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Over 4th/5th 5 May members of the 104th Infantry Battalion took part in a Mission Ready Exercise in the Glen of Immal 2011 prior to their deployment to Lebanon as part of a mechanised infantry battalion with Finnish participation. On 14th December 2010, the then Government authorised the dispatch of a contingent of the Permanent Defence Force for a period of one year for service with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL On 22nd March 2011, the Government approved the request and 21st April the necessary resolution was put before the Dáil. It is intended that the Defence Forces would deploy an advance group of some 90 personnel to southern Lebanon on 23rd May, with the main contingent being deployed towards the end of June 2011. The authorised follow-on contingent will be up to approximately 440 personnel, but this number would reduce once the Finnish forces deploy. Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Frank Bolger, the 104th Battalion has been in training for the past four months and the Mission Readiness Exercise is an essential part of the preparation for the overseas deployment. The excise put the commanders and soldiers through a demanding series of scenarios involving simulated explosions, based on the current situation in Lebanon and potential threats that may be encountered in the mission area. It involved helicopters, Armoured Personnel carriers and troops using a variety of advanced weapons systems. Tactical use of helicopters in re-supply, support and casualty are vital components of the mission and the Air Corps played their part in providing realistic training.