An Cosantóir

www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE | 21 Cemetery Hill to RV with the Coast Guard rescue helicopter for airlift to Beaumont Hospital. We occupied our FOB for the remainder of the patrol phase, during which each student was assessed in planning and leading a patrol, and delivering a detailed brief and patrol report at the end of each patrol. (This took place during our recent heat wave, with each student consuming on average of six litres of water per day.) Midway through the full-time training block, the course re- ceived lectures on rifle marksmanship and coaching techniques and with support from 2 Transport Group, completed exercise 'White Patch' on Number 1 Range, Kilbride Camp, where each student acted as a coach to firers on the range, detecting and correcting faults. The final week of training saw the course back on the ground in the Glen of Imaal for the offensive phase (section in attack) in Col- liga Wood and Brennan's Farm. Rolling attacks were the order of the day, as students honed their orders, drills and command skills in various section-in-attack scenarios. No amount of lectures, demonstrations or walk-through/talk-through could prepare the prospective commanders for initial contact followed by roars of "Contact front!" and our early attacks didn't always go as planned. Steadily, however, through drill and teamwork the six section battle drills became second nature, with students successfully completing their assessments at the end of week two. Aside from time on training, the course also raised €3,800 for the Peter McVerry Trust, a charity set up to reduce homelessness and the harm caused by drug misuse and social disadvantage. The money was raised by the course doing a sponsored climb of Carrauntoohil and through Tpr Brendan McCarthy walking the Wicklow Way in 23 hours. In July just gone, eighteen students held their passing-out parade on the main square of Cathal Brugha Barracks with GOC 2 Bde, Brig Gen Howard Berney, taking the parade. The CQMS Gerard P Doyle Memorial Trophy, awarded for Best Student, was presented to Pte Stephen Burke (7 Inf Bn) by Ms Natasha Doyle. The winner of the Laoch an Chúrsa award, presented to the student who best embodied the Defence Forces values of loyalty, respect, selflessness, physical and moral courage, and integrity, was selected by the students on the course. The recipient, Pte Ruben O'Leary (1 Engr Coy), was presented with his award, jointly, by Sgt Fiona Holohan (Vice President RDFRA) and Brig Gen Berney. OC 2 BTC, Comdt William Collins, congratulated the members of the Potential NCO course on successfully completing their training: "You have come through an arduous period of training designed to test you physically and mentally and to equip you with the core competencies required to take up a junior leadership role within the Defence Forces." Brig Gen Berney also congratulated the new junior leaders and thanked them for their continued commitment and dedication to the Army Reserve. The parade finished with a march past the main flagpole in Cathal Brugha Bks, where Brig Gen Berney took the salute. Commenting on the course, the class president, Pte Ruben O'Leary, says: "The Potential NCOs course has a reputation for being extremely challenging. While it was difficult for us at times, it created group cohesion and brought us together as a team. The standard on this particular course was very high and I think the ultimate result of this was an increased level of student morale. "Our instructors lived up to the military instructor values of being firm, fair and friendly. They pushed us hard during training but were available to help during downtime in the evenings if needed, and they were extremely helpful. As class president I saw firsthand how the instructors considered and facilitated the students' every need, even if at times the students were unaware of it." Lt Fergal Fitzgerald leading the platoon of newly promoted Cpls to the viewing stand to salute Brig Gen Berney. While presenting scrolls to students' Brig Gen Howard Berney, comments on Cpl Tommy Kelly 2 Bde Tpt Gp All Army Marksmanship badge (Tommy won the All Army Individual Pistol Competition in 2013), with instructor Sgt Ciaran Curran AR behind. Students and instructors pictured with GOC 2 Bde Brig Gen Howard Berney. The course raised €3,800 for the Peter McVerry Trust charity.

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