An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir July / August 2024 www.military.ie/magazine 10 | E stablished on the 06 October 1930, the Irish Military College has had primacy for the provision of military education and training to Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) of the Defence Forces. The advocacy of an established training college has enabled Defence Forces personnel to fulfil their leadership roles effectively, domestically and on deployment overseas at the tactical, operational and strategic levels. The Military College continues to play a key role in the delivery of the Defence Forces philosophy of lifelong learning, enabled in an educational environment for both junior and senior leadership that is conducive to training, study, learning, reflection and personal development. This is achieved through the maintenance of four (4) key conditions within the college: • Adherence to Defence Forces Values and Dignity Charter for all Students. • Providing a doctrinally sound appropriate learning environment. • An environment where all students of all ranks can be stimulated and challenged. • An ethos where cooperation and teamwork sit alongside initiative, independent thinking and self-reliance. In terms of delivery of leadership training, the Military College is comprised of eight (8) schools and the DF Library. The Cadet School, The Infantry School, and The Command and Staff schools, along with the five (5) other schools (Cavalry, Artillery, UN, Military Administration schools and The DF Physical Education and School (The Gym)) are committed to imparting either skills training, or tactical, operational, and strategic level leadership training at the Military College. As a result, it is essential to analyse the approaches and techniques utilised by each school in nurturing and cultivating leadership attributes and capabilities for those who attend the College. Cadet School Leadership training and development is inculcated throughout a Cadetship. The primary function of Officer Cadet training is to develop character and leadership skills in the Cadets. Leadership training is characterised by practical, theoretical and experiential learning throughout the 17 months of the Cadetship. This is progressive in nature with the Cadet advancing through four (4) distinct phases of training each characterised by increasing levels of skill attainment, character development and autonomy in learning. Leadership development is sequential and progressive throughout each stage. It includes the delivery of leadership lessons, with a focus on the DF leadership doctrine and practical case studies of leadership in action. It extends beyond the classroom to the tactical environment, where Cadets are exposed to tactical exercises and scenarios that require the Cadet to perform in leadership appointments. Tactical training is in fact, the vehicle through which much of the assessment of leadership ability and resilience is conducted. It includes a variety of platoon and company level exercises in both conventional and non-conventional scenarios. Training is planned to promote personal development and to provide Cadets with ample opportunities to develop their leadership styles where their progress can be measured and assessed. These opportunities are garnered through various leadership appointments ranging from Weekly Orderly Sgt to Cadet Captain, from Syndicate I/C to Logistics Cadet. These assigned appointments, which can range from one week to six months in duration, are designed to empower the Cadet and to develop a sense of responsibility and competency in terms of leadership skills. It is the role of the Cadet School staff to fully develop a Cadet's potential. A variety of teaching methodologies and assessment tools are used to help to foster and develop leadership skills. Leadership skills are challenged and honed in various ways, such as the delivery of presentations, executing class taking lessons, verbal test talks and collaborative syndicate work. Leadership training in the Cadet School is the medium through which the DF ensures that Cadets are prepared for exercising command and authority across the full range of military functions both at home and overseas. The Cadetship culminates in the Commission awarded by the Commander in Chief, Uachtarán na hÉireann, which invests the authority to execute lethal force and command military forces. All Cadets who successfully complete the academic requirements of the course are awarded a Level 7 Diploma in Leadership, Management and Defence Studies from Maynooth University. Command and Staff School The Command and Staff School (C&S) has been at the vanguard for the Irish Defence Forces educational development over the past two decades, and through its engagement with Maynooth University provides Officers of OF-3 rank (Commandants/Lt Commanders) from all services of the Defence Forces (Army, Navy & Air Corps) with accredited post-graduate Level 9 education in Leadership, Management and Defence Studies. Professional Military Education (PME) for senior officers provides them with strategic and leadership focused training, with leadership training the DEVELOPING TACTICAL, OPERATIONAL AND STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP THROUGH THE DELIVERY OF PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION (PME) ARTICLE BY VARIOUS CONTRIBUTORS PHOTOS PROVIDED BY COMDT DAVID FARRAGHER Cadets on their commissioning day, the Leadership journey begins

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