An Cosantóir

38 | Declan Byrne Corporal I am a cadre staff NCO with E Coy, 3 Inf Bn, based in Wexford Military Post. My military career started in 1984 with 2 AD Bty, FCÁ, based in Griffith Bks. After joining the PDF I initially served with 2 Inf Bn and then 2 Fd Arty Regt before I moved back to 2 AD Bty as a member of the cadre training staff. Later I transferred to 10 Inf Bn in Wexford, which later amalgamated with 9 Inf Bn to form 33 Res Inf Bn. Now, as part of the 'singleforce' concept we are part of 3 Inf Bn. "I love working with the reserve, it's a very rewarding job and they are a great bunch of people." Up until the recent re-org I was part of C Coy, 33 Res Inf Bn, based in Carlow Town and Bagenalstown and I also helped out with B Coy, which was based in the Portlaoise/Athy area. With the introduction of the 'singleforce' concept RDF An Cosantóir February 2014 www.dfmagazine.ie 3 Inf Bn units now make up companies and platoons within PDF units. For example, 3 Inf Bn's C, D, and E Coy consist of reservists. The geographical spread of the reservists in 3 Inf Bn is quite vast, coming from Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Wexford, and Waterford. The reserve sub-units depend on their cadre staff. I primarily look after administration, logistics and training. I have to maintain a file on each individual with their address, contact details, and details for pay. Coming up to training weekends or weeks we have to apply in advance for field days. There is a lot of planning and preparation in this as rations, accommodation and equipment all have to be requisitioned. With part-timers there is a lot of communication and coordination involved. I have a database set up with all the numbers of our personnel, who will all receive several texts telling them the date of the train- ing day, and where and when they will be picked up. As reservists, many of them have to book time off work. This can be problematic at times as sometimes personnel will not know if they have the time off until the last minute. Obviously, training a reserve unit is not the same as a PDF unit. Personnel only meet for regular training a night, a day or a weekend at a time, and then a week during the summer. We have a few recruits in the battalion at the moment and we are also currently training everyone up on the new arms drill and getting used to the integration with 3 Inf Bn. I love working with the reserve, it's a very rewarding job and they are a great bunch of people.

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