An Cosantóir

V Pops ox Pictured at the awards are (L/R): Maj Gen Ralph James, D COS Ops, Lt Gen Conor O'Boyle, COS, Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter TD, Dr Patricia Mulcahy, President of IT Carlow and Mr J Moore, IT Carlow. a significant piece of research, which was challenging on a number of levels. Sgt Dunleavy noted: "In hindsight I would have benefited from a greater lead-in time in picking my [dissertation] subject, which is a major element of the course." This sub-group highlighted the support that they received from their DF supervisors as 'fantastic' and discovered that they did indeed have an academic ability and began to enjoy the process. In terms of the instruction received from IT Carlow they complimented the standard and spoke extremely positively of their experience in Carlow under the instruction of Dr Janette Davies. All participants agreed that IT Carlow's facilities, and also those in the DF Library, were excellent. They also look forward to seeing senior NCOs' dissertations in the DF Library as the process progresses. The overall group agreed that this type of learning expands the mind and develops critical thinking. However, they didn't say that this learning is superior to traditional military learning models but that it is complementary and offers other approaches and avenues. The benefit of the programme is that each and every individual who undergoes it adds value to the organisation. The consequence is an improved organisation with more individuals vying for places on progression courses and giving themselves improved employment chances on retirement from the DF. Each of the participants stated that they will consider undertaking further education. Even if that is the only success of the programme then it will have been a resounding success. The following quote from Sgt Dinnegan encapsulates all that is positive and beneficial to the individual: "The DF has changed a lot over the past 10 years. When you get older you realise the importance of education and I didn't want to walk away without the qualification. "I brought my family to the ceremony. This was very important as they can now see what I have done with my career in the Defence Forces: recognition of my service, leadership and management has been realised." Getting to this point has been arduous and challenging for all concerned. CQMS Mick McKenzie and Sgt Gary Condren, from the Accreditation Cell of the Defence Forces Registrar's Office, have been developing new procedures and coming to grips with a new language. Those involved in the establishment and development of the academic requirements, members of various schools, and partner staffs also deserve the upmost praise and recognition, for this would not have been achievable without their input. Further information is available on the Director of Training and Education Branch website, and the DF Registrar's splash page. The office of the Registrar is contactable at registrar@defenceforces.ie References - Articles/ Strategy Documents: Comdt Peter Ott & Brain McQuaid (retd), 'A Framework of Validation for Military Professional Learning', International Military Academic Forum Booklet ESDC: Brussels 2013. Lt Cdr Brian Fitzgerald, 'Making the Grade', An Cosantóir, February 2010. Col Anthony Bracken, 'Military Skills Acknowledged', An Cosantóir, March 2013. Dept of Education, 'National Strategy for Higher Education Towards 2030', Dublin 2011. Websites: www.itcarlow.ie/news.htm/view/id/1754/htm | 23 Cpl Karl Johnson, 2 Bde BTC As both an NCO and an instructor aligning our courses with third level is excellent. Over the years in the Defence Forces you build up a tremendous amount of skills from courses undertaken. Many of these skills are transferable into the civilian world. For example a huge aspect to an NCO's course, a Standard course or a Senior NCO's course is leadership and management. And for guys now to be able to build on this is brilliant. Pte Paula Birchill, CMU DFTC I've never done any third level education before. Today is great. Across the board now courses are being linked with third level institutions. Even within the Medical Corps you now do a Combat Medical Technician with University College Cork. The fact now that you can go onto do a degree is fantastic. It is something I never even considered before. Your career benefits from this and so does you personal development. It's great. Cpl Ciarán Byrne, MTS Air Corps College I originally started off in the 2 Inf Bn and on joining the Air Corps I trained as a refueller. To have now a third level certificate is great. I've done so many courses over the years within the Defence Forces but never a third level qualification. The fact that if you ever decided to leave and you can take this with you is brilliant. It really means a lot to people. This has now given me a stepping stone to want to go on and do more. I'll have a degree in my hands in a few years. Sgt Gerard Mooney, No. 1 Ops Wg I work on the CASA aircraft as a Sensor and Airborne Radar Operator. I've just come off my Senior NCO's course. I graduated today with a Level 7 certificate. I have never done any third level before. I did my Leaving Cert in 1987 so today was great. Overall I think the linking courses with third level are fantastic. For us as enlisted personnel it is recognition of years of hard work. The fact that all the courses you do can obtain points towards your third level qualification means now that your entire career in the Defence Forces is transferable and recognised if you decide to leave. Cpl William Fahey, 1 Cn Cois I'm just off my NCO's course. The way the Defence forces is structured now linking our courses with third level is very necessary. The days of people staying for 40 years are becoming rare. People go onto have second careers. So if you do decide to leave you now have in your hand a third level qualification. For an infantry person like me who has many weapons and drivers courses third level is something I never really thought about. It has opened up new opportunities for people like me. Cpl John Francis Murray, 2 Arty Reg I've just come off my Standard course. This is a brilliant day. I've been artillery since I joined the Defence Forces. When you think of it you do some amount of courses throughout your career. Within each Corps guys use specialist equipment. Even within the artillery we have guys using very sophisticated pieces of equipment. More so today a lot of these skills are transferable if you decided to leave. It is a great scheme which has now opened up new opportunities for people. www.military.ie the defence forces magazine

• Cover