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| 13 www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE technologies to create a more inclusive world for wheelchair users." Sgmn Cooper is part of the CIS Corps Trainee Technician Scheme studying in SETU and the CIS School in the Defence Forces Training Centre to be a technician of the CIS Corps on completion of the training. He said that he applied for the scheme because he always had a passion for technology and electronics, and wanted to challenge himself to see if he could turn that passion into a career. The remarkable achievement of Sgmn Cooper followed the successes of two other CIS Corps SETU graduates who won the Microelectronics Industry Design Association (MIDAS) Ireland industry-led cluster 3rd Level Project Competition awards in their final year in SETU. Sgmn Mark Gaughran won in 2019 for his "Vehicle Breathalyzer & Safety Monitoring System" project and Corporal Craig Cooper won in 2022 for his "STEM (Solar Tracking and Energy Management System)" project. These accomplishments underscore the significance of the academic collaboration between SETU and the Defence Forces in developing highly skilled personnel for critical roles within the Communications and Information Services (CIS) Corps and Ordnance Corps. The programmes were developed in collaboration between the two Corps and the university and provide a balance between the technical specialist needs of those Corps and the academic requirements of the university while also contributing to the Defence Forces in a meaningful way. The programmes are two options for technician training under the Defence Forces Trainee Technician Scheme (TTS). This scheme was introduced in 2002 to address identified deficiencies in technician numbers and to restore technician levels to establishment figures following the closure of the Army Apprentice School in the late 1990s. As well as the schemes mentioned above, there are technician training schemes run through SOLAS for the Transport, Cavalry, Engineering Corps and the Printing Press. In addition the Air Corps provide the aircraft system technician programme accredited by Technological University Dublin (TUD) and the technician scheme for the Naval Service scheme which is accredited by the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI). The TTS scheme is available to personnel currently serving within the Defence Forces who have successfully passed General Service Enlistment training. The scheme provides personnel with the ability to expand on their opportunities to serve at home and overseas, and gives a qualification and a skillset to take with them upon retirement from the Defence Forces. TTS training is conducted over a period of 4 years comprising both academic theory and hands- on practical work. The successful partnerships between SETU, TUD, NMCI, SOLAS and the Defence Forces serve as a powerful example of the benefits of strong academic collaborations in enhancing the technical skills and expertise of military personnel. Coordinated by the Director of Training and Education (DJ7) in collaboration with Corps Directorates, the TTS has evolved into a vital component of the Defence Forces. The scheme stands as a testament to the Defence Forces' commitment to maintaining a skilled and adaptable workforce. The recent graduations underscore the programme's success in producing qualified technicians across a wide range of disciplines. As the Defence Forces navigate future developments, including the potential establishment of an Apprentice School, collaboration remains key. By fostering partnerships such as those mentioned and strategically investing in training programmes, and by allocating appropriate resources the Defence Forces aim to continue delivering specialist military capability in an ever-evolving technological landscape. The Defence Forces continues to prioritise lifelong learning and professional development of its personnel. In addition to the technician programmes, Corps officer training for the CIS, Ordnance and Engineering Corps are accredited by SETU Carlow as Masters programmes in Communications Technology Management, Military Engineering Management, and Weapons, Ordnance, Munitions & Explosives respectively. The requirement for external accreditation of management and leadership training is also recognised with Maynooth University accrediting officer and cadet leadership training and SETU Carlow accrediting NCO training through the BA in Leadership Management and Defence Studies and BA in Leadership Management and Defence Studies (Logistics) programmes. Such an array of academic opportunities being offered by the Defence Forces for both its leaders and its technical personnel all contribute to the Defence Forces' commitment to continuous learning and professional development. The example of young enlisted personnel such as Cpl Cooper, Sgmn Cooper and Sgmn Gaughran being able to excel both as academics and as Defence Forces personnel will continue to assist in attracting and retaining young men and women into the Defence Forces now and into the future. L-R: Comdt James O'Neill, Dr Donnacha Lowney, Stephen Cooper, Keith Smyth and Lt Col John Kenny Sgmn Stephen Cooper pictured with his TTS Project the Lidar Smart Chair Navigator Sgmn Cooper demonstrating the use of the chair's controls

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