An Cosantóir

34 | what i do COLIN EVERITT CORPORAL 506 SQN, NO 5 SP WING I joined the Defence Forces in 1988, trained in Dundalk with 27 Inf Bn, and on completion of my three-star training was posted to 29 Inf Bn, Cavan Bks. After serving in an operational unit on the border during a busy period in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s and with three tours to Lebanon with 69, 74 and 79 Inf Bns, I decided on a change. I completed my Pot NCOs course in 1997 in CTD E and transferred to Gormanston Camp Company in Co Meath in 1998. On completion of a Domestic Fire-Fighters course in 1999, I served with the Crash Recue Service based in Gormanston Camp. I again served overseas in 2000, this time in East Timor with 7 IRCON. When I came home, Gormanston was closing and I was posted to the Air Corps Fire Service in Baldonnel. In the same year I was sent to the UK to complete an Aviation Fire-Fighters course, and later, in 2002, to complete a Breath- ing Apparatus (BA) Instructors course, both with the RAF in Teeside. I’ve also completed a Para Wings course, a Three-Star Medic course, and a Motor Transport (MT) Driving course. In the Fire Service in addition to our regular MT drivers course we also have to do a conversion to crash rescue driving. We also undergo a wide variety of different types of rescue training. The Fire Service provides 24-hour coverage at Baldonnel in 12-hour shifts, and as a corporal I’m a shift commander in charge of four or five crew members (the num- ber varies according to the category of aircraft using the airfield during the shift). As crew commander my day shift normally starts at 0730hrs when I take over the fire-fighting vehicles, checking their systems and the water/foam levels. I also ensure the crew check their BA and personal protective equipment (PPE). I then get a brief from the previous night’s crew commander before calling to the Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower to receive a brief on the day’s expected activities, such as visiting aircraft, VIPs and, most importantly, if any aircraft will be armed. This is impor- tant to know as our tactics change if we are attending an armed aircraft; everything is affected, from the direction we approach to the position we park in relation to the aircraft. We also have to have everything planned in detail for dispatching the rapid deployment team, with each member given a dedicated task such as getting the pilot, or pilots out and making the arma- ments safe. We also go off-base to provide cover whenever there is air An Cosantóir August 2011 firing or parachute training. In my time here I’ve been involved in two major incidents, so you have to be aware coming on duty that anything can hap- pen, and has happened. However, through our training at home and in the UK we keep up to date with the latest tactics and best practice out there. We also learn technical information about other aircraft that may visit, and in a fairly recent development we are now also trained in the proper techniques for preserving the scene of an incident for later investigation. WHAT I DO

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