An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir March 2014 www.dfmagazine.ie 38 | Billy Fahy Corporal 1 Cn Cois I joined the Defence Forces in June 1998, where I was trained in the Brigade training Depot (BtC) in Athlone. On completion of my training I was posted to 1 Infantry Battalion (1 Cn Cois) in Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa (Ren- more Bks), Galway. After training, one of my initial infantry tasks was to go on border duties; this was a great experience where all our training was put into practice. In May 1999 I went to Lebanon with 85 Inf Bn, UNIFIL, serving with C Coy in Bra`Shit, which was something of a culture shock for an 18 year old. On my return I was posted to Sp Coy, where I underwent many support weapons training courses: .5" HMG, 81mm mortar, 84mm anti-tank. I also completed an MT driver's course. In 2001 I returned to Lebanon and Bra'Shit with 88 Inf Bn. This was a much quieter trip as the Israelis had withdrawn from Leba- non the previous year. On return to 1 Cn Cois I went on to complete a sniper course, which was the best course I have ever completed. I practice sniping any chance I get and always look forward to the annual DF Sniper Concentration. I gained more overseas experience serving with the first (90 Inf Bn) and last (96 Inf Bn) missions to Liberia, in 2003/04 and 2006/07 respectively. This was a very different mis- sion to Lebanon, and it took a good while to acclimatise to the heat. Between my Liberia trips I completed a Light Tactical Armoured Vehicle (LTAV) course, where I was trained as a driver and gunner. I was also on the staff of a recce course, which kept my military and sniping skills honed while helping instructors setting out stands. In 2012, I returned to Lebanon for a third time, serving with 104 IrishFinn Bn. I found Lebanon a very different country then as there had been many improvements in the infra- structure. The mission was also different to my last time here, less static posts and more patrols, especially of the Blue Line, which marks the border between Lebanon and Israel. How- ever, some things hadn't changed and when I was posted to Post 6-52, known as The Field, I found it the same as I left it with 88 Inf Bn! Shortly after returning to Ireland I went on a Poten- tial NCOs course in the BTC, Athlone. At 32 years of age I was a very senior private, and that helped. When I returned to the battalion some three months later I became a training NCO and my first task was to train 130 Pl on their three-star course in Renmore Bks. I found my first time as an instruc- tor very satisfactory, and as soon as 130 Pl became three-stars I was straight back into training 131 Re- cruit Pl as a section 21/c. This was a challenging task, basically bringing civilians up to an accept- able level in weapons and tactics, fieldcraft, discipline and of course foot-drill. However, they were a great bunch of lads and they picked everything up very quickly. I'm now looking forward to getting back into training them on their three-star course where I will be a section command- er. I then hope to complete a Standard NCOs course and progress up the ranks. However, I will always want to remain infantry. "I'm now looking forward to getting back into training them on their three-star course"

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