Midlands Correspondent
The officer commanding a team of over 300 members of the Defence Forces who are heading to south Lebanon on the latest United Nations peacekeeping mission has insisted that all preparations necessary to combat the challenge of Covid-19 are being taken.
Over the last two weeks the troops of all ranks from across the country have been completing tactical training exercises at centres in the midlands and east.
Lieutenant Colonel Conor Bates said that a vaccination programme is under way in the camp. Two medical personnel will also be engaged in south Lebanon.
Lt Cl Bates is the officer commanding the 118th battalion. A member of 66th Cadet Class, he was commissioned in 1991 and posted to the 27th Infantry Battalion as a platoon commander. He has completed several tours of duty abroad and in Lebanon.