An Cosantóir the official magazine of the Irish Defence Forces and Reserve Defence Forces.
Issue link: https://digital.jmpublishing.ie/i/1206165
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 Vacant 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 Soldier on an ATCP tasking. Photo by Armn Sam Gibney For more Defence Forces photographs, checkout: www.flickr.com/photos/ dfmagazine Editorial H ello, and welcome to our first issue of 2020, this issue also marks our 80th volume - another historic milestone in the life of An Cosantóir magazine. Our focus this month looks beyond our own coastline as we feature articles on our participation in a new EU Battlegroup and the role of the ARW within it, our Naval Service's mission in the Mediterranean and the interoperability of the latest IRISHPOLBATT in Lebanon. As ever, we were inundated with photos from around the Defence Forces for On Parade. Our In Focus consists of a short piece on the Air Corps' new canine mascot, and coverage of the launch of a book recounting the deaths of National Army soldiers in the Civil War The Forgotten Fallen. Our Veterans News reports on the opening of ONE's new veterans support centre in Athy, Co Kildare. Our front cover feature looks at our participation in the German- led, EU Battlegroup, which had its certification exercise in December. In Blood on the Sea, regular contributor, Paul O'Brien, looks at the Naval Service's humanitarian missions in the Mediterranean. Then we visit Lebanon, where 115 Inf Bn was joined by soldiers from Poland, Malta and Hungary in November to form IRISHPOLBATT. Lt Paul Murphy's article, Interoperability in IRISHPOLBATT, brings us up to speed. In Support from Afar, by reservists Pte Eoin O'Shea, a senior counselling psychologist; Capt Matthew McCauley, consultant military clinical psychologist; and Comdt Dorota O'Brien, the DF's first full-time clinical psychologist, look at personnel operating under stressful conditions, at home and overseas, and the risks posed not only to physical health, but also psychological health and performance. Next, former airman and officer, turned stand-up comedian, Francis Cronin, talks about drawing on his DF training and experience to complete a tough outdoor endurance test to raise money for homelessness. Capt Matthew McCauley also brings us a report on his participation in Operation Bushmaster, an annual, two-week, simulation-based, military medical field- training exercise conducted by the US Army. Our first history article is Eamonn 'Ted' Tuke: Footsoldier of the Rebellion, by Dónal Denham. An article follows this from James Langton's above- mentioned book The Forgotten Fallen. Our sports article looks at a charity fund-raising endurance event conducted by members of 114 Inf Bn in Lebanon, which saw four peacekeepers move one million kilograms in a single day. We also have our regular Gear Review, Noticeboard, Book Reviews and What I Do features. Sgt Wayne Fitzgerald – Editor DF Public Relations Branch conducted the first Unit Public Affairs Representative (UPAR) course in the DFTC. The four-day course used blended learning delivered through lectures combined with on-line assessments. The mission of military pub- lic affairs is to support commanders by communicating accruable information in a timely manner to audiences to improve public awareness and understanding of the military's roles, aims, operations, missions, activities and issues – thereby enhancing our organisational capability. Please keep an eye out for the advertise- ment for the second UPAR course in early 2020. Photo/ Words: Armn Sean Foley / Sgt Rena Kennedy UNIT PUBLIC AFFAIRS REPRESENTATIVE COURSE