An Cosantóir

| 3 www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE Manager Comdt Helen Hosback info@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5306 Editor Sgt John Rossiter connect@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5307 Photo/Journalist Vacant journalist@military.ie Photographer A/M Sam Gibney photo@military.ie Admin NCO Cpl Martin Bennett requisitions@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5312 DF/PR Information Cpl Eric Ryan magazine@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5308 DF Webmaster Sgt Louise McDonald webmaster@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5307 Civilian Journalist Tony O'Brien Designer 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 Front Cover 1 ACS at the Gainey Cup Lt Alex McNamara Editorial H ello, and welcome to our fourth issue of 2023, our 83rd volume of the An Cosantóir magazine. We hope you enjoy reading this edition and continue to enjoy reading all the other An Cosantóir magazines we have published. Did you know that you can access all of our magazines from 2011 to the present day by simply searching for them online? We are in the process of moving them all on to our website and very soon you will be able to browse previous editions at www.military.ie/magazine If you have any ideas for the magazine, or would like to be featured in the On Parade section of An Cosantóir, please send us any submissions to magazine@military.ie We have a great selection of articles in this magazine, including a mix of interviews, photos, an update on our sports and clubs and our popular 'On Parade' section which features recent events across the DF. Our main feature this edition is an Interview with Brig Gen Rossa Mulcahy, Assistant Chief of Staff (ACOS). In this interview, by DF Press Officer Comdt Gemma Fagan, Brig Gen Mulcahy discusses the Women of Honour documentary and the steps the Defence Forces have been taking since this documentary aired. Other areas covered in this excellent interview are the Organisational Culture Standing Committee (OCSC) and the IRG report which was published in March 2023. Lt Alex McNamara describes the journey of the 1st Armoured Cavalry Squadron following their selection for the prestigious biannual International Scout Competition, known as The Gainey Cup. Held in the heart of Fort Benning, Georgia (now Fort Moore), this gruelling event brought together the world's most proficient scout squads for a week of intense challenges that tested their mental acuity, physical stamina, and unwavering teamwork. Facing off against 22 teams from the United States and four international squads, the 1st Armoured Cavalry Squadron team embarked on a journey that would define their mettle. 122 Inf Bn UNIFIL are currently deployed in Lebanon, in this article from Comdt Barry Hannon, we have a brief history of the UNIFIL mission and some information on their mission training and daily tasks. We are also given a short insight into the background and daily taskings of several members of 122 Inf Bn. A serving DF EOD officer that recently attended EOD Ex Raven's Challenge, Camp Dodge Iowa provides us with a description of the five-day exercise that set new standards for inter-agency collaboration. Drawing from a year's worth of EOD callouts, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) assembles scenarios where EOD teams and Public Service Bomb Squads (PSBSs) can refine their skills and techniques. Our centre spread is a photo feature of the very successful DF Open Day that took place in Farmleigh House at the end of July. One of the most challenging courses in the Defence Forces is the SERE Course which is designed to equip military personnel with the skills and knowledge needed to survive and operate effectively in hostile environments. Cpl Eric Ryan from the An Cosantóir Office sat down with Lt Stephen King from the Military Training and SERE School to discuss the structure of the course, and what it takes to succeed on it. Our retired personnel are an important part of the Defence Forces family and to reflect that, we are hoping to feature some veterans organisations over the next few editions. In this edition we have an article about ONE – Empowering Veterans: The Mission of Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann which gives a detailed overview of the great services that ONE provides for veterans, including details on the Free Veteran Counselling Service. "Go Mear, Máirseáil" by Lt (AR) Fergal Fitzgerald details the Vier Daagse Marches, the world's largest multi-day walking event which took place in Nijmegan in the Netherlands in July 2023. A team of 11 Army Reservists from 2 Bde took part in this event which draws participants from 70 countries, to walk 163km in 4 days, carrying at least 10kg of weight. Homes for Heroes, The Centenary of the Killester Garden Village is a fascinating article into the history of Killester Garden Village written by Armn Aaron Crampton. The village was built for Irish WW1 ex servicemen in 1923 and the idyllic retreat provided not just physical shelter, but a sanctuary for those battling the invisible scars of war–PTSD, shell shock, and physical disabilities. The community survives to this day. We finish the magazine with our Sports and Clubs update – an update on DF Camogie, all of the latest news from DF Sports and clubs, and finally an article commemorating 100 years of basketball in the Defence Forces. Our From the Archives section features the article published in An Cosantóir in December 1978 commemorating 50 years of Basketball. Thank you for your continued support of the magazine and all of the articles and photos submitted thus far. We are looking forward to seeing many serving and retired DF personnel at the upcoming An Cosantóir Race, taking place on 11th Oct 2023 in the Phoenix Park. Registration will be open until 08th Oct 2023. "You cannot make progress without making decisions" — Jim Rohn Sgt John Rossiter – Editor

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