An Cosantóir

29 Before the year 2020, when the words "Front Line" were spoken, most people's thoughts - members of the DF and people across the world - drifted to the terrible events of World War One and the muddy trenches of Eastern Europe. But today when we think upon these words, we think of something completely different, something that until this year many thought impossible. Today we think of the men and women who, through all the fears of an unseen enemy like Covid-19 that has brought terror and despair, have continued to work tirelessly to provide essential services that many of us have taken for granted until now. Today we look at some DF personnel who have stepped up to provide whatever has been asked of them, in assistance from the government; crucial tasks to help combat this global pandemic. Here are some of their stories: ON THE FRONT LINE ON THE FRONT LINE By Cpl Lee Coyle and Front Line Workers Capt Barry Faulkner Dublin. Initially a one-week project for Engineer and Ordnance teams it developed into a four-week duration involving 7th Inf Bn personnel which included the complete assembly, fit-out and testing of the 300-bed facility. A similar Step-Down Care Facility has been completed in University of Limerick with 1 Brigade Engineer Group taking project-lead. The Corps of Engineers have also supported various other HSE projects including the full services installation of Covid-19 Test Centres such as Sir John Rogerson's Quay and the Aviva Stadium, Dublin as well as Hospital Triage Receptions such as the Mercy University Hospital, Cork and Connolly Hospital, Dublin. My name is Sgt Bridget McCormack, I have served almost 20 years in the DF and I'm a paramedic within the CMU 2 Bde, based in Gormanston Camp. At the beginning of Covid 19 when faced with uncertainty of what lay ahead, here in Gormanston Camp as in other Barracks around the country and keeping within HSE Guidelines, we introduced a change in procedures for our soldiers presenting for sick parade, this was mainly to minimise any potential outbreaks in our facilities but also for the safety of the medical personal that have been putting themselves on the forefront throughout this pandemic. While CMU HQ and JTF were preparing operationally for the upcoming taskings in assisting the HSE, our logistic staff were not only sourcing and supplying PPE for medical personnel but continuously working on preparing St Bricins hospital along with other military locations as Step-Down Care Facilities for the HSE. CMU have had multiple taskings in assisting National Ambulance Service (NAS), they vary from testing in a number of different locations, the Quays, nursing homes, residential care homes, testing centres, providing live ambulances in Cork, Kildare and Dublin and a medical officer for call centre. More recently CMU medical personnel along with the involvement of a number of different units within the Defence Forces have set up a testing centre in the Aviva Stadium with the capacity of Sgt Bridget McCormack My name is Captain Barry Faulkner, Engineer Officer within 2 Brigade Engineer Group based in Cathal Brugha Barracks. From the early stages of the Covid-19 crisis in mid-March, the Corps of Engineers have completed various projects in support of the HSE nationwide. Internally, the Covid-19 JTF installation, McKee Bks Gym was the first project completed by 2 Brigade Engineer Group in conjunction with CIS which included electrical design & build, data distribution, barrack services, work stations (x37), and break-out rooms. Additionally, Engineers carried out site and building upgrade works in the Glen of Imall, Kilworth Camp, Kilbride Camp and Gormanston Camp in preparation for Covid-19 Isolation Centres, which remain in reserve. A significant project in support of the HSE was the installation and services fit-out of a recreational facility and a large-scale storage area in support of the HSE's Step-Down Care Facility (Field Hospital) in Citywest,

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