An Cosantóir

www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 15 by SGT WAYNE FITzGERALD D uring March An Cosantóir visited the instructors and students of the regimental signal course being conducted by 2 bde CIS in Cathal brugha bks, Dublin. The course is conducted through classroom lessons and outdoor exercises such as Exercise 'Bald Eagle', which involves setting up a re-broadcast operation and remote commcen in the Kilbride training area, Co Wicklow. Subjects covered on the course include voice procedure, comms security, computer training, com- mcen procedure, battery charging, radio equipments, CIS tactics and line equipments. Sgt Jack Doyle, a highly expe- rienced instructor with years of experience training signal opera- tors in the Defence Forces, gave the definition of Communications Security (COMSEC) as: "the protec- tion that results from all measures designed to deny to unauthorised persons, or potential or actual enemies, information of value that might be obtained from a study of communications." He also says stu- dents need to be aware that there are two types of COMSEC: physical and documentary. Sgt Doyle also says that it helps awareness of comsec if you view every communication, whether a phone call, SMS, or email, for example, as potentially having three participants: the sender and receiver, but also a possible in- terceptor. "That's why we have a Signal Intelligence (SIGINT) unit in the DF to enhance cyber security and operate countermeasures," he told us. Students on the course are trained in the use of the SINCGARS AN/PRC 119E and its smaller 119C version; the Racal Cougar, Motorola GP 340, and Marconi personal radio systems; base-station setup; and the vehicle amplifier adaptor (VAA). During one visit to the course we watched the students assemble a Clark 50ft mast, a very useful piece of equipment that can be deployed by a CIS detach- ment (1 NCO & 5 signallers) nearly anywhere that has adequate space for it. All of the training the students receive on the regimental signallers course will be of use to them in their everyday work, whether it is on guard duty, aid-to-the-civil- power (ATCP) operations, mobile patrols, or overseas on peace-keeping duty. Vox Pops HeRe'S WHAT SOMe OF THe STuDeNTS HAD TO SAY: Pte thomas Mullen, 7 inf Bn, 10-years-service. I came on this course to learn about radio systems and I want to gain points for the next Potential NCOs course in July this year. I found the instruction very good, and I really enjoyed the course. tpr Stephen Butler, 2 Cav Sqn, 3-years- service. I volunteered for the course to get a proper understand- ing of communications. I've completed my MT Dvrs course and will be going on a motorcycle course in May later this year. It was an exciting course; the instructors were very helpful throughout. Pte aaron O'Neill, 27 inf Bn, 6-years-service. I have a keen interest in CIS, I would like to go and do a com- munications operator's course (commop) and possible an IT Technicians course in IT Carlow. I will try and apply for the Potential NCOs course this year too. I enjoyed the course; it was really interesting and enjoyable. The students being instructed on the SINCGARS 119C by Sgt Jack Doyle. The instruction staff; L-R, Lt McNally, Cpl O'Sullivan, Sgt Doyle, Cpl Cahill. Sgt Doyle showing the class the finer points of the Clark mast. The students hoisting the Clark 5oft mast into position. Once in position, it can be elevated to it's maximum height.

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