An Cosantóir

26 INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS UPDATE Internal Communications Update is created by the Defence Forces Internal Communications Team. Our aim is to deliver accurate and timely information of interest to our members in order to increase awareness on current and future developments across the organisation. Our segment in the An Cosantóir along with our online member's area on military.ie will allow information of interest to be distributed across the DF. The member's area of military.ie is to enable our personnel to access information while off-site. General Staff Update The General Staff Convened on the 26th of January to review a range or updates and provide clarity for the Defence Forces General Framework for Living with COVID-19 related restrictions. The force protection of all personnel remains the priority of the General Staff. Assistant Chief Of Staff Brigadier General Adrian Ó Murchú, as covered in previous An Cosantóir publications has reiterated the importance of minimising staff attendance in shared workspace, with staff operating in pods where practical. J7 (Training and Education Branch) the following course changes are to be highlighted 36th Senior NCO Course which will be ran from the NCO Training Wing, Military College, DFTC is postponed until 26 April 2021. The postponement was due to the 13th All Arms Standard Course being postponed by two weeks. For any students or subs due to be on the course please look at the NCO Training Wings IKON page for the Joining Instructions and more information about the course. Sniper Instructor Course and Live Fire Tactical Training Course are deferred until later in the year – please check with your orderly room for the new dates. Mortar Instructor Course (Q3) and DF Recce Comp and Concentration (Q2) are cancelled. DF Small Arms Comp is for review (Q4) As of 28 Feb 21, 734 members of the Defence Forces have received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. 143 DF personnel have received the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine. All personnel are either members of the CMU or are other «COVID Facing» personnel involved in providing support to the HSE. The COVID Risk Awareness Brief has been updated – This brief will be delivered to all DF personnel as soon as possible. The brief includes an update on the Vaccine Roll Our, Mental Health and Well-Being. All Formations and Branches are reminded of the importance of ensuring that the current Health and Safety guidelines, as issued by Government and Defence Forces are implemented and adhered to by all pers. Planning and risk assessment for the commissioning of the 96th Cadet Class on the 25th of March are ongoing. Release orders for March's issue of PPE to Brigades and Services will be sent to OCES on 19 FEB 21 and a six month supply of PPE will also be release on that date to the NSRC for the 63rd Inf Gp deploying to UNDOF. Troops deploying to missions where they have access to By Lt Austin Doyle Photos by DF Flickr INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS UPDATE v 160 Rec Pl Bn Commanders Challenge group photo v No.3 Ops Wing underling training

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