An Cosantóir the official magazine of the Irish Defence Forces and Reserve Defence Forces.
Issue link: https://digital.jmpublishing.ie/i/112287
36 | Mark Callanan Private 54 Reserve Medical Company I joined 51 Res Tpt Coy in February 2007, travelling to Mullingar to do my recruit training with 54 Res Arty Regt. However, on completion of my initial training I applied for a transfer to 54 Res Med Coy because I had previous medical training - I was working as a first aid instructor in the security industry at the time I signed up - and wanted to pursue this interest in the RDF. Because of the embargo on recruitment I changed my civilian career and trained as an emergency medical technician (EMT). As a result, in 2009 I was ���I���m really enjoying my time with the Defence Forces��� An Cosant��ir March 2013 www.dfmagazine.ie awarded a Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council Practitioner���s Licence (PHECC). Then in March 2012 I applied through the HSE for a position as a student paramedic on their two-year graduate diploma course, and after a successful recruitment process I went to St Mary���s College in Phoenix Park to start my training in the National Services Ambulance College. I have just finished the hospital phase of the course, which I did in University Hospital Galway, for familiarisation with procedures and patient contact. Currently I am rostered as part of a three-man ambulance crew, under supervision. My last exams were in September 2012 but I will remain on the training roster for the National Ambulance Service. If all goes to plan I will qualify as a paramedic in February 2014. I have always been heavily involved in medical training within my RDF unit and I feel my RDF colleagues and friends have benefited from my civilian medical skills and training. We ran a very successful 2*/3* first aid course in 2010, where I took a leading role, and I have also recently instructed on a cardiac first responders course conducted in my unit to upskill medics on new resuscitation and defibrillator standards. I would personally like to keep instructing within the RDF and it is a career goal to find time to undergo a potential NCOs course sometime in the near future as this would greatly help me to better my instructor skills. I have taken a lot from my RDF training and I���m really enjoying my time with the Defence Forces. It���s something I would highly recommend to anybody, absolutely!