An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir May 2014 www.dfmagazine.ie 26 | Life after the Defence Forces by CPL PAUL MILLAR PAStuRES nEW A ll members of the Defence Forces are faced with leaving at some point and most will view their de- parture with mixed feelings; excited by the thought of new opportunities but apprehensive about having to adapt to a less predictable, civilian way of life. An Co- santóir recently caught up with someone who made the transition successfully and found out how our skill sets can be transferred to the competitive civilian jobs market. A soldier with 22 years' experience in the ARW, Danny Cluskey is now CEO of Global Risk Solutions, a security company that provides training, risk-management and security experts in Ireland and on the international stage. The company has been ISO 9001 certified (an international quality management standard) and has recently opened offices in Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, and Saudi Arabia, one of the main players in the Gulf. He must be do- ing something right, so we asked him what lessons he took with him from the DF to help him in his new life. One of the first myths he dispelled was that our military way of thinking is obsolete when we leave. "A lot of busi- nesses use military terminology," Danny told us, "like 'plan of attack' and so on." Another advantage is that he says when he introduces himself as a former soldier people take notice "because they associate it with good discipline, good time keeping and reliability". He points out that hav- ing served with the Irish Defence Forces carries even more weight; "even though we tend to undersell ourselves by adopting an inferiority complex that is completely un- founded, as we're among the best in the world: and this ex- tends across all ranks, as we all know how to follow instruc- tions, how to present ourselves well, and we all know about hierarchy and manners." When Danny left he had a number of qualifications and contacts that helped him land his first job and he stresses how important it is to be proactive before you leave. "Pick a job that suits you," he says, "have your civilian qualifications ready and line up a job before you leave if you can, because, as the saying goes, 'people with jobs will get jobs'." Danny says that the process of leaving is also important. "Leave on good terms," he advises, "the DF is great for networks and social contacts." As regards what type of job to look for, he recommends focussing on your relevant skills initially. "After that," he says, "once you're educated in your chosen business, you Danny in action in Nigeria. Danny and some members of his team at the opening of a new company office in Nigeria.

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