An Cosantóir

20 | www.military A s Ireland's military instrument of national power, the Defence Forces have responsibilities for national security and defence and play an essential role in delivering on Ireland's foreign policy objectives. The quality of our personnel and the standard of their military training and education are fundamental to our performance on operations at home and overseas. The Irish government is committed to supporting international peace and security by deploying Defence Forces' personnel on United Nations peacekeeping missions and EU and NATO-led crisis management operations worldwide. Over the past year, Defence Forces personnel have experienced the characteristics and dangers of the contemporary operating environment at close hand, as they perform their roles as impartial peacekeepers in Lebanon as part of the UNIFIL Force. The primary purpose of the Defence Forces training and education system is to ensure that our Army, Air Corps and Naval Service personnel possess the necessary skills and knowledge of the profession of arms and their service domain, to perform their duties effectively. Defence Forces training and education, by necessity, focuses on developing military skills, leadership, and knowledge to deliver a wide range of military capabilities so that they can be employed when and where they are required. The Defence Forces approach emphasises that military professionals need a combination of training, accredited education, and informal learning to prepare them to operate effectively in the modern security environment. This article aims to link military education and mastering the profession of arms, to delivering military capability. THE LMDS PROGRAMME The Defence Forces most extensive academic programme is the Leadership Management and Defence Studies (LMDS) Programme for enlisted personnel and officers. Since 2002, the Defence Forces have partnered with Maynooth University to accredit career courses along the officer Professional Military Education (PME) pathway from Cadetship at Level 7 to the Joint Command and Staff Course at Level 9. With over a thousand graduates, this dynamic partnership has evolved and enhanced military education for officers over the past 22 years. The Centre for Military History and Strategic Studies at Maynooth University, led by Professor Ian Speller, works closely with the leadership of the Military College, in particular, with the staff at the Cadet School, The Infantry School, and the Command and Staff School to create and deliver innovative Professional Military Education programmes in response to the needs of the Defence Forces. Graduation Day is a special day for Defence Forces graduates and their families as it formally marks the successful completion on an intense period of study and personal development. On 30 October 2024, 78 officers graduated from Maynooth University: The Military College graduation ceremony for the 6th Land and 6th Joint Command and Staff Courses was held on the morning of the 30 October 2024 at the Military College and was presided over by Deputy Chief of Staff, Major General Tony McKenna. The ceremony involved the presentation of Military College Graduation parchments and awards to graduands. The Director of Infantry award for the best student on the 6th Land Command and Staff Course was presented to Captain Kenneth Deegan by Lt Col Conor King, General Secretary, RACO. The award, a perpetual trophy, is a sword which is kept on permanent display in the Infantry School. There are three awards associated with the Joint Command and Staff Course. 1. An Gradam Tighde na bhFórsaí Cosanta: The award for best research thesis was presented to Comdt Shane Courtney for his thesis entitled "Mentoring in the Irish Defence Forces: Opportunities and Challenges". 2. The second award, the Lt Gen Sean Clancy Award, is a perpetual award presented to the student who has achieved the best Master's Degree. Major Michael Dabeck (US Army) and Comdt Shane Courtney shared the prize this year. 3. The Lt Gen Tadhg O'Neill award for the best military mark was presented to Comdt Eoghan Carton. DEVELOPING MILITARY CAPABILITIES THROUGH ACCREDITED MILITARY EDUCATION THE DEFENCE FORCES REGISTRAR'S OFFICE BY LT COL COLIN LAWLOR The 2024 SETU Conferring Ceremony held in the Barrow Centre, SETU Carlow Campus 40 members of the 99th Cadet Class graduated with a Level 7 Special Purpose Diploma in Leadership, Management and Defence Studies 20 members of the 6th Joint Command and Staff Course graduated with a Level 9 Masters in Leadership, Management and Defence Studies 18 members of the 6th Land Command and Staff Course graduated with a Level 8 Higher Diploma in Leadership, Defence and Contemporary Security An Cosantóir November / December 2024 www.military.ie/magazine

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