An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir July/August 2014 www.dfmagazine.ie 44 | Ciarán Curran Sergeant 2 Cav Sqn rDF I joined the RDF in 1993, with the 2 Air Defence Battery in Cathal Brugha Bks, Dublin. At that time I was employed as a store-man in Intel. During my time in 2 AD Bty I was trained on the Bofors L60 anti-aircraft gun, .5in browning machinegun in the anti-aircraft role as well section weapons, Bren gun, FN and the GPMG. I completed my artillery gunnery course and went on my Potential NCOs course in 1995. Where I placed 1st out of twenty-five students. This was a solid two-week programme with MoI and tactics being taught among the subjects. In 1996 I applied for the PDF hoping to go to 1 Air Defence Regiment, Curragh Camp but after my successful application and recruit training I was assigned to B Coy, 5 Inf Bn, McKee Bks, I was then posted to Spt Coy 5 Inf Bn because of my .5in ma- chinegun experience. After many months of infantry life, I ap- plied for the ARW selection course, after a hard 10 days I returned like so many unsuccessful candidates – but happy with gaining so much experience. In February 1999 I formed up with Wpns Pl, A Coy, 85 Inf Bn for overseas training for our six-month mission to South Lebanon with UNIFIL. I started my tour on UN post 6-40 Al-yatun, where A Coy had their HQ. I then rotated around the various OP posts throughout the tour. Overseas service as a peace- keeper was another great experience in military service. In 2000 I underwent the MT drivers course on the new Mercedes Troop Carrying Vehicle (TCV). Later that year I successfully applied for the Dublin Airport Police and Fire Service, which turned out to be their last external recruitment campaign. After leaving the PDF, I spent the next two-years doing Airport Police duties, where I found my military training helped with team-work, Comms training as well as my MT drivers course. The MT qualification helped me progress quicker into the Airports Fire Service than my other classmates as this was a requirement to work in the fire station. Within a month of leaving the PDF, I had missed the camarade- rie and experiences of military life I reenlisted in the RDF. I went back to my old unit 2 AD Bty, and within a short space of time I was promoted back to Cpl – because I had completed my RDF P/NCOs course and on my previous PDF service. Within a few years I was promoted to Sgt and in the 2005 FCA re-org to the RDF, I moved to the 2 E Bde Training Centre (BTC). Here I was a training NCO on RDF Potential and Standard NCO courses, as well as year 1 of the Poten- tial Officers course. During this period I went on the PTL block of a PDF P NCOs course with another RDF colleague – a first at that time. In the years 2005-2012 I remained instructing in the BTC. In my civilian life at the Airport Police and Fire Service, I am now a fully qualified aviation fire-fighter and a paramedic. In 2006 whilst I was still in the Airport Police and Fire Service, I decided to use my medical and military train- ing expertise to set up a medical training company - so along with another RDF colleague we created The Emergency Services Training Institute (ESTI). With ESTI we start- ed off by teaching first-aid and CPR courses, now to date we are the largest providers of EMT train- ing in the country. Over the years we have had many PDF/ RDF members from different corps complete our medical training or up skilling courses. In the recent RDF re-org the BTC was downsized, I would have liked to trans- fer back to 2 AD Bty but it was incorporated into the Arty Regts so I opted for the 2 Cav Sqn. This year I represented the 2 Cav Sqn on the rifle and falling plates team in the 2 Bde shooting competi- tion. Looking forward I am plan- ning to do Recce Training on the unit annual fulltime training and I would like to undergo some LTAV courses when they become available too. " At this stage of my career I had served in the Arty, Inf and Cav Corps" DELICIOUS NUTRITIOUS David Gillick 400m European Indoor Champion 2005 & 2007 See more of David's recipes at jmob.ie The perfect combination of taste and nutrition. That's what you get when you put Sandwich Thins, new from Johnston, Mooney & O'Brien, in your shopping basket. Low in fat and sugar, and a good source of bre and protein, Sandwich Thins come in three delicious varieties - Multiseed, Chia & Sesame Seed and Goodness of Both - guaranteeing you and your family a very tasty sandwich that's both healthy and nutritious. And only 90 - 110 calories per Thin. David Gillick Celebrity Masterchef Winner 2013

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