An Cosantóir

32 Introduction 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 from 8th and 26th of April. The General Staff Convened on the 8th of April 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. There will be a new DF Framework for living with COVID-19 distributed before the 26th of April 2021. The following decisions were provided by the General Staff: • The 5th AR PO Course and the AR Potential NCO's Course will complete the field tactical training and assessment block in Kilworth Camp from 30 Jul to 15 Aug 21. This is subject to Government restrictions and COVID-19 situation. • Planning for the conduct of these courses, to be led by D RES, is approved and should examine the use of any additional RDF personnel required to conduct these courses. • In the meantime, D RES has submitted a proposal for the resumption of RDF Training Activities to DCOS (Ops) for consideration, this will be reviewed in line with ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.The follow updates and guidance were provided by the General Staff: The follow updates and guidance were provided by the General Staff: A revised DF Framework for living with COVID-19 (Ver 10) became affective from 26th of April The DF is following Government advice in relation to the prioritisation of the vaccine. There are three DF cohorts that can be nominated for vaccination outside of the age related priority: • DF pers working in COVID facing tasks. • DF pers listed to deploy on an overseas mission. • DF pers in the medically vulnerable categories - managed by Formation MOs and it is a medical in confidence matter. The UN requirement to conduct pre-deployment quarantine for all pers (regardless of vaccination) remains in place. CMU will conduct a review of the potential use of Antigen Testing for selected career courses in DFTC. INTERNAL COMMS INTERNAL COMMS Photos by DF FLICKR v UNIFIL MRE Ceremonial: On the 5th of May, the 105th anniversary of the execution of the leaders of the Easter Rising was held. The event was marked with a reduced ceremonial due to COVID-19 restrictions in Arbour Hill. There is a photo album available on the Member's AreaThere will also be ceremonial for the National Famine Commemoration (16May TBC) and the burning of the Custom House (3rd/4th weekend in May). May). Training/Courses: The DF training environment continues to operate inside COVID-19 guidelines with essential training taking place. The 36th Senior NCO Course and 11th Potential Officers course both commenced on the 26th of April in the NCO Training Wing and Cadet School respectively. These two courses will further develop experienced NCOs to be promoted to roles where they will have command authority. Other courses starting in May and June to highlight include Orderly Room Cpls Course, MIF Course, MOUT Instructor Course, Basic Recce Course and Infantry Young Officers Course To see what courses are starting in July onwards v Captain Marie Carrigy reads the proclamation in front of the GPO on Easter Sunday v Chief of Staff review of the 118 Inf Bn

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