An Cosantóir

22 | cadetships Determination, Motivation, and Resilience Cadetships 2012/2013 by Wesley Bourke Photos by Cpl Colum Lawlor and A/Sea Davey Jones S ome people who join the Defence Forces are happy to let their career drift along, while others have set goals they want to achieve. For another group, though, there is always a drive and determination to achieve more, to seek out new challenges, to test themselves to the maximum. Four of the cadets with 89th Cadet Class have come from the ranks and jumped at the chance to face the challenges involved in becoming commissioned officers. Over a four-month period, from March to June, we met up with these cadets to find out what motivated them to leave an established career to start all over again at the bottom rung of a different ladder. We also spoke to Cadet School staff about cadetships in general. Cadet training comprises a 15-month, intensive leadership course. It is academically, physically, and at times emotionally, demanding, and requires the cadet to reach very high standards. Over the four months that we followed the class they underwent live-fire tactical training; section-in-attacks; several ceremonial duties, including the 1916 commemoration, Arbour Hill, the International Military Pilgrimage to Lourdes, and the JFK commemoration; dig-ins; regular battle PT; lectures on economics, military history, and politics; and public relations training; among other things. Whether a cadet has previous military service or not the demands are the same. Notwithstanding the fantastic weather in July, I'm An Cosantóir September 2013 www.dfmagazine.ie sure most people would have no difficulty in remembering just how cold spring was, with that continual ice-cold Baltic wind that cut through to the bone. During a three-week period at the end of March and beginning of April the cadets underwent a dig-in in the snowy, frozen ground of the Glen of Imaal; stood to attention for several hours on O'Connell Street for the 1916 Commemoration; and spent a fortnight in Kilworth on section-in-attack assessments. Their schedule was so busy that every time we tried to arrange an interview the guys told us, half joking and half serious, that they have a break from 0100hrs to 0600hrs most days. Anyone who may be thinking that prior service and a good leaving cert will guarantee them an easy ride should think again. Previous military experience no doubt helps, but as both Comdt Frank Flannery (OC 89th Cadet Class) and the NCO instructors explained, every cadet is treated the same no matter their background. The initial threemonth induction bloc of training gets everyone up to the same standard and once cadets enter stage 2 and 3 they move into section- and platoon commander appointments, which it is unlikely any of them have covered previously. "Our job here is to train cadets to be leaders of character and competence and turn them into efficient and effective platoon commanders," Comdt Flannery told us. "It is a very intense course and they have to have the determination, motivation and resilience to get them through it." The members of 89th Cadet Class range in age and life-skills. Nearly the entire class have third-level qualifications, there is one school leaver, four with master's degrees, two teachers, and several with permanent or reserve military service. "During stage one, we teach them the defence forces' ethos and culture and we bring them together for teamwork, living in the lines and working in section-level groups," Comdt Flannery continued. "That military socialisation binds them together closely, as does the difficult training. They learn that you can't do it as an individual. "The cadets with previous service are already at a high standard, which we expect them to maintain. Generally, in stage 1 these cadets will help out the rest of their class with their induction into military life."

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