An Cosantóir

17 RESERVE SUPPORT TO «OPERATION FORTITUDE» COVID 19 and the Medical Reserve Comdt Hugh O'Callaghan (AR), 2 Brigade Med Det through one e-mail so that all requests could be monitored and managed. Inevitably there is always a crunch time each day and for us it was dealing with any incoming requests, confirming receipt and circulating the information to the relevant cell for information and necessary action. Each request was logged on a Task Manger and if it was agreed that the Defence Forces could assist a FRAGO was quickly issued. This FRAGO tied back to the original request on the Task Manager for ease of future reference if required. Each evening a Commanders Update Brief (CUB) took place and we were responsible for ensuring the daily SitRep was ready for approval and signing by Brigadier General Cleary as well as inputting information for the actual brief. Generally, 2 hours was allocated for this work and some days no matter how prepared one felt a last minute FRAGO could suddenly see you under pressure for completing the report. Teamwork is essential for the brief as multiple people are inputting information and one needs to be sure that the correct information goes into the SitRep before submitting it for approval. The evening brief was an essential way of keeping up to speed on past events but also future intentions. Without this knowledge and a proper handover each day the system would potentially fail. In many ways the mantra of the Reserve is Training, Training, Training but it was an honour to serve in a fully operational Task Force as part of the Single Force Concept during the COVID 19 crisis. It was a privilege to have this opportunity and I know that many members of the Reserve were also making a contribution to the DF effort or were more than willing to do so if required. My name is Hugh O'Callaghan, I joined the Defence Forces in 2005 as a Direct Entry Medical Officer. At the time the Defence Forces were recruiting Medical Officers for overseas service and my first deployment was with the 93rd Infantry Battalion to Liberia. I think it's fair to say that my initial time in the PDF was eye opening. After getting back to Ireland I returned to civilian medical practise and joined the RDF and later served abroad as a Medical Officer with the 99th Infantry Battalion in Chad. In civilian life, I am an anaesthetist. As part of my specialty training scheme I had spent some time working in intensive care medicine. In pre-pandemic times I would have had limited work in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the majority of my time would be spent working in the operating theatres. However, elective surgery has been radically curtailed since the pandemic hit and I have been reassigned to work in the ICU. My working day begins at 8am in the ICU here in University Hospital Limerick with a clinical handover meeting. The clinical condition of all our patients are discussed in detail with the team from the previous night and any overnight

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