it and it's something we are very proud of and it enables us to do our job very successfully every day."
'Volatile' region
Regimental Sergeant Major Anthony Jinks described the Golan Heights region as "volatile" and "very unpredictable".
He said the extensive training under way in the Wicklow Mountains is designed to ensure the unit is "prepared at all times for any eventualities".
"Everything we do here is to prepare for what possibly could happen over there, and hopefully, we don't have to use it," he said.
Reg Sgt Maj Jinks added that it is "very disappointing" that the involvement of Irish troops in UNDOF is coming to an end.
"This is the last trip, it's unfortunate to us as members of the Defence Forces because our overseas, we would class that as our bread and butter.
"So, it's unfortunate that it's coming to an end, but we will finish this job professionally right to the end," he added.
RSM Jinks said: "The Irish soldier is renowned throughout the world for the professionalism when we are overseas, in particular with the UN."
A total of 34 of the troops in the unit, representing 25% of the detachment, will be on their first deployment overseas.
Private Matthew Quirke, who is based in Custume Barracks, is the youngest solider taking part in the mission.
The 20-year-old from Co Donegal, said he is "looking forward to it big time", adding that it is "obviously what I joined the job to do".
"I’m happy to be getting it so early in my career."
He said it will be "good experience to get over to a different country and actually experience serving in a peacekeeping environment".
"There's a bit of apprehension, a bit of nervousness obviously whenever you're going into a situation like this, where the ground is disputed."
However, he said the Mission Readiness Exercise and all the previous training has led up to this point and he said there is "no stone unturned, every base is covered".
"So, at the end of the day, there's nervousness, but I'm confident still in my jobs and my skills," he said.
Sacrifices
Enormous sacrifices are often made by the troops who travel on overseas missions and their families.
Company Quartermaster Serena Roche, who is based at the Curragh Camp in Co Kildare, will be on her first mission in the Golan Heights.
She has previously completed two tours of duty in Lebanon as part of UNIFIL, the United Nations Interim Force in the country.
CQ Roche has a background in logistics and will be tasked with ensuring all vehicles being used by the unit in Golan are operation ready.
She said the personnel in the infantry group has been going through exercises in the Glen of Imaal "preparing for anything that may happen, anything that could happen".
"There's a lot of first timers, so just getting them ready to experience what might lay ahead of them in the next six months," she added.
CQ Roche said her husband returned home in May after a six-month tour of duty in Kosovo and she said she is "a mother of three children, so inevitably, it's hard on them, it's hard to adjust".
However, she said "part of a female’s role in the army is to do what everybody else does".
The 68th Infantry Group will travel to the Golan Heights in October on a six-month tour of duty before Ireland's involvement in UNDOF ends in April of next year.
The final Irish mission will be based in Camp Faouar on the Syrian side of the area of separation.
