An Cosantóir

24 | T he Defence Forces Association of Mountaineers (DFAM) consists of personnel from different units all over the Irish Defence Forces. It began as a group of likeminded individuals who shared a love for the outdoors and quickly turned into something more. Today, members of DFAM participate in a multitude of activities ranging from Rock Climbing, Mountaineering, Skiing, Alpine Climbing, Ice climbing, Coasteering, and Mountain Biking. While these are some of the activates that the members participate in, we also provide substantial services to the Defence Forces - Adventure Camps, Courses and Rescue elements. Adventure Camps & Ultimate Hell Week If you've had the pleasure of being attached to a rope that's running along the side of the water tower in the DFTC, the Mirror Wall in Co. Clare or even the old head in Kinsale, then you've come across some of the Confidence Training Instructors (CTI's) in DFAM. Once completing the CTI course, the instructors will go on to provide adventure camps or days for units, Recruits, Cadets or any group of the DF that request it. These adventure days can consist of an Abseil, Rock Climbing or Heavy Ropes Obstacle Course. While some may say that the heavy ropes obstacle course can be the toughest camp to go for, their opinions often change when standing at the edge of the mirror wall. This is never an issue for us though, as we frequently have troops that are terrified of heights and we rarely fail to get them over the edge - which is what a Confidence Training Instructor is all about – instilling confidence in people and their abilities. Other aspects of the adventure days can include rock climbing. Often done in Ballerina, Co. Clare or Dalkey Quarry, Co. Dublin, we will provide a day of outdoor rock climbing done on top ropes. There's no experience of climbing required and the aim of the day is to get outside and enjoy doing something a bit different than a unit hill walk. For Cadets and recruits, it also provides a much needed break from the intensive training they go through. The heavy ropes obstacle course is constructed in Cloughlea Forest, Co. Wicklow. For some reason, this is our least requested gig – I'm not too sure why! For this, we will plan and build a course over Shankill River in Cloughlea. The obstacles often consist of a Ratslide, Commando Bridge, Monkey Bridge, zip line and a few extras thrown in for good measure. While this is a different and more physical day out, it's always a fun one. Troops will break a sweat during it, but that's not a big deal as there's a nice dip in the river to end the course. DFAM also provided obstacles and support during 3 seasons of Ultimate Hell Week for RTE2. CTIs constructed the various rope based obstacles you would have seen on the show. A lot of these setups required some brain storming and pre planning for it to all run smoothly, which it thankfully always did. Some of the setups included: the Water Tower in the DFTC, Mizen Head Bridge, Achilles Copper Mines and an abseil dispatching off the County Council building in Cork. Courses Members of DFAM run and participate in a various courses. We have 3 main courses that we run, and one international course that we participate in. On island, we run a Basic Rock Course, CTI course and Basic Mountain Skills Course. The basic rock course is an introduction to lead climbing. We take students that have various differing levels of climbing experience ranging from none to some and over the course of a week, will teach them how to lead climb, belay correctly and create an anchor system to bring their climbing partner up after them. This is often the introduction to DFAM and is a very enjoyable course. Personnel interested in becoming a CTI should complete a basic rock course before progressing. The CTI course is ran over 3 weeks and in 3 different locations – Ballyryan, Co. Clare, Dalkey Quarry, Co. Dublin and Cloughlea Forest, Co. Wicklow. During this course, students will learn how to set up an abseil, a top rope system and rescue technique for helping their climbing partner. They are tested on all 3 elements mentioned and on passing their assessment will go on to week 3 of the course which consists of learning the heavy ropes obstacle course. This is an extremely tough, enjoyable and rewarding THE DEFENCE FORCES ASSOCIATION OF MOUNTAINEERS (DFAM) ARTICLE BY SGT SARAH NOLAN PHOTOS PROVIDED BY SGT SARAH NOLAN Sgt Nolan dispatching a cadet off mirror wall for an adventure camp FQMS Fran Whelan finishing off 'peanut butter special' multipitch climb in the Ailladie 12 Inf Bn adventure day, FQ Fran Whelan and CQ Noel Shannon at King Johns Castle Limerick City

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