An Cosantóir

| 31 www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE include a scene of crime examiners course, scene of crime managers course, and a course on interviewing in cases of sexual gender-based violence. Furthermore, the MP School recently concluded the 69th MP Probationers Course, which consisted of a total of 26 students. The MP Corps is dedicated to enhancing its capabilities to provide greater support to Defence Forces operations. Currently, the MP Corps is working on establishing a close protection function for the Defence Forces. To achieve this, students are participating in the nine-week Royal Military Police Close Protection Course in the United Kingdom. One student has already completed the course successfully, while another student is currently undergoing the final stages of the course. The objective of this course is to train students in the preventive and reactive measures that Close Protection (CP) personnel should take to safeguard individuals who are at risk of assassination, kidnapping, or other illegal acts committed by terrorists or criminals. DEFENCE FORCES MEDICAL CORPS BY COL ANTHONY CORCORAN 2023 has been a very busy and productive year for the Medical Corps as we ensured and coordinated the provision of medical services to the Defence Forces. The Medical Corps maintained a medical capability that was deployed at home and overseas, worked to maximise the medical readiness, health and fitness of all personnel and strove to manage and deliver high quality, efficient and effective healthcare. With the roll-out of Private Medical Care, all enlisted members of the Permanent Defence Forces now have the same access to private medical care as officers currently do. Commencing in October 2023, this is a very positive development and a key recommendation of the CODF. Significant developments have also been made in relation to fixed period promotion for Medical Officers and technical pay for EMT/CMT, Paramedics and Advanced Paramedics. These retention measures for DF clinical personnel will allow continued focus on recruitment & retention in the Medical Corps and the Defence Forces in 2024. In the Training arena, it was important to resume participation in Ex Arduous Serpent, an annual international competition conducted by the British Army Medical Corps. The competition was conducted in June and teams entered the competition from the UK, Canada, USA, Norway, & Ireland. The team consists of eight (8) medics and two (2) non-medical members and they are tested in various Military and Medical scenarios over a four (4) day period, requiring interoperable and professional skillsets. In an excellent result the Defence Forces team placed fourth overall out of the seventeen (17) teams. Further participation is planned in 2024. Throughout 2023, the Medical Corps has continued to engage with external partners, in order to further develop the level of medical services we provide to the Defence Forces. These partners come from both the military and civilian healthcare settings, as well as third level institutions, and at both a national and an international level. Service Level Agreements and Framework Agreements have been reached with the National Ambulance Service and the Irish College of General Practitioners in relation to the training of our personnel. Further agreements are being developed with agencies such as the Irish Blood Transfusion Service, medical colleges, and hospital groups. Internationally, Medical Corps personnel have engaged with their UK colleagues on a regular basis, while also participating in EU and NATO/ PfP medical initiatives, courses, and committees, presenting excellent opportunities for training, experience and continuous professional development to members of the Medical Corps and the wider Defence Forces. TRANSPORT CORPS 2023 BY COL BRENDAN NORTON From a fleet perspective – and despite global materiel shortages due to post-pandemic production shortfalls and conflict in Eastern Europe – the Transport Corps enjoyed a year of considerable success in upgrading its platforms throughout 2023. Examples of refresh include: • 10 x electric saloons (Kia e-Niro) delivered during the first quarter of the year. • 03 x electric vans (Peugeot e-Expert) delivered, with a further 07 to be received by year's end. • A heavy logs truck (MAN 8x4) with mounted 30t crane, delivered Q3. • A 40ft 'Exhibition Trailer' delivered to DFPRB during the first quarter of the year. • 16 x more TCVs (Scania P370 4x4) delivered in Quarter 3 of the year, with a further 14 to be delivered before the end of 2023 (thus closing- out the contract for 120 such items). • 20 x crew cab vans (Renault Master) delivered during Quarter 2. • 15 x minibuses (Ford Transit) delivered in the third quarter of the year, with a further 05 being delivered by mid-Dec 23. • 07 x pick-ups (Ford Ranger) delivered during the third quarter of the year (05 in MP variant). • A first replacement DROPS truck (Scania G500 8x8) delivered in Q4, with a further 06 to be delivered before year's end, and another 15 currently scheduled for receipt in Q2 2024. • 03 x tele handlers (JCB) for Eng and Ord Corps being delivered in mid- Dec 23, with a further item due in Q2 2024) In addition to the above, contracts have also been signed for the 2024 delivery of 04 x medium recovery trucks (Scania 8x8) for Formations, an all-electric and a conventional-powered large container handler for the NSRC, an electric de-icer vehicle for the Air Corps, and heavy forklift trucks for various end-users. These improvements will be augmented by the continued intake of electric saloons & vans next year, leading to a phasing out of fossil-fuelled vehicles for routine and administrative movements across the DF. From a broadening of capability perspective, as well as receiving logs depots in DEU for the EUBG-RDC this year, Corps drivers started delivering small vehicle packets directly to the European continent in support of DF deployments there. In July, we delivered a new crew cab to our deployment in KFOR; in August, a Ford Ranger was delivered to DEU, followed by 02 low-loaded vans in September. Route planning was also completed for the anticipated movements of more DF equipment to the continent by Corps drivers in the New Year. From a training perspective, the Corps currently has 50 x Trainee Technicians under instruction across Formation vehicle workshops, with some in training at both Athlone and Dublin Institutes of Technology or in commercial garages around the country (depending on their course stage). The Corps has also qualified 68 students on Young Officers, Standard NCOs, Driving Instructors & Driver Testers courses during the year, and tested a total of 1,009 drivers on various category of vehicle. In turn, we've issued 1,117 Certificates of Competency for the National Driving License Service to ensure that civilian licenses for eligible DF drivers reflect their AF154 Driving Permit vehicle qualifications. The Corps looks forward to a continued level of investment in both its personnel and capabilities in 2024, and wishes all readers of An Cosantóir a warm, happy and safe Christmas. | 31 www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE Medical: Medical Corps soldiers taking part in Arduous Serpent hosted in the UK Medical: Members of the Medical Corps providing cover during a recent exercise Tpt: Tpt members after receiving new crew cabs Tpt: Tpt Gp DFTC providing vital transport for recruits

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