An Cosantóir

www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 5 Manager Capt Declan Barrett 045 445306 info@military.ie Editorial Staff Sgt Wayne Fitzgerald Cpl Paul Millar 045 445307 magazine@military.ie Photographer Cpl Neville Coughlan photo@military.ie Subscriptions Sgt Karl Byrne 045 445312 subs@military.ie Magazine Archivist Mr Sean Shinnors DF/PR Information: Cpl Noel Coss 045 445308 admin@military.ie DF Webmaster Sgt Mick Burke 045 445309 webmaster@military.ie Designer/Advertising JM Publishing & Media, Arklow, Co. Wicklow,Ireland Tel: +353 1 443 3476 Tel: +353871344135 Web: www.jmpublishing.ie Email: info@jmpublishing.ie Printer Turner's Printing Co., Ltd The fact that an article appears in this magazine does not indicate official approval of the views expressed by the author. © Published by OiC Public Relations Branch for the Defence Forces at DFHQ, Block 5, Ceannt Bks, DFTC, Curragh Camp, Co Kildare, Ireland. Tel: 045 445312 Front Cover Two-Stars from 1 Mech using a flint to start a fire. Photo: Cpl Neville Coughlan. Correction: In the April issue on page 16, the picture of the large canon was wrongly captioned. The caption should have read: a 9.2in coast artillery gun, one of two mounted at Fort Templebreedy on the south side of the approaches to Cork Harbour. For more Defence Forces photographs, checkout: www. flickr.com/photos/dfmagazine H indsight is 20/20 vision, but I believe that when we look back on the Defence Forces over the past few years, we'll see some monumental shifts in direction that will only be seen in their true light by historians. Advances in equipment, training, organisation and taskings have taken place across the entire Defence Forces. Serving members now live and work through this advancement. It's easy to lose sight of the bigger picture, not to see the forest for the trees, just to focus on that course or exercise in front of you and forget everything else. That's where An Cosantóir comes in. Today, it is the most complete and well rounded picture of what's going on in the Defence Forces. Before you think that what's happening in some far removed Corps is irrelevant to you, read the magazine, see the importance being placed on interoperability, on the Single Force Concept and on the promotion of the Strategic Corporal. This will impact you at some stage of your career, though you'll probably only notice it with the above mentioned hindsight. To be one step ahead of the rest, start with this issue. Our largest article is 'Live Firing Zone' by Sgt Karl Byrne (pages 11-13). Detailing the painstaking lengths Live Fire Tactical Training (LFTT) Instructors have to go through to pass this course, it is also shows LFTT as a discipline that will not only stay in the Defence Forces, but will shape our future training. Sgt Wayne Fitzgerald follows this up with a look at the Regimental Signals Course. Although the course title has remained the same, the technology and importance placed on unit signalers have increased over the years and this is reflected on page 15. Countering the 21st Century over-reliance on technology is survival training. It's a back to basics block of instruction that breeds a more confident and able soldier. Read about it on pages 18 and 19 and start preparing for your next few days on the ground. The thinking behind training Cadets is presented on pages 20 and 21. You could take any part of their course and see the principles discussed here applied in an exacting and professional fashion. The almost forgotten Kildare Barracks is examined in our history slot, pages 26 and 27. I have to admit that I drove past it on countless occasions, never realising the significance it played for the Defence Forces. Now I have an enormous respect for the gunners who completed some legendary marches that belong in some epic novel. Our first ever all-female Guard of Honour to commemorate the founding of Cumann na mBan is covered on our In Focus pages. Have a look and think about how we got from Cumann na mBan to the present day. This trend of advancement will continue in An Cosantóir with articles planned on the future of the Mowag and how it's deployed, as well as some detailed looks at some of our equipment and people that define us as the 21st Century Defence Forces. So arm yourself with An Cosantóir and keep yourself in the loop; we're covering your future! editorial Cpl Paul Millar - Editor X-Ray One '…it's NOT a Black Art' START YOUR PREPARATION NOW! Preparation Course Attendance is Strongly RECOMMENDED 19-30 May 2014 This course is not mandatory but is very highly recommended. This two week course is an opportunity to gain insight into the unit and to receive appropriate preparation and training guidance on the format of the new SOF Qualification Course. Applications for the Preparation Course to be processed through Formation Operations to ARW HQ: NLT Fri 02 May 2014 Special Operations Forces (SOF) Qualification Course Module One Starts 31 Aug 2014 Minimum Qualifications: You must be min of Private 3 Star or equivalent, medically fit, manual handling and IT 05/07 qualified. Applications for the SOF Qualification Course to be processed through Formation Operations to EPMO, D J1: NLT Mon 25 Aug 2014 Applications welcome from ALL PDF personnel irrespective of Corps and Branches ARW X-Ray 1 Final.indd 1 02/04/2014 10:53 If you have a story or topic you feel we should cover, please don't hesitate to get in touch and let us know. Here are some helpful hints: As a general rule we look for a 2 page article with 1,200 words (600 for 1 page). Larger articles are considered but may be spread over two issues or submitted to the Defence Forces Review. Pictures are as important, please send them in at around 2mb. All material should have a military related theme, or be of interest to our readers. Email or call: magazine@military.ie or 045 44 5307. ARW SOF Qualification Course X-Ray One Date of applications for the Preparation Course has been changed to Friday, 2nd May, 14:00 and not the date advertised on the inside front cover. Course Notification and Joining Instructions for the Preparation Course have been issued to formations and units.

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