An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir January / February 2026 www.military.ie/magazine 2 025 was a year of increased operational tempo and complexity for the Medical Corps. As a standing capability of the Defence Forces, the Medical Corps provides timely, continuous, and reliable medical support to operations both on the island of Ireland and overseas. This supp ort spans a broad spectrum of care, including primary healthcare, mental health services, physiotherapy, dental services, pre-hospital emergency care, and the delivery of medical training. According to NATO, interoperability is defined as the ability of different systems, organisations, and nations to work together coherently, effectively, and efficiently. In line with this principle, the Medical Corps has developed and strengthened close professional relationships with civilian partners, particularly the National Ambulance Service (NAS). Throughout 2025, there was a deliberate and sustained effort to enhance interoperability with the NAS. This included Medical Corps personnel completing paramedic training through the NAS College, participation in joint inter-agency exercises, and the deployment of Medical Corps assets alongside NAS teams. These activities reinforced shared clinical standards, improved mutual understanding, and ensured that both organisations could operate seamlessly together in demanding operational environments. Readiness and Professional Standards The Medical Corps maintained the capability to deploy on a continuous basis, ensuring preparedness to operate across all operational environments at short notice. This capability extended across routine operations, exercises, and periods of crisis or surge demand. Readiness, therefore, was not simply a matter of availability, but a sustained organisational mindset embedded across the Medical Corps. Professional standards within the Medical Corps are underpinned by a dual-framework approach encompassing both military discipline and command structures, and clinical governance as defined by regulatory bodies such as the Pre‑Hospital Emergency Care Council. Adherence to these clearly defined standards is fundamental to building trust, both within the Defence Forces and with external partners. Throughout 2025, the Medical Corps maintained alignment with both military and civilian professional standards. Within the military domain, the Medical School continued to develop and deliver tactical medical training as part of EUMAM Ukraine. Concurrently, the Medical School delivered PHECC-aligned continuing professional development courses for Medics, basic medical training for inductees, and Battlefield First Aid courses as part of pre-deployment training. In parallel, eleven (11) Medical Corps personnel completed the Paramedic programme with the NAS, with a further five (5) commencing training. Medical Corps personnel also completed a significant number of operational shifts, responding to approximately 323 emergency calls ranging from acute medical presentations to traumatic injuries. This commitment to readiness and professional standards provides the foundation upon which effective interoperability is built, enabling the Medical Corps to integrate seamlessly with civilian partners in complex and time-critical environments. Interoperability as a Core Capability Interoperability is not simply the ability of different organisations to work together; rather, it is the deliberate alignment of training, procedures, and professional standards to ensure collective effectiveness. For the Medical Corps, interoperability is therefore an operational requirement, particularly within complex multi- agency environments where coherent and efficient joint action is essential. This requirement applies not only during structured training events, but equally during routine operations and live incidents, where effective coordination cannot be improvised. 22 | READY, INTEGRATED, READY, INTEGRATED, PROFESSIONAL PROFESSIONAL PRE-HOSPITAL CARE IN THE MEDICAL CORPS 2025 ARTICLE BY LT SHANE CURRAN

• Cover