An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir June 2020 www.dfmagazine.ie 30 | BY CPL LEE COYLE PHOTO'S BY CPL LEE COYLE T he COVID-19 outbreak has us as a society in un- chartered territory. It has been generations since a pandemic of this nature has been seen anywhere around the world. The Irish Government have been put in the spotlight for a response and action to stem the spread of this deadly disease. In response the Government have appointed a Cabinet Committee on COVID-19 and they have approved a National Action Plan on COVID-19, dated 16 Mar 2020. This plan has been prepared following in- volvements from all departments and key agencies from around the country. The governments National Action Plan outlines a cross- government approach to fight the effects of the virus. This action plan highlighted the requirements of the DF to stand- up a dedicated COVID-19 Joint Task Force (CV19 JTF or JTF) as a reaction to this emerging and rapidly evolving situation. On the 23 Mar 2020 the Minister for Defence signed and issued DFR: Military Command & Other Powers (Temporary Provisions), establishing the COVID-19 JTF for the purpose of military operations relating to COVID-19. The strategic guidance for the JTR was then formally issued to the Com- mander of the JTF by the Chief of Staff Vice Admr Mark Mel- lett (DSM) on 20 Mar 2020, the operation was codenamed as 'OP FORTITUDE'. The main points in the mission outlined by the COS were: The DF will conduct Aid To Civil Authority (ATCA) operations WEF 20 Mar 2020 in support of the Department of Health, Health Service Executive (HSE), other Principle Response Agencies (PRAs) and Government Departments, and Aid To Civil Power (ATCP) operations in support of An Garda Sio- chana (AGS), in order to contribute to the national effort in countering COVID-19. The JTC is located in the gymnasium McKee Bks and is staffed by member from across the DF, this includes all for- mations. In total there is over 40 personnel manning the JTF, with a wide range of knowledge and skills. Their role with the support from across the DF is to coordinate and prioritise the effort in response to requests from PRAs. These task- ing's from PRAs is mainly to bolster the capacity of the HSE, deploy a range of DF critical capabilities in ATCA and ATCP operations to support the national effort and strengthen the resilience of the PRAs. The taskings that have been received from the PRAs to the JTF have been wide and varied and required the use of many DF assets from across the country. One of the first taskings acted upon was the setting up of test centres, using DF as- sets at locations across the country. These locations include Dublin, Cork, Galway, Kilkenny, and Donegal. Providing test centre facilitators at the main locations of Dublin, Cork, and Galway, ships from the Naval Service have been docked along-side the test centre locations. Also at these locations members from the DF Medical Corps have been assisting HSE staff with the testing of members of the public. Another early tasking was the setup of a contact call trace centre in the DFTC that is being manned by members of the 96th Cadet Class. These centres have been a major tool in stemming the spread of this deadly virus. Other tasks carried out by the DF include the transportation of patients by the DF Medical corps, and the manufacturing of PPE equipment by 3D printing methods in the DFTC. These are a few of the main tasking's that have been received by the JTF and as the course of this pandemic unfolds the DF will be called upon to carry out more and more tasks from PRAs. Speaking through a letter addressed to members of Óglaigh na hÉireann about the Covid-19 outbreak, COS Vice Admr Mark Mellett said ''Fortitude' is defined as the demon- stration of great strength of mind to endure adversity with courage over a long period of time.' He also wrote 'Our duty has always been, first and foremost, to defend and protect Ireland and our citizens.' These words mean more today than any other time, they are at the core of every individual of the DF and it is this value that will help our country get back to where it has come from and for daily life for all its citizens to return to normal.

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