An Cosantóir

EDITORIAL Comdt Helen Hosback info@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5306 Sgt Karl Byrne (Stand in) magazine@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5307 Cpl Lee Coyle (Overseas) journalist@military.ie A/M Sam Gibney photo@military.ie Mr Seán Shinnors Tony O'Brien JM Publishing & Media Arklow, Co. Wicklow, Ireland Tel: +353 (0)87 1344135 Email: info@jmpublishing.ie The fact that an article appears in this magazine does not indicate official approval of the views expressed by the author. © Published by OiC Public Relations Branch for the Defence Forces at DFHQ, Block 5, Ceannt Bks, DFTC, Curragh Camp, Co Kildare, Ireland. Tel: +353 (0)45 445312 Cpl Martin Bennett subs@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5312 Vacant admin@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5308 Sgt Louise McDonald webmaster@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5307 MANAGER: EDITOR: PHOTO/JOURNALIST: PHOTOGRAPHER: MAGAZINE ARCHIVIST: CIVILIAN JOURNALIST: DESIGNER/JOURNALIST:: ADMIN NCO: DF/PR INFORMATION: DF WEBMASTER: Vacant Hello, and welcome to our first issue of 2022, our 82nd volume of the An Cosantóir magazine. This issue brings us to our first magazine of 2022. We hope you enjoyed reading An Cosantóir last year and will continue to enjoy it into 2022. Our Noticeboard page this issue features a small feature on the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces. On Parade features pictures from the Defence Forces Flickr page from the Best of Albums from the Army, Navy, Air Corps and Overseas. Our first feature by Tony O'Brien, 'Insight into Veterans Affairs', Tony talks to Wayne Fitzgerald Sgt Retired and previous Editor of the An Cosantóir about what it takes to run the O.N.E. organistion. Moving on to our second feature article, Tony interviews SCPO Brendan Madden from the Navy, Brendan speaks about his life in the Defence Forces from his early begginings to present day. In 'Guts 'n Gunships', our AirCorps/Army Reserve Ambassador Pte Lukasz Gancarz AR spoke with Robert Mason, an ex US Army Veteran, Mark Garrison speaks of his career in the US Army and what it was like to fly a Huey helicopter in the Vietnam War. In Tony's third feature of the issue, he reports on the Defence Forces Bomb Disposal Unit, the kind of operations and situations they are deployed both in the past and present, not a job for the faint hearted. Our DF Podcast comes from Season 1 Episode 7, Sgt Larry Havens, a non-commissioned officer in the 1 Armoured Cavalry Squadron, talks about the Cavalry Corps of the Irish Defence Forces, its history, roles and training. Sgt Mick Lennon returns with his article "Fueling the Nation'. Mick gives us invaluable information on energy intake and expenditure. An indepth analysis of the subject for any aspiring athletes within the Defence Forces. 'By a Treaty Divided' by CQMS Gerry White & Comdt Brendan O'Shea, is our "From the Archives piece. Their article from Volume 63, Issue 05, of June 2003 looks back at the treaty that brought an end to Irelands Civil War, a very interesting read for our historian readers. As always, we have our regular features including PSS continueing to provide vital mental health advice in 'Headspace and Timing' as well as our 'Internal Comms' piece for all the serving soldiers who read the magazine and not forgetting our book reviews on page 03. Lt Jonathon Hughes & Sgt Eddie O'Brien from 119 INF BN UNIFIL and the 12 INF BN are 'Marching for the Maternities' in the Regeneron Great Limerick Run Half Marathon on the 1st May 2022, to raise funds for the neonatal intensive care units in the Maternity Hospital Limerick and the Coombe Hospital Dublin. If you want to donate to this very charitable cause please follow the link below. Good luck to the lads on their run, wishing them all the best from everyone here at An Cosantóir. https://eventmaster.ie/fundraising/pages/ JH74658515 Sgt Karl Byrne – Editor «The first duty of a leader is optimism. How does your subordinate feel after meeting you? Does he feel uplifted? If not, you are not a leader» – Field Marshall Bernard Law Montgomery

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