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This is what it was all for, after eight longs months of training and a brutal 90km march, the young Paratroopers wear their red berets with pride.
At the end of the gruesome eight month training that recruits of the IDF’s Paratroopers Brigade have to complete their final challenge. Before the recruits will be fully fledged soldiers of the Paratrooper’s Brigade they have to finish their ‘Masa Kumta’, which translates to ‘Beret March’. This is an all night 90km march in full gear, through any kind of weather, at the end of which young Paratroopers receive their red berets. This signifies the end of their training and full admission to the active forces of the Paratrooper’s Brigade.
Photos:Israel Defence Force
2/4 Battalion Twin Peaks Battle Tab 2013
The eleventh annual Twin Peaks Battle Tab organised by Bravo Company 2/4 Bn RNZIR in Dunedin, drew a record number of entries this year from NZ Defence Force Units as far afield as Auckland and Invercargill. Eighteen mixed and unit teams plus 20 individuals lined up for the gruelling 26km long battle tab up and over two of the highest peaks surrounding Dunedin wearing full battle gear and carrying Steyrs. Although this year it was fine and mild up on top, recent heavy rains in the city meant a wet and muddy run for all as they traversed the steep bush covered slopes of Flagstaff Hill (668m) and Swampy Summit (739m) twice. Race organiser Captain John Aitken said the race always stirred up inter-unit rivalry especially between the different companies of the recently merged 2/4 Battalion in the South Island. The Commander TRADOC (NZ) Col Evan Williams and Command SM WO1 Kevin Yorwarth even took time out from their busy schedules to attend the event and walked a large part of the course encouraging the many young and not so young soldiers navigating the muddy conditions in the dense bush.Burnham’s Defence Health School‘s Team One under the leadership of WO2 Jason Keno crossed the line and claimed ‘the Slab’ a black basalt trophy from a Dunedin quarry in the fast time of 3hrs:55mins:11secs followed 35 mins later by a team from 3CSSB -3Workshops Company, Burnham, while a team from Alpha Company 2/4 Bn Christchurch crossed the line just six minutes later in third place. The top women’s team was also from DHS in Burnham.The fastest individual woman was PTE Annaleise Hall, a student at Defence Heath School, who completed the run in a time of 5hrs:31mins:29secs. Pics courtesy of John Cosgrove.
A Bedouin soldier examines the ground for markings at the border of Israel and the Gaza Strip May 19, 2014 in Nahal-Oz, Israel. The IDF's tracking unit, mostly made up of Bedouin soldiers from 25 different tribes, was created in order to patrol for infiltrators and possible terror activity along Gaza/Israel border.
Stanjel – the jewel of the Karst region!
The Romans turned the top of the hill into an ancient fort, in the Middle Ages the village expanded over the hill, and later on the settlement was enclosed by defence walls to protect it against Turks invasions.
However, the most dominant features of the village are the Castle and the Church of Saint Daniel, which make Stanjel so remarkable. While walking through the narrow streets, the houses built in stone are telling you the story of stonemasons, who portrayed their experience of the Karst through stone. The streets end up in small squares, which were once popular meeting places for the youth and elderly.
Late Gothic St. Danijel's church was built in the second half of 15th century. Later, in the 17th century, particularly outstanding church tower was built. In its interior there is very interesting marble slab on the high-altar showing the image of the castle at the end of the 17th century. However parish Saint Daniel's church has two succoursal churches: The St. Gregory church and the church of St. Joseph.
Badly damaged during the Second World War, the part of the castle has been restored. The oldest remains of the castle reach back into the Middle Ages. In that time the castle was owned by the Counts of Gorica, then by the Cobenzls, and later on the ownership passed on to many others. In the 17th century it was rebuilt into a renaissance and baroque residence.
The Karst people always had to cope with the problem of the shortage of drinking water. A proof for that is also Stanjel with its numerous stone wells built in the squares. Very interesting is also the Romanic or Karst House with its ethnological collection.
You can experience the Karst from a different perspective in the renovated part of the castle. The castle's halls, where you can meet bridegrooms and brides on Saturdays, host a collection of the recognized painter and graphic Lojze Spacal.
While walking through the streets, you are also invited to visit the gallery in the exhibition tower with the gateway to Kobdilj and the small gifts’ shop. A very interesting passage from the stone village to the green surroundings is represented by Ferrari's Garden, a unique masterpiece of the architect Max Fabiani. You can continue your walk from Ferrari's Garden to Kobdilj on a path named after Max Fabiani, discovering the beauty of green surroundings.
Tower with gateway to Kobdilj became part of the Villa Ferrari in 1928. Enrico Ferrari was a well-known doctor from Italy, Trieste. There was a dining room on the first floor and a beautiful terrace on the roof. In 1944 the tower was half ruined. It has been restored and today there is a gallery in it with exhibitions and a souvenir shop on the ground floor.
A Grade
Round 6 of the CHNL saw a depleted Hepburn take on Creswick. For the 2nd week in a row the Burra’s were forced to line up with 2 players out injured. Confident in their squad, the competition leaders tried various line ups throughout the game until they quickly settled. Captain Libby Purtell at Goal Attack was instrumental in providing Hepburn with plenty of options in attack. Purtell maintained her 100% accuracy throughout the first half and was supported brilliantly by sharp shooter Jane Lienhop at Goal Shooter.
