An Cosantóir

www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE | 5 Manager Comdt David McKnight 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 Sam Gibney photo@military.ie Subscriptions Cpl Martin Bennett +353 (0)45 44 5312 subs@military.ie DF/PR Information Cpl Danny Maloney 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 Sniper team from the 6 Inf Bn. Photo by Sgt Karl Byrne For more Defence Forces photographs, checkout: www.flickr.com/photos/ dfmagazine Editorial H ello and welcome to our November issue. This month we have fewer, but longer, articles than usual, with some great contributions from around the Defence Forces and the defence and security community. Topics extend from the training room to the range, to overseas and home again, to issues affecting serving members and our veterans. As ever, your photos stand tall On Parade, before our first In Focus piece, by Pat McGrath, which looks at the Irish branch of the International Plastic Modellers Society (IPMS), who held their national show and competition in the Plaza Hotel, Tallaght, in early October. Our second In Focus piece looks at a new book on Defence Forces badges and insignia by retired flight sergeant James Perkins. The Veterans Gala Ball, covered in this month's Veterans News, is in its fourth year and building on its success as an excellent fundraising event. Our first, and front cover feature looks at the 2019 International Marksmanship Skills Competition, co-ordinated by the IWW in Kilbride Camp and the Glen of Imaal. This is followed by the Ordnance School's fifth instalment in their series on ordnance equipment, looking at night vision and thermal imaging devices. In our second feature, Rangers Head to Mali, I look at the last few overseas missions that the ARW served with as a unit, and the lead up to their participation in the MINUSMA mission in Mali. In ONE: Serving Those Who Served, ONE National Chairman Brig Gen Colm Campbell (retd) looks at the role of the veterans' organisation in terms of support, comradeship, advocacy, and remembrance. This is followed by The US Military's Next Existential Threat, by Shane McCarthy, which looks at recruitment difficulties faced by the US armed forces. Next up, Sgt Rena Kennedy and I report on the Defence Forces Values Awards 2018 ceremony held in Áras an Uachtaráin, the seven award recipients, and the actions and values that led to their nominations. We then take a short look at IUNVA's and ONE's recent annual conventions. Our history article, A Bloody Week - The Irish at Arnhem, by Lt Col Dan Harvey (retd), looks at Operation 'Market Garden', the failed Allied attempt to secure a number of Rhine bridges in order to provide the Allies with an invasion route into Germany towards the end of WWII. Our first sports feature, by CQMS Michael Barrett (AR), is Fit for Purpose: the case for a physical fitness corps. Our second sports feature carries the results of the biggest sporting event in the Defence Forces' sporting calendar, the An Cosantóir 10K Road Race, which celebrated its 40th anniversary. We also have our regular features: Gear Review, Noticeboard, Book Reviews and What I Do. Sgt Wayne Fitzgerald – Editor G o i n g P i n k f o r C a n c e r Collins Barracks welcomed a Breakfast Morning in Aid of Breast Cancer Awareness (Pink Week October 2019). A special thanks must go to all DF personnel involved in this successful event. Pictured below are: EO 1 Bde Col Tim Daly, Sylvia Mc Henry (organiser), European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan, Miriam Healy (organiser) and Lt Col Noel Maher OC Collins Bks and 1 BAR. Photo: Cpl Christine O'Leary, 1 Bde HQ

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