An Cosantóir

14 A request was made to Brigadier General Rory O'Connor General Officer Commanding Air Corps through Colonel David Corcoran Chief of Air Staff Operations, Air Corps Headquarters from the JOC Defence Forces Joint Task Force COVID – 19 DFHQ, to supply twelve Air Corps personnel for secondment to the Joint Task Force COVID – 19 which would be based in Dublin. Working as an Admin Clerk in Air Corps Headquarters based in Casement Aerodrome Baldonnel, I was very fortunate and privileged to be asked by the Commandant Donal Curran SO Current Operations Air Corps Headquarters if I would like to volunteer to be involved as part of the Defence Forces Joint Task Force COVID – 19. Without hesitation I took a pace forward and readily put my name forward to help out any way I could. I observed the many sacrifices front line staff including Defence Forces personnel were making across Ireland to combat this dreadful pandemic. Just before the Christmas breakup, word filtered down from SO Defence Forces Joint Task Force COVID – 19 DFHQ to General Officer Commanding Air Corps by way of Frago 187 of 2020, issued by Defence Forces Headquarters and that the Joint Task Force COVID – 19 was being activated on Sunday 27th December 2020 and all personnel tasked were to report to Cathal Brugha Barracks for a comprehensive briefing. On a cold crisp morning of the 27th December 2020, I remember eagerly getting into my car with anticipation and many questions with the view and opinion to help in any way I could. It gave me a warm feeling inside that I, a mere Clerk and member of the Defence Forces, in some small way was going to be included to help put an end to this pandemic which has affected the many millions of ordinary people, not only in Ireland but across the world. I then proceeded to Cathal Brugha Barracks to take any challenge ahead and to carry out any task that would be asked of me (as would any By Cpl Shay Singleton Photos by A/M Sam Gibney, Frank Mcgrath Cpl Shay Singleton author of this article COVID CALL CENTRE member of our proud Defence Forces who put their shoulders to the wheel on a daily basis, although often unseen and unnoticed to members of the public prior to and during this terrible pandemic). On arrival to Cathal Brugha Barracks all our Air Corps personnel reported to the 2nd Brigade auditorium Cathal Brugha Barracks for our briefing. There were personnel from across the Defence Forces present including the DFTC Curragh and CMU 1st Brigade south, approximately Twenty personnel in total. We eagerly took our seats and were greeted by JOC Director Commandant Martin Ryan Defence Forces Joint Task Force COVID – 19 and Doctor M Browne from the Health Service Executive who gave the brief, which consisted of handouts and an in-depth look at various scenarios which could arise while manning the call centre and engaging directly with members of the public. This brief which some personal found very comprehensive, compact and slightly daunting lasted approximately three hours. Needless to say, at that stage we all were gagging for a coffee and a ten-minute break after this three-hour brief. We were then informed by Commandant Ryan to report to the EIR building in Dublin City Centre for 14:00 hours that day for further in-depth hands-on training. All tasked Defence Force personnel gathered at the main door reception area within the EIR building at 14:00 Hours met by Commandant Ryan and further briefed and handed over to a member of staff from the Health Service Executive who issued us with ID Cards to access the building. Some of the cleverer Defence Forces lads that first day had the foresight to attend the local Spar and arrived with a coffee and lunch roll in hand, as you do. We all then proceeded upstairs for a very short break and continuation of our training which consisted of getting access logins' to the Health Service Executive database reviewing various scenarios we

• Cover