An Cosantóir

38 PEOPLE OF THE DEFENCE FORCES I joined in February 2000. I did my training in Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa and I have been in 1 Cn Cois ever since. My first tour overseas was to Lebanon in 2001 and I then served in Liberia in 03/04 and Chad in 2009. I completed my NCOs (Non-Commissioned Officer) course in 4 BTC in 2006 then I got promoted two weeks later and stayed there to train two consecutive recruit platoons followed by 3* course back in Galway. I've been an ILSW (Infantry Light Support Weapons) instructor since 2011 and a PTI (Physical Training Instructor) since completing the course in 2015. I also completed basic recce in 2013. I completed my All Arms and Infantry Platoon Sergeants Course in 2012 but I wasn't promoted for another three years, almost to the day. I spent eleven months in the Cadet School in 2017/18. I am currently based in 1 Cn Cois gymnasium when not required for other tasks. I'll go with this year as it has been a busy, unpredictable year. I started off the year in the gym, day to day running of it and running two to three circuits a week along with fitness testing etc. I commenced training a 3* course as Platoon Sergeant with sixty five students in February but only managed to complete four weeks before training was halted due to Covid-19. We eventually recommenced training, with only twenty two students approximately four months later and completed a very satisfactory final six weeks. During lock down I mainly did duties and Platoon Sgt for our standby platoon which was deployed throughout at a Covid-19 testing centre in Galway Airport. Following the 3* course, after taking some time off, I returned to the barracks gym once it re-opened and I am currently The training environment, particularly the physical element. I love being involved with a large group, recruits, cadets, etc. as a PTI and planning and implementing their PT over a number of weeks/ months. It's great to watch them progress from day one and see what works really well or what may not work with such a big group and so on. I also love the feeling when we have completed something really challenging and you think 'Jesus that was a nightmare, but I'm glad we did it'. Rank - Sgt Name - Michael Lennon Unit - 1 CN Cois v On a route march back into barracks after a 96-hour patrolling exercise as Platoon Sgt with a 3* course Give me a brief outline of your career to date? What does an average year consist of in the unit for you? What is your favourite thing about your job? switching between that and swab testing for Covid-19 at various test centres, along with any other Covid related tasks. Quite a strange year to say the least. Also, the 3* course included some epic route marches in Connemara and our MOUT (Military Operations in Urban Terrain) exercise in Fort Davis was probably the most enjoyable and well-planned exercise I've ever been involved in.

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