An Cosantóir

11 COL MICK DAWSON (RETD) combine both. I also played rugby with the famous Garryowen club in Limerick, and I enjoyed several years playing on the Defence Forces' Rugby team." His first tour of overseas duty in UNIFIL also came up in that period, heading to Lebanon where he was a very young Platoon Commander in charge of 33 infantry troops with A Company 60th Infantry Battalion. He recalls: "It was a very steep learning curve as I had just left university and I relied heavily on the experience of my NCOs and fellow officers within the Company. Despite thorough preparatory training, we did not know what we were really letting ourselves in for but when comrades were killed and seriously injured in the early weeks, you find out very quickly." Although it was a very challenging time, Col Dawson said he had very good troops with him and while there were challenges and dangerous situations, "we got through it. It definitely matured me. I thought I knew a lot, in the way young fellahs do, until I got to Lebanon and realised how much I didn't know." Promotion to the rank of Captain followed in October 1989. "In those days it was very much you served your time at lower ranks before you were promoted. Things were much slower then, certainly more than they are today." 1989 also saw him become an Instructor in the Infantry School and later in the Officer Training Wing followed by a second trip to Lebanon with B Coy 71 Inf Bn when, he says, "I felt a lot more confident. It was another very rewarding experience." Col Dawson remembers his late father Leo who he said was a great influence on him and how he handled life. "One thing he told me was to learn from all ranks. We were conditioned in the early years to learn from the senior ranks but I learned that all ranks have something to offer, you must to listen to everyone and be open to every opinion or course of action". Not long after promotion to the rank of Commandant he was selected to attend the Senior Command and Staff course in Germany in 2003. It consisted of three phases: intense German language training in Cologne, work experience with a parachute Brigade in Oldenburg and finally the demanding but very rewarding course in Hamburg. For the remainder of his career, he fulfilled the role as the primary German language translator for the Defence Forces. A career highlight for Col Dawson came in April 2011 when he was promoted to Lt Col and posted back as Commander of the 27th Infantry Battalion in Dundalk. "That for me was a real highlight, it was like going back to your old school as headmaster. I had not been there in nearly 30 years and I got a wonderful welcome." He told how some sons and daughters of people he had served while originally stationed in Dundalk came up to him and said: "Dad says to say hello or some older fella's who were still there might say 'I remember you as a wee lad back in the '80s'. It was lovely." Pre-COVID, he said, every September retired members of the 27th Infantry battalion marked the unit's establishment by coming in for a parade and a bit of lunch. "Maybe about 50 or 60. For my first time in 2011, it took me nearly an hour to go through the parade because I was saying hello to old comrades. These were people I served with originally and had supported and influenced me in my formative years. Now I was back as the Unit Commander." Col Dawson also spent ten months in Brussels during the Irish Presidency of the European Union in 2013 and returned home to a completely new experience as Officer in Charge of Public Relations for the Defence Forces. "Those were three great years. My job was to ensure that the public were always informed about our relevance in Irish society and also to disseminate the views of the General Staff." Part of the job was advising the Chief of Staff and the General Staff on public relations matters. "I was always very honest and not sure I always gave the Chief the message that he wanted to hear. But it was something I emphasised to all the Press Officers: We have to tell the truth." Dealing with the media can be a challenge at any time but Col Dawson enjoyed the experience mentioning key media figures such as Tom Brady of the Irish Independent; Paul Reynolds of RTE and Conor Lally of the Irish Times. "Once you were timely, accurate and honest with them, the media appreciated that service." He also played a part in developing An Cosantóir but saves the real praise for former Editor, Sgt Wayne Fitzgerald and his team for their work on the magazine which he said plays an important role in keeping members of the Defence Forces well informed. "With a fullback line made up of Wayne, Sgt Rena Kennedy and Sgt Mick (Tiny) Burke, I was very confident that no goals would be conceded nor balls dropped." Something he is keen to mention is the role the men and women of the Defence Forces have played in the current COVID emergency. "The military have been out there supporting the HSE and helping to combat this enemy virus. Thankfully, the public have seen the unique skillset the DF possess particularly in the deliver of capabilities in the areas of project management, logistics, medical support and contingency planning. As ever, the DF provides 24/7 service without question and with unwavering loyalty to the government and the Irish citizen." Looking back over his 41 years in the permanent force and three years in the reserve, Col Dawson has thoroughly enjoyed military life. "I would not change a minute of it." Now he has more time to enjoy life at home in Newbridge, Co Kildare, with wife Avril, son Ben (27) and daughter Amy (24). His only advice to those in service is to remember the wise counsel he received on his own commissioning day: It must always be "The Mission, the Troops and Me" and always in that order. UNDOF Position 33 on the B-Side, Syria, February 2018. Considering potential COAs for the Irish Force Reserve Company Capt Leo Dawson, Troop Commander, Irishbatt, ONUC 1962 Col Mick Dawson's portrait when he held the rank of Lt Col and was OC of Public Relations Branch back in 2016

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