Creswick managed to keep the mid-court battle alive by providing sharp drives to the circle; however the Burra’s defensive pressure in the circle from Ebony Place saw the ball turned over time and time again. The junior of Hepburn’s team,18 year old Tara Ford clocked up her 150th game for the club in great style at Goal Defence. Ford seems to be taking every opportunity in seniors to develop her game with the help of Place at Goal Keeper. However it was wing attack Brydie Taig that stood up to the challenge and lifted the Burra’s confidence. Taig was named Hepburn’s best on court thanks to her speed and sharp feeding into the circle. Hepburn ran out winners 53 to 17.
The Mo Shepherd award went to Hannah Cameron-Taylor and Libby Purtell for outstanding work.
Goals: Jane 74% 40/54, Libby 80% 12/15
B Grade
Hepburn’s reserves were also focussed on keeping their unbeaten run to the finals alive. The Burras got off to a shaky start as they tried to adjust to Creswick’s style. Moving Janee Brown into Centre in the second quarter was all it took to lift the Burras confidence and provide a 24 to 9 lead at half time.
Courtney Wetzel at Goal Defence, Kristi Pedretti at Goal Keeper and Caitlan Ryan at Wing Defence stepped up in the second half and kept Creswick scoreless until the final minutes of the game. Wetzel provided one of her best games of netball this year getting her hands on ever pass that came her way. Final scores Hepburn 53 to 13.
The Mo Shepherd award went to Caitlan Ryan and Janee Brown
Goals: Mel Penny 75% 41/55, Tania Grant 92% 12/13
The Ulster Defence Association (UDA) is a loyalist paramilitary organization in Northern Ireland, outlawed as a terrorist group in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, and which is perceived by its supporters as defending the loyalist community from Republican terrorism.
Its main objective has been to reject Northern Irish amalgamation with the Republic of Ireland seeking to do so through either Ulster independence or maintenance of the Act of Union. It has also operated under the name Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF).
Its main activities were the killing of Roman Catholic civilians and to a lesser extent, Irish nationalist politicians. The UDA/UFF has also killed at least three Irish republican paramilitary members.
Please visit some of my other photos from my Eire and Ulster set and leave a comment or two :)
Soldiers from 67th Reserve Infantry Battalion of the Reserve Defence Force on Exercise and Recruit Training – 2007 and 2008
A Bedouin soldier looks for markings at the border of Israel and the Gaza Strip May 19, 2014 in Nahal-Oz, Israel. The IDF's tracking unit, mostly made up of Bedouin soldiers from 25 different tribes, was created in order to patrol for infiltrators and possible terror activity along Gaza/Israel border.
Defence Fire Services AT 97 AB, a Volvo FL 250 water tender with a Saxon body at Royal Air Force Waddington during the Waddington International Air Show. Sunday 6th July 2014
Ref no Canon EOS60D 2nd series - IMG_7014
General Flemming Lentfer, NATO Chief of Defence of Denmark (screen), Lieutenant General Max Nielsen, NATO Military Representative for Denmark (right)
ROCKHAMPTON, Queensland, Australia (July 15, 2011) - Australian Defence Force Capt. Aaron
Oldaker,from Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, with 1st Joint Public Affairs Unit, low crawls through a tunnel ADF and U.S. Marines during a movement-to-contact exercise during a Marine Corps Martial Arts Program demonstration and physical training drill at Camp Rocky in Rockhampton during Talisman Sabre 2011 July 15, 2011. U.S. Marines with Combat Logistics Regiment 37, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, hosted the demo and drill in which ADF personnel and U.S. Marines from CLR-37 and 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit participated. During the demo and drill, teams of ADF and U.S troops also performed squad pushups, hanging squad sit ups and Marine Corps-style ground fighting. TS11 is a biennial combined training exercise designed to train Australian and U.S. forces in planning and conducting Combined Task Force operations to improve Australian Defence Force/U.S. combat readiness and interoperability. It reflects the closeness of the alliance and the strength and flexibility of the ongoing military-military relationship. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Cindy Fisher/Released)
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken during the first week of October, 2016.
Still a high level of activity along this stretch of the riverbank, and especially around the Irish Rail bridge.
Throughout the summer, this is where the heavy-duty engineering works have been taking place.
This is a section of the flood protection scheme that I have pretty much ignored -- it's inconvenient for me to access, and others cover it much better.
Check out 'Turgidson'.
The construction activity is routed along the Ravenswell Road, temporarily closed due to on-going works.
Standing on an access bridge, adjacent to the Bray Boxing Club (from whence sprang Katie Taylor, and others of illustrious note), looking back up the river, towards the town direction.
In the foreground is the Railway bridge, and in the distance we can see some construction works taking place on the Ravenswell Road, temporarily closed due to on-going works.
That is the site of the old Bray Golf Club -- hotly contested as a (potentially) poorly considered site for a shopping centre development complex, and still an area of ground that has to act as a flood plain in the event of tidal surges.
