An Cosantóir

www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE | 5 Manager Comdt James O'Hara info@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5306 Editor Sgt Wayne Fitzgerald magazine@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5307 Connect Sgt Karl Byrne connect@military.ie Photo/Journalist Cpl Lee Coyle journalist@military.ie Photographer Armn Jamie Barrrett photo@military.ie Subscriptions Cpl Kelly Gallagher +353 (0)45 44 5312 subs@military.ie DF/PR Information Cpl Lynn Ryan admin@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5308 DF Webmaster Sgt Mick Burke +353 (0)45 44 5309 webmaster@military.ie Magazine Archivist Mr Sean Shinnors Designer/Advertising JM Publishing & Media, Arklow, Co. Wicklow,Ireland Tel: +353 15331911 Tel: +353871344135 Web: www.jmpublishing.ie Email: info@jmpublishing.ie Printer Turner's Printing Co., Ltd Earl Street, Longford, Ireland Tel: +353 (0)43 3350500 The fact that an article appears in this magazine does not indicate official approval of the views expressed by the author. © Published by OiC Public Relations Branch for the Defence Forces at DFHQ, Block 5, Ceannt Bks, DFTC, Curragh Camp, Co Kildare, Ireland. Tel: +353 (0)45 445312 Front Cover Contact drills during the recent RDF Potential NCOs course. Photo by Armn Jamie Barrett For more Defence Forces photographs, checkout: www.flickr.com/photos/ dfmagazine Editorial H ello and welcome to our September issue, which is mainly focussed on the volunteers of the Reserve Defence Force, who, along with their full-time colleagues, trace their origins back over a hundred years to the founding of Óglaigh na hÉireann in 1913. As always, our issue starts with your photographs, sent in from all areas of the Defence Forces community, in On Parade, before Veterans' News looks at the recent visit to Sweden by members of IUNVA. Our first feature looks at the launch, by the chief of staff and Minister Paul Keogh, of this year's Fuchsia Appeal, ONE's main annual fundraising event to help support veterans who have fallen on hard times. Starting our look at the RDF we have a short introduction into how the reserves support their full-time colleagues. Then, in Revitalising the Reserve Lt Col Gerry Maguire (AR), HQ DFTC, looks at the background to, and new syllabus for, the upcoming RDF Potential Officers course, to be held in early 2019. Next, in Learning the Basics army reservist CQMS Michael Barrett, 7 Inf Bn, shares his experiences of training recruits in the Army Reserve. He follows this up in Urban Warriors with a look at recently trained soldiers, including reservists, conducting FIBUA drills. Showing Their Potential, by Lt Fergal Fitzgerald, (AR) 2 BTC, features the first all-army RDF Potential NCOs course, conducted by 2 Bde Training Centre in Cathal Brugha Bks and attended by students from around the country. Moving away from the reserves, Cpl Lee Coyle's Exercise Redcap looks at the final exercise of the 66th MP Probationers course conducted early this year. On 4th July we visited the Air Corps Fire Training Facility in Baldonnel to see how the students on the Initial Aviation Fire Fighters course were learning their trade. In our Strategic Review article, Bloodbath in Yemen, Paul O'Brien looks at one of the lesser known, but very vicious, conflicts that have been taking place in the Middle East over the last decade. In the first of our short History articles we visit the National Transport Museum, hidden among the old, scenic grounds of Howth Castle Demesne. This is followed by an interview with 92-year-old Lt Col Jim Dawson (retd), in our search for the Defence Forces' eldest veteran. Our first Sports piece, by Sgt Rena Kennedy, looks at the sporting achievement of Pte Ciamh Gray and her Wexford Youths ladies in the UEFA Champions League. Next, CPO Cian McParland looks at the DF 10 Mile Road Race, which starts and finishes in Haulbowline Naval Base in Cobh every year. For our book review slot we look at the long-awaited Witness to War Crimes - The Memoirs of an Irish Peacekeeper in Bosnia, by Col Colm Doyle (retd), which was launched in McKee Bks recently. All this, plus our regular features, including Tac-Aide, Gear Review, Noticeboard, and What I Do. Sgt Wayne Fitzgerald FUCHSIA FLAG FLYING HIGH FOR VETERANS ONE's Fuchsia Flag was raised at the Dundalk County Council offices on the 16th July 2018. Our photo shows Eamon Docherty, Jim Mc Eneaney, Frank Larrigan and Damian Higgins from the Michael McNeela Branch of ONE.

• Cover