An Cosantóir

22 | This model sees the 'student' across the spectrum of ranks (Army and Air Corps) moving towards a major award on the NFQ at every significant career milestone. One could refer to the process as a 'just-in-time' educational model, as referred to by Dr Marion Coy, chair of the external evaluation panel of September 2012. Halloween has its origins in the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain. This festival was a celebration of the end of the harvest season and was used by ancient pagans to take stock of supplies and prepare for the winter. It is fitting, therefore, that this date was set for the conferring, as these personnel had, without knowing it, been working and harvesting just as their ancestors had done, and now congregated at a very public ceremony to take stock and recognise what they had achieved. This very special ceremony saw family, friends and loved ones looking on as the 184 graduates were conferred with the following awards: higher certificate in LMDS – Level 6 (Pot NCO Course); certificate in LMDS – Level 7 (all-arms and corps standard NCO course); bachelor of arts in LMDS – Level 7 (senior NCO course). All students on the senior NCO course took up the academic award opportunity, with over 90% of the students on the all-arms standard NCO course and in excess of 85% of students on the potential NCO courses following suit. The programme's validity and credibility is well underpinned. One of the external examiners, Dr Sylvain Paile (University of Liege, Belgium), who reviewed exam papers and dissertations is central to the European Security and Defence College and has been at the forefront of developing European standards in military training and education for nearly a decade. His involvement in this programme adds significant credibility and he is fully supportive of its implementation. From a DF perspective the quality of dissertation that was submitted by the senior NCOs was commendable, addressing all elements of leadership, management and defence studies, enticing our junior and middle managers to develop critical thinking based on academic research. New recruits and serving enlisted personnel with career courses to complete have the opportunity to opt for an accredited award as part of their major career modules. Recruits complete all elements of the programmes and will make use of the workbased learning portfolio (WBLP) as they capture their initial experiential learning up to the successful attainment of a place on a potential NCO course. Personnel who enlisted prior to September 2012 will use a combination of recognition of prior learning (RPL) and a statement of Defence Forces career courses completed to gain entry to a programme. IT Carlow now offers progression opportunities to personnel who gain the BA award, or have already completed the senior NCO course or logistics accountancy course. This offer is in the form of access to a higher diploma in either business manage- An Cosantóir February 2014 www.dfmagazine.ie ment or supply chain management. The HDip is a Level 8 qualification on the NFQ and an initial cohort of 29 Defence Forces students recently commenced studies on the Supply Chain Management Programme. The LMDS Programme is now up and running and a continuous review process will ensure that it retains its credibility. On 14th November the author and staff from the Defence Forces Registrar's office facilitated a focus group to reflect on the programme, the journey, and the way ahead, from the individual student point of view. The following graduates of the programme contributed: Cpls Michael Gough (7 Inf Bn), Shendah Moran (3 Inf Bn), Keith Mooney (101 Sqn), Anthony Digan (2 Arty Regt) and Sabrina Roche (HQ DFTC), and Sgts Michael Dinnegan (2 Arty Regt) and Francis Dunleavy (DFHQ). The group engaged from the outset without hesitation, with each member delivering their unique points of view and complementing one-another's recognition of the programme. Subgroups then examined different aspects of the programme. The graduates of the potential NCO module noted that they did not initially understand or see the merit of the programme and that the key to completing the module lay in looking for support; someone who can give an unbiased opinion in the form of a proof reader for the RPL. They stated that the RPL is nothing to be afraid of and that it is akin to sitting in a pub with your buddies re-living old stories. However, in this case these stories have a purpose. This sub-group concluded that they would now advise everyone to do it as 'the extra work is achievable and it is well worth the effort'. Graduates of the all-arms and corps-specific standard NCO courses highlighted the commitment of the staff of the NCO Training Wing to the programme and how they had advised students to take up the programme alongside their military studies. They commented that this was key to the high number of participants. When questioned on the benefits of the award, the participants spoke of values such as 'intrinsic motivators', 'recognition' and 'personal pride'. Cpl Roche said that she was proud of her achievement and that her family could now understand why she had been busy throughout. When discussing the RPL this group noted that the major benefit was that it made the participants reflect on their careers and made them more responsible and mature. Cpl Digan said: "I didn't have the opportunity before [for higher education]. This has opened up a lot of doors for me." The senior NCO course sub-group spoke of the factors associated with the delivery of

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