An Cosantóir

www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 25 a unit of gunners now." The 'Single Force' concept has seen reservists forming two field gun batteries and elements of HQ Bty. "When I look out on the square I'm not interested in the colour of your beret," says Lt Col yorke. "I just want to see competent gunners: this is integration with a capital 'I', and we are probably the most integrated corps in the Defence Forces. Thanks to the work of the Arty School the profes- sional gunnery standards of the artillery reservists are very high, and for us their integration into the regiment is a win-win all round." Many reservists are gunners from former artil- lery units but others, like their PDF counterparts, have transferred in from the CIS, Infantry, MP, and Transport Corps. Reservists Comdt Gerry Lyons and RSM Eugene Slattery have been in uniform since the '70s and have seen many changes. "The 'Single-Force' concept is great," Comdt Lyons told us, "and won't be a problem for the Artillery Corps as it has always worked extremely close with the reserves. No matter what Artillery School course or Corps concentration, I guarantee you reservists were in there making up the gun crews." The two reserve field batteries mirror their PDF counterparts exactly. Their gunners and officers are trained the same way and the same standard is expected of them. "It was slow at the start as we had to get to know new faces, deal with administration and start building up an entire new team," Comdt Lyons told us, "but one of the positives is that we now have medical-, CIS-, transport-, MP- and infantry-trained personnel whose skills the unit can put to excellent use." On the same topic, RSM Slattery told us: "I re- member back in the '70s we were called in to man Columb Bks to allow the PDF guys to deploy to the border, so for me reservists have always played an important role and the 'Single-Force' concept is a very positive step." As Lt Col yorke and RSM O'Callaghan presented the newly qualified NCOs and former privates, sig- nalmen and troopers with the iconic white artillery lanyard, the new gunners' pride was evident. There were smiles all round as they sang the artillery song, The Limbers Keep Rolling Along. In just one year 2 Arty Regt has been trans- formed from an organisational concept into a cohesive, effective unit. "We have come a huge distance," said a proud Lt Col yorke. "We estab- lished a brand new unit with new capabilities and new roles to master. We are soldiers by trade but gunners by profession and in this regiment it's not enough to be good at your job, it's not even enough to be very good; in this regiment you are expected to master your role and ensure that we live up to the 2 Arty Regt motto, Few Equal and None Superior." Vox Pops cpl garry egan I transferred from 4 Cav Sqn. I felt coming from the Cavalry Corps that I would fit in with the artillery. In the Cav we do gunners courses and carry out ISTAR roles, digging OP's and keeping eyes on target. I'm coming across being qualified on all the armour in the cavalry. So a lot of the concepts are the same. I'm actually in the air defence battery now. The change is very interesting and I'm really enjoying. Sgt noel fallon I came from 4 Fld CIS Coy. I served for 18 years in the CIS Corps so this is a big change. When the re-org came if I wished to stay within the CIS Corps I could only transfer to the DFTC or Dublin, I preferred to stay in Athlone. I'm really enjoying the change. It's been like going back to recruit training for me. I've had to learn the 105mm, the 120mm, the RBS70 and the Giraffe. The Giraffe was a great course. Very good people to be working with. BQMS toMaS dunne I transferred in from the 54 Res Fld Arty Reg in Tuam and am now in No.4 Bty. I've been in the Artillery Corps for 32 year I started off with the 5 Fld Arty Reg FCÁ so when the re-org came about I was determined to stay within the corps. I think the Single Force Concept is a very positive move. You can already see we've had to up our standard in training. The fact that we are gunners already there is that bit more expected of us. cQMS pat 'Junior' o'callaghan I was formally part of the No 3 Bty 31 Res Fld Arty Reg based in Ne- nagh. After 42 years in the Artillery Corps I wasn't leaving it and I live in Birr so Athlone is not far. For me being part of the Defence Forces is a passion. It is in the blood true and true. The Single Force Concept is something that should have happened years ago. It's a great concept but it will need everyone to pull together and make it work. For a young reservist joining up now there are great prospects ahead. cQMS MarK ivory I am the only person to transfer from the Dublin based 62 Res Fld Arty Reg. Like the lads I wanted to stay in artillery. We can see from the Gunners Courses and the Corps Concentration that the Single Force Concept is working. We are all training together, working together and moving forward together. It couldn't be better. Sgt fiona holahan I transferred from the 54 Res Fld Mil Pol Coy. As you can imagine this is all new to me. I am now part of the reserve section in HQ Bty. At the moment our section has spent most of 2013 going through the administration from the re-org, dealing with trans- fers and helping the reserve batteries get established. If I wanted to stay in the Military Police Corps I would have had to transfer to either Galway or Cork and that wasn't practical, but I'm really enjoying mov- ing to the artillery. Next up will be the Gunners Course. gnr dean o'farrell I transferred from the 1 ADR to Athlone. Primarily I wanted to stay within the corps. I'm enjoying being part of the 2 Arty Regt and working within the Air Defence Bty. It's interesting to see guys coming from Field Artillery, infantry and cavalry units now all training to be air defence qualified. The cross training opportuni- ties are great. gnr david long I only joined the Defence Forces in September 2012. After finish- ing recruit training in Gormstown I transferred to the 2 Arty Reg. I've just completed my Gunners Course where I qualified on the 105mm, 120mm and the 25pdr ceremonial gun. I'll be now mov- ing into the STA Bty and I'm looking forward to getting trained up in that field. It's been great being part of the Regiment.

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