An Cosantóir

31 "That's a tough one. I'm torn between two lives in a way. If I think back to my younger self, I was most proud in "Since returning, I've been tasked with normal rifleman duties as part of A Coy. At the end of January, I completed swab training in the Curragh and I expect to be placed on roster for that over the coming weeks. I have also placed my name forward to help administer the vaccine but I have to wait and see if I am eligible first." What was your proudest moment in uniform? Finally Nicky, can you give us a brief description of your current role in the unit? What would you tell your 18 year old self? v Nicky dressed in his civilian attire after he had left the Defence Forces and was working outside I can get through it. There's a confidence and respect I found along the way that made many things easier and less daunting, particularly in the early days, when I was trying to find my way in education and the workplace. I'd like to think my time keeping has been as good over the years, but I think that would be an outright lie! East Timor with 9IRCON is, by far, the most influential thing I've done in my life. Even the five-month selection for the trip is something I'll never forget. I think those few months taught me a lot of lessons that made me the person I am today. That trip and what I did there as a 21-year-old will stay with me forever and I'm very proud I got to experience that. Even if every memory isn't a 'nice' one, they are still lessons that shape me a little. Nothing in civilian life has ever presented me with a problem that I couldn't handle, mentally or physically. And I don't just have the Army as an organisation to thank for that but the people I was surrounded by on a daily basis." "Wow, you could get really deep and meaningful with a question like that. I suppose I'd tell him not to rush into things. When I did my leaving cert at seventeen, I was under the impression that things needed to fall in to place by college. How unbelievably wrong I was! I rushed picking courses, I rushed assignments. I rushed leaving college for the Army instead of staying a third year and, although joining was the best decision I made, I still feel I should have done my third year before joining - I had time. I rushed leaving the Army too, even though I had plenty of people asking me to slow down. Every time, the grass was always greener and I was too panicked to get there. Slow things down and do things that make you happy, not something that you think will make somebody else happier. And look after your knees, the new bergen is huge" For anyone interested in more information on re-enlistment, there is more information on military.ie recruit training; marching into the gym in number ones and doing the drill we'd rehearsed for our passing out parade. I had been awarded best kit and as I marched up to collect it I caught a glimpse of my family in the stand and I remember sticking out the chest and lifting the head a little higher - an amazing feeling. Most recently it's coming home to my wife and daughter and the first time they've seen me in full uniform. It's been a strange year for the entire world and we've had a lot of life-changing events condensed in a few months: dealing with a pandemic, the arrival of our second child, a little brother for Aedín and me returning to the Army. It may seem a little cheesy but having a chance to put on the uniform at this stage in my life, makes me incredibly proud." PEOPLE OF THE DEFENCE FORCES

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