An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir March / April 2024 www.military.ie/magazine 30 | Can you briefly tell us about your career at home up till the day you retired? I joined the DF in September 1997 and retired in March 2019. I completed a lot of courses over the 21 years of my career, including LFTT, PTI course, NCO Course and Standard Course. One course that stands out though is probably the Battle CIMIC course in Scotland with the Royal Marines. During my career, I worked as the Gym Sgt in Collins Barracks, and also an LFTT instructor for 1 Bde. I was involved in fitness testing in the gym for IT's and also for the NS, working under the instruction of the BPEO on a daily basis. I also had the chance to work in 1 Bde operations for about a year in 2007 after working overseas in an operations role in UNMIL as Ops manager from April 06 to Dec 06. What was your favourite rank while serving in the DF, and most enjoyable period in service and describe why? I enjoyed all my ranks but the most memorable rank for me was being a Sergeant in the 1 BAR. I suppose this rank gave me the chance to impact young members of the unit both while I was at home and on overseas missions. Having the opportunity to help develop and mentor young soldiers was always a great privilege. I have to say I really enjoyed my time in the gym also as I was always trying my best to improve people's fitness and their overall health in my role as the Gym PTI. Most enjoyable unit that you served in? I suppose the best unit of course was my home unit 1 BAR. My father, Declan O' Rourke (RIP), was a Sgt Major in the Regiment and served there until he retired and has sadly since passed away. I also served in Ballincollig Bks before it closed in 1998. I had the pleasure of deploying overseas with the 83rd UNIFIL with lads from the unit. The 1st Regt gave me a lot of scope to develop as an individual soldier and a person. The unit commanders down to my best friends supported me throughout my time in that unit. I also have made friends for life from the unit, we are still in contact to this day and many of these people have been there for me through thick and thin in life. Can you maybe tell us the hardest event or period in your career and why? I suppose the hardest thing in my career was retiring from the DF. This was a decision that felt right for me at that time, there was many a long nights spent lying awake trying to wrap my head around my decision to stay or go. I had handed over 21 years of my life and to now just try and move on. It was like my identity was VETERANS INTERVIEW GRATTAN O'ROURKE NAME 45 AGE SGT RANK RETIRED 21 YEARS AND 2 MONTHS YEARS SERVED 1 BAR FINAL UNIT 1 BAR, 1 BDE HQ UNITS SERVED 83 & 85 INF BN UNIFIL; 2 IRISH GUARD UNMEE; 92 & 95 INF BN UNMIL; 38 INF GP KOSOVO; 101 INF BN MINURCAT; UNDOF 50 INF GP MISSIONS OVERSEAS INTERVIEW BY SGT JOHN ROSSITER PHOTOS BY CPL MARTIN BENNETT 15 SEP 97 DATE JOINED Grattan seen here recently in Mayfield Community Training Centre From instructor to teacher Grattan in his current role now

• Cover