An Cosantóir

| 19 www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE an MSc in Forensic Computing and Cyber Crime Investigations at UCD. I started my current role in the Cyber Development Planning Office in 2023. Although I have spent my entire career in CIS, this new role presented a new challenge as I have not previously served in this field. My goal is to develop in this area. A significant personal aspiration is to achieve the rank of RSM in the future. Having progressed this far in the DF, I hope to continue and attain- ing this rank would be a remarkable achievement, especially as a female member of the DF. How have you found juggling motherhood and your career in terms of work/life balance? When you first join the army, you often don't envision how your future will unfold, including marriage and having children. Initially, the focus is on building a career, however, when children come along, things become more complicated, especially when considering overseas or lengthy career courses. These responsibilities can be challenging to manage, particularly if they require extended time away from home. I was fortunate to have my parents and in-laws nearby, which provided invaluable support with babysitting. Still overseas deployments were difficult. I went overseas 5 times, with four of those occurring after I had children. The first overseas deployment after having children was by far the most difficult. However, it became somewhat easier with each subse- quent trip. I made a conscious decision to take a break from overseas when my daughter reached her teenage years because it was crucial for me to be at home during this time. To this day, I don't regret that decision. Balancing motherhood and a military career is challenging but achievable. Having a supportive husband and family nearby made it a bit easier for me. What are the biggest changes to the CIS Corps over the years? The CIS Corps has changed significantly, especially in the past 5 to 10 years. With the developments in the Next Generation Working Envi- ronments (NGWE), Software Defined Radio (SDR), SitaWare and Cyber Security, the Corps has come a long way in the area of technology. Educa- tion of our CIS personnel has improved dramatically over the years with technicians now leaving college with level 8 degrees. However one of the critical challenges the CIS Corps face is retaining our newly trained techni- cians. Many leave for better-paying positions in the private sector or even in the public sector. Despite investing heavily in their education and train- ing, it has become increasingly difficult to retain these skilled personnel. Despite the challenges we now face, after 30 years of service, I still love my job and I still get up in the morning wanting to come to work. My love for the Corps has not changed. You are the first mother and daughter in the DF. What advice did you give to your daughter when she was joining? Yes we are the first mother and daughter to serve in the DF. Honestly, I didn't realise Sarah wanted to join the DF; I was in Syria at the time and she called to tell me that she had her fitness test the following week. My only advice at that time was to make sure she knew how to do the press ups and sit ups correctly. I was concerned about the fitness test, but thankfully, she passed. When she started her training, I advised her to keep her mouth shut, keep her head down, and remember that, despite how tough it might get, the instructors were trying to bring out the best in her. I told her to endure the rough patches (and there were) and to push through. Throughout her recruit training I kept my fingers crossed because she is very independent and makes her own decisions, which I truly love about her. Now my advice is to consider the Trainee Technician Scheme. Although it isn't currently on her horizon, I hope in time, she will see its value. I believe this is the future for CIS personnel, and I would love to see her progress in her career and rise through the ranks, as I did. This is important because, like her mother, she isn't afraid to speak her mind so it's important to at least have the rank behind her. What opportunities has the DF given to you? The Defence Forces has given me many opportunities. It definitely gave me the opportunity to grow as a person, a mother and a woman. It has also given me the opportunity to travel all over the world on my five mis- sions overseas and courses. It's given me the opportunity for further edu- cation even though initially, when I joined the army, it wasn't education I wanted. I wanted to work rather than go to college but as I progressed and matured, I really appreciated that opportunity. What advice would you give to your 18 year old self? I would tell my 18-year-old self that college is not the only path to achiev- ing your goals. While I didn't initially start my journey in college, I have returned to it 4 or 5 times since then. Higher education can come later in life when you're ready to pursue a degree, a master's or whatever your aspirations may be. Don't feel pressured to rush into college at 18. Take your time to explore different opportunities and find what truly drives you. CS Murphy's first trip overseas to Lebanon in 1996 At CS Murphy's daughter Sarah's passing out in Dundalk L-R A/FS Leona Walsh, Sandra, Sgt Rena Kennedy, Fire Fighter Roisin Boyne.

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