An Cosantóir

www.military 18 | An Cosantóir May / June 2025 www.military.ie/magazine A HISTORIC MOMENT FOR THE CADET SCHOOL INTRODUCTION - LT IARLAITH MORRIN LAHEEN (COMMISSIONED TO 2 BDE CAV SQN) O n 28 Mar 2025, the members of the 100th Cadet Class entered the commissioned ranks of Óglaigh na hÉireann. The ceremony was an occasion of pride not only for the members of the 100th Cadet Class and their family members, but also for the Officer Corps and organisation as the 100th class passes through the doors of the Cadet School. Since its establishment in 1928, the Cadet School has seen over 3000 students enter the commissioned ranks. The 36 Army Cadets, under the command of Comdt Johnny Holmes, began their training on 04 Oct 2023. The class, consisting of 30 males and 6 females, hailed from all across the country as well two international Cadets from England and Italy. There were 9 college graduates in the class, with degrees ranging from engineering, international affairs, law and sport science. Over the 18 months of training, highlights noted by the class included MOUT, Adventure Week, OOTW and extracurricular activities representing both the Cadet School and the Defence Forces. A variety of sports were played throughout the class, including rugby, Gaelic football, golf & soccer. The class achieved much during their training, with some to note featured here. The 100th Cadet Class were also joined on the day by the 29 members of the 12th Potential Officers course. Although the syllabus varied between the two courses, there was a number of occasions where both courses came together, allowing the Cadets to learn from the knowledge and expertise that the Potential Officers have gained throughout their careers. The members of the 100th Cadet Class and 12th Potential Officers have now begun their careers as Officers in Óglaigh na hÉireann in various units across the country. HISTORY OF THE CADET SCHOOL – 2/LT DIARMUID FAHERTY (COMMISSIONED TO 6 INF BN) "Scoil na nDaltaí" or "The Cadet School" was established in 1928 to meet the burgeoning Irish State's need for formal Officer training. Initially a stand-alone institution based out of Pearse Hall in the Curragh Camp, it was incorporated into the new Military College in 1930. The pre-War years and the Emergency saw an increased focus on training preparing Cadets for conventional Combined-Arms Warfare. The late forties saw the State lose interest in Defence, partially resulting in a failure to run Civil Service Exams in late 1947 meaning there was no Cadet Class inducted in 1947 with the same happening in 1949. In order to fix the shortfall, two Cadet Classes were inducted per year in the early 1950s, one Commencing in January and the other in Late Summer. The Syllabus at this stage incorporated the more familiar tactical side of Cadet Training while including the more "Gentlemanly" side of Officership including etiquette and 39 hours of Syllabus time committed to "Ballroom Dancing". The year 1953 saw the School bestowed its Regimental Colours (the Blue and Red Sunburst \with sword) and its motto "An Ród so Romham" which have become lasting symbols to all Cadets who have passed through its doors. The 1960s rolled around with new eyes on the Cadet School, this time from America with US President John F. Kennedy visiting Ireland in June 1963 where the Cadets of the 37th Cadet Class provided a Guard of Honour at the graves of the 1916 Leaders so impressive that they were invited to Arlington Cemetery in November of that year by his widow Jacqueline to render honours at his graveside, the first and last foreign military contingent to do so at the US Presidential Funeral. The 1960s were a time of flux in the Cadet School – some classes completed the 2nd half of their training in UCG / NUI Galway (resulting in a threat to the traditions and Espirit de Corps of the Cadet School as Senior and Junior classes would not meet in the Curragh). For a while plans were made to remove the Cadet School from the Military College entirely and re-establish in the grounds of what is today, St. Enda's College in Salthill, Galway. The 100th Cadet Class

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