As well as raising a heightened flood protection wall, they've created an access ramp down to the riverside. Further temporary soil shelves have been laid to allow construction machines to work alongside the riverbed. That access is critical to pursue work on the nearby Irish Rail bridge.
The area in the background, site of the old Bray Golf course, is both a works compound and vehicle route for the transportation of material to/from the other sectors along the River Dargle involved in construction works.
The Irish Rail Bridge, Bray Harbour:
Phase 1 flood defence works to the Irish Rail bridge commenced in August 2016.
Phase 2 flood defence works will be completed during May to September 2017. This work is being undertaken directly by Irish Rail.
The work includes strengthening the integrity of the bridge by creating buttresses around the base of each pillar.
To do this they have to pile-drive sheets into the river bedrock.
The work is complicated by;
(a) the need not to damage or disturb in any way the actual bridge itself (Irish Rail train and DART carriages pass overhead on an hourly basis), (b) the confined spaces under the bridge, and (c) the twice-daily rising tides from Bray Harbour which spill upriver into the newly expanded basin.
Israeli Soldiers from the Givati Brigade training
The Givati Brigade (Hebrew: חֲטִיבַת גִּבְעָתִי‎‎, literally "Hill Brigade" or "Highland Brigade" in English) is an infantry brigade of the Israel Defense Forces, and serves as its amphibious force. Givati soldiers are designated by purple berets. The Brigade's symbol is the fox, alluding to Shualei Shimshon (שועלי שמשון, lit. Samson's Foxes), a unit in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken during the last full week of October, 2016.
Remember how I'd opined in late September about . . . .
"Constant traffic nowadays with hard material being trucked in and dumped in storage areas along The Slang/Rehills section of the river bank. Further work is now being undertaken to upgrade the protection of the riverbank edge with the laying down of extra stone material."
Well, for every action, there clearly is an equal and opposite reaction.
Time to move the soil on. Again.
I tell you, the company hiring out trucks for the movement of all this material must be rubbing their hands with glee.
But what do I know? Just an itinerant observer.
But there is huge increase in these heavy vehicles travelling up and down the Upper Dargle Road.
We've noticed a lot of dust and material lying on the roads now, even though the road is swept. There have been days when everything has been covered by a fine film of dust raised+dispersed. This happens when we don't get enough rain!
Israeli Soldiers from the Givati Brigade training
The Givati Brigade (Hebrew: חֲטִיבַת גִּבְעָתִי‎‎, literally "Hill Brigade" or "Highland Brigade" in English) is an infantry brigade of the Israel Defense Forces, and serves as its amphibious force. Givati soldiers are designated by purple berets. The Brigade's symbol is the fox, alluding to Shualei Shimshon (שועלי שמשון, lit. Samson's Foxes), a unit in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.
This defence boom was built right across the Thames Estuary from Minster on Sheppey to Shoeburyness in Essex. You can find more detail about it on this website.
Israeli Soldiers from the Caracal battalion during a field training exercise 17th December 2011
Photos: Israel Defence Force
Israeli Soldiers from the Caracal battalion prior to the start of a field training exercise 15th December 2011
Photos: Israel Defence Force
Israeli Soldiers from a number of Different Infantry Brigades training with the TOW Anti-Tank Missile System – 3rd October 2011
Flood defences and WW II gun defences near the Old Tollbridge over the River Adur at Old Shoreham-by-Sea, with Ricardo's Bridge Works and Lancing College.
The Gibraltar Defence Police (GDP) is a civil police force which guards and enforces law on Ministry of Defence installations in Gibraltar - such as the airport runway shown here.
A light aircraft has landed and is taxiing down the runway - it isn't generating much interest for the officers who are used to large commercial and military aircraft landing (which to be honest is a lot more interesting). They are probably speaking a mixture of English and Spanish.
Amsterdam, 5 februari 2016 / Amsterdam 5th of Februari.
Minister van Defensie Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert en Frederica Mogherini tijdens de persconferentie in het Europagebouw.
Dutch minister of Defense Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and Frederica Mogherini during the press conference in Amsterdam.
Dublin Civil Defence particpating in the Frontline Emergency and Security Services Éire Forum Parade along Victoria Quay,
Dublin 6/9/2014
The 13th Battalion of the Golani Brigade during a drill held in the Golan Heights, northern Israel. The NAMER ("Tiger"), a new vehicle combining the artillery abilities of the Merkava tank and the APC's shielding capacities, was fully integrated in this drill for the first time, improving the battle tactics used by the IDF in the field.
Photo by Staff Sgt. (res.) Abir Sultan
Tryouts For Nahal's Special Forces
Fresh into the army, IDF soldiers tryout to become an elite soldier in Nahal's special unit, the Gadsar. Soldiers are put through a couple days of intense mental and physical exercises all while having no sense of time and when the tryouts will end. Commanders leading the tryouts refer to each soldier as a number. At the end of the tryouts, the commanders gather and choose the best for the Gadsar. November 28, 2012
Photo by Zev Marmorstein, IDF Spokesperson's Unit