An Cosantóir

| 21 www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE WHAT IS YOUR CIVILIAN JOB AND HOW DO YOU BALANCE THIS WITH YOUR RDF COMMITMENTS? I am a registered general nurse and registered midwife. I work in University Hospital Galway as a Clinical Midwife Manager on the Labour Ward. My work involves caring for women throughout their pregnancy, managing complications that may occur, and providing care throughout labour and delivery. My job is stressful at times, but it is incredibly rewarding. It can be challenging to balance both work and Defence Forces commitments, but I think it's important to make time for what you enjoy. Planning is extremely important for me to be able to balance both. I am also fortunate to have supportive colleagues in my civilian role who support my active involvement with the Army Reserve. There have been times where I haven't been able to commit to both work and the Defence Forces. This is due to the time constraints concerned with both. While it is disappointing, the ability to maintain a good balance is vitally important and I am very fortunate that I love my civilian employment as a midwife. My career in the Defence Forces compliments my work as a clinical manager. Leadership traits taught with the Defence Forces can be utilised in many civilian employments. A key aspect of leadership includes supervision, direction and mentorship. I would feel my experience in both healthcare and the Defence Forces complement each other. WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AND GOALS FOR THE FUTURE? In my civilian work, I hope to be privileged enough to continue caring for expectant mothers to ensure they continue to receive the highest level of healthcare. As I continue my career in the Defence Forces, I would hope to further develop serving and potential members of the Army Reserve to enable them to achieve all their goals while maintaining and promoting its values. Personally, I hope to be able to continue playing football and camogie. I play football with my local club Killannin. I play corner back, and last year I was extremely fortunate to captain the team when we won the county championship final. My proudest moment in sport was togging out in the blue & white jersey of Killannin alongside my niece, Lydia. I play camogie with Maigh Cuilin, and last year we won the Junior final. My goal is to someday complete the Galway Bay Swim both as a relay team member and an individual. This is an annual swim from Aughinish in Co. Clare to Salthill Co. Galway, covering an approximate 13km distance. I always enjoyed swimming, but its only in recent years that I have taken on long distance swims. I completed the Defence Forces Open Water swim camp, where we had the opportunity to expand our strengths by completing several tough swims in lakes, rivers and sea. The week of training concluded with a 3.2km river swim, which was a swim distance I never thought I would be capable of, however following the training and support from all instructors I successfully completed the swim and felt an incredible sense of achievement. WHAT ARE THE MOST VALUABLE TOOLS THE DF HAS GIVEN TO YOU? Throughout my training in the Defence Forces, I have been fortunate to develop many transferable skills, including teamwork, communication and leadership. Each of these skills are required in both my civilian and military roles, and any experience gained in one area is beneficial to the other. Working as a manager in the HSE, my leadership skills are tested on a regular basis. I must be able to communicate with staff from different backgrounds and ensure patient safety remains paramount. The ability to mentor junior midwives is something I really enjoy and the instruction methods I have learned from the Defence Forces are utilised here. Decision making and quick analysis are tools used by both organisations and truly complement each other. My training in the Defence Forces, especially on the potential officer course, required me to work and make decisions under pressure. I think this has been of huge benefit to me in my healthcare role. I think being an effective leader requires a long list of qualities, but above all leading by example and mutual respect are crucial. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUR 18-YEAR-OLD SELF? Believe in yourself, work hard, and remember what is important to you. I would advise anyone considering joining the Army Reserve to go for it. Take on the challenge, take on every opportunity that comes your way, and enjoy the experience. WHAT OPPORTUNITIES HAS THE RDF GIVEN TO YOU? With its vast range of courses available to members of the Army Reserve, I have been very fortunate to be able to develop my skills in leadership, physical fitness, public speaking and an opportunity to meet and work with some fantastic people from various walks of life. This has given me a deep appreciation of the skills others have, and I have met some lifelong friends as a result of my career in the Army Reserve. Members of the Army Reserve taking part in DF Ladies Football 7's Galway, 2024 On parade as part of the centenary celebrations in Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa DF Ladies football vs Northern Ireland Fire Service, Armagh 2024 Flag Officer, Galway City St. Patrick's Day Parade

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