An Cosantóir

39 the points that influence my own personal leadership style. It has been adapted and moulded into what I need when I need it. It is ever changing and developing to suit the need of the situation that is at hand. I fully believe in and support the Defence Forces Values, but you must take them and make them your own, own them. They are everyday values for inside and outside of the organisation. If you could go back in time, what time and place would you go back to? It would have to be back to my recruit training and our arrival into the 4 Cav Sqn afterwards. The people that I trained with were an exceptional bunch of people. The female members were the first female soldiers to join and serve as combatants. They were the first of their kind and were to be the pathfinders. They excelled and went on to achieve many great things. Out of the total 40 recruits, 20 were posted into the unit. We were the largest group of soldiers that had arrived into the unit in some years. We had bonded in training and that stood to us when we reached our new home in an operation border unit. The older generation of soldiers were both fascinated and irritated to some measure with all these young ones marching, running and parading around the place Depot style. We had arrived, our induction training completed and our new learning had just begun. It was a wonderful time with new characters and mentors to contend with. We were young, fit and had money in our pockets. But money wasn't, and still isn't everything. The knowledge and experience that we received in the unit was of the highest order and we were tested on more than one occasion, but these Depot kids proved themselves. That would be a testament to those who trained us and those that had now taken over that responsibility along with our commitment. They were good times. What advice would you give to a young soldier starting out in the DF? The most important advice that I would give is be honest. Be honest with yourself; know your strengths and weaknesses. Look for and choose a mentor carefully. Stimulate your motivation early and do not wait around for opportunities to fall into your lap. Get out there, create the opportunities; invest blood, sweat and hard effort into attaining your goals. The Defence Forces is all about building up individuals, giving them skills and creating a winning team. No one is in this organisation alone. We are all a team. If you put in the work, you will get the rewards. Be patient and meticulous in your preparation, skills and drills. Aspire to be the best that you can be, feel it, own it, be it. The Defence Forces will provide you with the necessary support and development, it's there…. you just have to unlock it. What advice would you give to your 18 year old self? As I mentioned earlier, I was late in joining up. I was 23 years old. Firstly, I would ask "what does 18 year old me want?" How many 18 year olds really know what they want? I would tell 18 year old me to get stuck in from the start. Commit to the training, mind-set and regime of the organisation. Be proud to serve your country, to serve under your national flag. To know that you now follow in the footsteps of many a soldier that has gone before you. You do not own it, it is not yours. You are a caretaker, a gate keeper, a custodian. You are passing through. It does not matter if you do a few days or 40 plus years for the time that you are in; remain committed until you leave. Therefore, do a good job and be proud to have had your time to serve along with the many greats that have gone before you and provided you with the privilege that you now hold. The honour to wear the uniform of Óglaigh na hÉireann. Mark poses for a photo at the Tibnin, Irish Defence Forces memorial, dedicated to the 47 Irish Defence Forces troops who sadly lost their lives serving in Lebanon Mark taking a selfie infront of a Black Halk helicopter during the 17 IRCON US Fire Power Demo flight to Macedonia PEOPLE OF THE DEFENCE FORCES

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