An Cosantóir

40 | Martin Moules Sergeant Medical Detachment, DFTC, CMU I joined the Defence Forces in October 2001, enlisting as a general service recruit with the Air Corps. I did my recruit training in the Military Training School of the Air Corps College, after training I was accepted on a three-star medical course, conducted in the Medical School, DFTC. The course was three months long, but was worth it. On return I was posted to the Medical Aid Post (MAP). Soon after that I did my Ambulance Skills course, again in the Medical School. This course qualifies you to be a military ambulance attendant. I also did a Phlebotomy course, which allows medics to take blood. In 2005 and 2006 I travelled overseas to Liberia as a medic with 92 and 95 Inf Bns. Operating as a medic overseas gives you a much broader insight as it's much more hands-on than at home. On the majority of patrols in Liberia we would hold a clinic, during which I would assist the doctor in attending or treating members of the local population. On my return I applied for a Pot NCOs course and in December 2006 I completed the course with 4 BTC in Custume Bks, Athlone. In April 2007 I was promoted to corporal in the MAP. I then underwent a Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician (WEMT) course with the Wilderness Emergency Medical Services Institute (WEMSI). A great course that teaches you how to treat an injured patient outdoors with a limited amount of equipment. In 2009 and 2010 I again travelled overseas this time to Chad with 99 and 102 Inf Bns, as a medic corporal. A medical platoon consists of 2 doctors, 1 Coy Sgt, 2 Sgts, 5 Cpls and 4 Ptes. We were deployed operationally with the patrols and in the MAP. My trip with 102 Inf Bn was the last mission to Chad, so as well as providing medical support we also helped close down the camp and mission. Between these missions I completed my Stnd NCOs course in the NCO Trg Wing of the Military College. On my return from overseas in 2010 I completed a part-time EMT course in my own time over a ten-week period with Medicall in the Marino Institute of Education. On completion I was qualified as a medic technician, grade 3. I also completed an Advanced Tactical Medical course with the Emergency Services Training Institute (ESTI) at my own expense. This was a great, and very rewarding, course. I found that these courses really helped me when I was a medic for the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) training course conducted by the Military Training and Survival School in the Air Corps College. I took part along with other members of the Medical Corps in the 2012 UK Armed Forces "Arduous Serpent" exercise which appeared in An Cosantóir October 2012. In 2013 I was promoted to sergeant medic with the newly established Central Medical Unit (CMU) in the DFTC, where I now administer the medical detachment. In the CMU we cover all military and sporting events throughout the DF. In addition to this we provide approximately 350 HSE ambulance call-outs a year. I also instruct in the Medical School on the Military First Responder (MFR) course, which is currently ongoing. The course, run in conjunction with Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) recognition, with successful students registered as Emergency First Responder (EFR). It is also heavily orientated towards care-under-fire scenarios. I'm also an FAI certified referee with the Kildare/Laois Irish Soccer Referee Society. I have been a referee for five years and cover the senior leagues. I have covered some high profile DF fixtures such as last year's DF –v– RAF series. This year I coached Derry Rovers FC from Edendery, Co Offaly, to the league title for the first time in the club's 25-year history. This was a great personal achievement for me. An Cosantóir July/August 2013 www.dfmagazine.ie

• Cover