An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir June 2020 www.dfmagazine.ie 38 | CPL PHOTO SECTION, 105 SQN, AC PATRICK O'MEARA BY CPL LEE COYLE C pl Pat O'Meara grew up in Co. Tipperary, but moved to Trim, Co. Meath when he was a teenager, it was here that his interest in having a military career began. Soon after moving to Trim he made a friend through a running club, by the name of Willie Quinn. Willie told Pat that he was serving in the FCA (RDF) and it was really interesting and a good way to keep fit, this convinced Pat to join up. Pat enjoyed his time in the FCA, especially the training on summer camps. He enjoyed it so much that Willie suggested to him to join the PDF. So Pat travelled to Cathal Brugha Bks to put his name down to enlist. But during this time the DF was only recruiting a few recruit platoons a year and it was almost two years later when he heard any word back. By this time Pat had travelled to New York for a working holiday, so it was arranged for him to sit his interview the day after he returned in Griffith Bks. It was then a further year before he had completed his medical and was then told to report to Cathal Brugha Bks for enlistment on 08 Aug 1988 in the Command Training Depot East, now the BTC, 2 Bde. Pat found that his FCA service helped him with the training as it had given him an insight and lessened the shock, his fitness level was really good also, with him just having completed the Belfast marathon weeks before his enlistment. His recruit pla- toon was one of the last to train on the FN, with them also train- ing on the Steyr during their three star course. His passing out parade was a very proud day for Pat as he had won best soldier of his platoon and was given the option to choose what unit he was posted to, with this chance he choose to go the Air Corps as he had a plan to become a photographer. When he first arrived in the AC he placed in the catering cen- tre which was the common thing of the time, he also spent time in the ration stores during his first year there. In 1990 the oppor- tunity came up for Pat to complete a photography course and transfer to Photo Section. His interest in photography had begun at an early age, with his even constructing a makeshift darkroom in his bathroom. After he completed his photography course he also completed various computer courses through the DF. Pats first overseas tour was with the 78 Inf Bn in UNIFILin in Oct 1995, this was a tough mission with the Grapes of Wrath war happening during this time. It was a bit of a shock for his first tour with a lot of it spent in the bunkers. His second over- seas tour was with the 35 and 36 UNFICYP in Cyprus in Oct 1997, with his role as the UN Force Photographer. Pat completed an NCOs course in 2007/2008 and was promoted in May 2008. Serving with Photo Section Pat was required to complete many survival courses including Personal Survival Techniques, and Helicopter Under Water Regress Train- ing. These courses need to be kept up to date for working in military aircraft. As a photographer in Photo Section and part of 105 Sqn, Pats role within the AC is very varied. He is required to cover every- thing photographic related, from taking passport photos to aerial missions on fisheries protection taskings. As an NCO he is also required to have the responsibility of overseeing training of staff and allocation of jobs and making out flying rosters. Rou- tine Maritime missions on CASA are a very large part of what he covers on a daily basis, with the average patrol lasting approx.. 5 hours in duration. For the future Pat plans to remain in the organisation as his passion for military life and photography is still there.

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