An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir Dec 2019/Jan 2020 www.dfmagazine.ie 46 | RORY COMERFORD NO 1 OPS WING AIRMAN R ory Comerford grew up in the South Dublin suburb of Greenhills. Educated in St Pius NS, Terenure, and Tem- pleogue College, Rory was a keen soccer player, playing for Greenhills FC in the Leinster Senior League. After school, Rory, then 19, was undergoing a PLC course in Com- puter Networks and PC Maintenance when he joined the RDF. Rory's unit, D Coy, 7 Inf Bn, allowed him to complete his col- lege exams during his training and he served for two years with the unit, completing his recruit and three-star training and really enjoying his time with the reserves. At that point he applied for the Permanent Defence Force, using the on-line application system, which he said was "seam- less" and allowed him to navigate and complete the psycho- metric tests on line. Although he had applied for the Army, during the applica- tion process Rory was offered the opportunity to serve in the Air Corps, which he gladly accepted, and the now 21-year-old was thrust into full-on recruit training with the Military Train- ing School. One of six former RDF members in his recruit platoon, Rory says his RDF service gave him a great advantage during recruit training. During their induction phase the recruits were shown the various parts of the Air Corps, and how the different units operated independently and then combined together to carry out their Air Corps' roles. Rory says: "Unsure what I wanted to do after training, I chose No 1 Ops Wing as I liked the idea of working in the hanger with the fixed- wing aircraft." On completion of his training Rory spent a short time working in a few different areas of No 1 Ops Wing to get to understand the different offices, stores and the hanger area. He was then employed in the Tool Stores alongside two NCOs and another airman. "We look after all consum- ables for the maintenance of the aircraft," Rory told us: "tool calibration gauges, torches, spanners – we have hundreds of tools. We also deal with external companies for the likes of specialist tools and the roll-on toolboxes." "Aircraft technicians come to the stores to sign out a toolbox or any specialist tools needed for a job and then return them when the maintenance is complete. "We also work hand-in-hand with the Main Tech Stores and the Safety Stores, which deals with immersion suits, life rafts, and the HEED 3 air bottles that provide lifesaving air while egressing a downed aircraft submerged in water." During his three-years' service to date, Rory has completed a number of computer-related courses, and a driver's course. Rory recently served overseas as an infantry rifleman with 59 Inf Gp, UNDOF, on the Golan Heights. "Our main role was providing the quick reaction force (QRF)," he says, "but we also performed area domination patrols from Camp Faour. "There was no place out there untouched by the war and we were kept on our toes, with 'groundhogs' and close firings, and watching rockets and anti-aircraft fire pass above our heads." Rory wants to serve overseas again, maybe in Lebanon. He would also like to complete a potential NCOs course and if pos- sible to train as an aircraft mechanic. He also says that all of the Air Corps is "looking forward to the arrival of the PC-12s to replace the Cessna fleet in 2020." REPORT & PHOTOS BY SGT WAYNE FITZGERALD

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