An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir February 2019 www.dfmagazine.ie 18 | BY CAPT DAMIEN O'HERLIHY (AR), 2 CAV SQN H ere is a snapshot of a two-week period at the end of 2018 which shows a very eventful time for members of 2 Bde Cav Sqn Reserve. Three members of the units Reserve an- swered the call to be a part of the presidential motorcycle Escort of Honour for the WW1 Armistice Centenary, then later for the inauguration of President Michael D Higgins. The three qualified Dispatch Riders (DR) Sqn Sgt John Shiels, SQMS Darren Martin and Sgt David Mann came in and worked to prepare the Escort of Honour bikes to ensure that they were at the highest of standards befitting a Presidential Inauguration and the commemoration to mark the centenary of the end of WW1. This was not the first time that members of the Reserve De- fence Forces (RDF) have been involved as part of a Presidential Motorcycle Escort of Honour, as several reserve members of the unit were involved in many of the escorts in 1916. Both on the mo- torbikes and in the support vehicles, but this is the first time that members of the reserve have been involved with a Motorcycle Escort of Honour for a Presidential Inauguration. Less than a week after escorting President Michael D Higgins, several members of 2 Bde Cav Sqn including Sgt Mann were involved in a 72-hour joint tactical exercise with some of the reserve members of 1 Armoured Cavalry Squadron, 1 Mechanised Infantry Compa- ny and 1 Cavalry Squadron in the Slieve Bloom Mountains from Friday 16th November to Sunday 18th November. The exercise was excellently planned and organised by RDF members of 1 Armoured Cavalry Squadron, DFTC, Cur- ragh Camp. To hone their skills for this exercise reserve members of 2 Bde Cav Sqn implemented a three-month training pro- gram over parade nights and a refresher-training weekend in October in the DFTC. Here they rehearsed and prac- ticed their skills that would be needed for the exercise. They included: map reading and navigation, setting up and operating and maintaining the SINCGAR radio, moving tactically and rehearsing their actions on drills, using night vision equipment and thermal imager. These are all essential tools and necessary skills that are needed and used by an OP detachment. On Wednesday 14th December, Capt Damien O'Herlihy, a DF military driving instructor was asked to assist with an on-going driving course as one of the instructors was now unable to com- plete the course. The 2 Bde Cav Sqn run course was being delivered to PDF members of 2 Cav Sqn and 7 Inf Bn. Answering the call Capt O'Herlihy took the students out on the following Monday morning and assessed their driving and continued to instruct them. For the remainder of the week he helped them prepare for their driving test that was being held in the Transport Vehicle and Mainte- nance School (TVMS), DFTC the following week. 2 Bde Cav Sqn reserve mem- bers have always had an excel- lent working relationship with their PDF squadron colleagues, and this is replicated in many units all over the island. This two-week snap shot of the squadron shows how mem- bers of the Reserve Defence Force can support the front line to achieve the mission and work together in the single force concept. SQMS Martin, Sgt Mann and Sqn Sgt Shiels in Dublin Castle. SQMS Martin, Sgt Mann and Sqn Sgt Shiels on Church Square. 2 Bde Cav Sqn Reserve Recce Patrol. Members of 1 Cav Sqn, 1 Armd Cav Sqn, 1 Mech Inf Coy and 2 Bde Cav Sqn on exercise in the Slieve Bloom Mountains. Two weeks in 2 Bde Cavalry Squadron Reserve

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