An Cosantóir

www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 31 Sgt Chris hoare (1 bde aR & Nbg) Basic Swimming course "I was apprehensive coming on the course. I didn't have a fear of water, more a fear of drowning. There was no op- portunity for me as a child to learn how to swim so I felt as I got older it was a skill I was lacking. After week one I was able to swim one width in front crawl, back stroke and breast stroke. By week two I managed a length in each stroke. "It was a huge achievement for me to dive off the 3ft board and to have the confidence to jump into the dive pool. "I would recommend the course to non- swimmers, as I felt learning with students who had some knowledge of the strokes made me work harder and pushed me on." a/Sea Colin archer (Naval Service) Basic Swimming course "I was a very weak swimmer coming on the course. Apart from the swim week I did as a recruit I hadn't spend much time in the pool. I have a fear in deep water that decreased over the course as I learned how to tread water. I have more confidence now that I can swim in different strokes and this will help me when I do sea survival skills in the Naval Base. I was happy to pass my as- sessments on week two, with front crawl being my preferred stroke." armn Donal Mclean (air Corps) Basic Swimming course "I came on the course to learn the basic swimming strokes and the correct technique for each. After the assessment on day one I felt I had a lot to learn but over the hours spent in the pool I became more confident and I definitely improved; being able to swim a length towards the end of the course. My favourite stroke would be backstroke and my least favourite is breaststroke. "I'd recommend the course for non- swimmers and improvers, as the varying standards in swimming on my course certainly helped push me along." Pte gretta o Connor (27 inf bn) Assistant Swim Teachers course "I previously completed the DF Life Saving course and have an interest in swimming as I compete in triathlons. I came on the course to learn the technicalities of each stroke so I can improve my own performance as a swimmer and also to teach the correct stroke initially to students instead of trying to correct bad habits. I would like to spend a few years gaining experience in swim teaching and then progress to coaching. I only learned to swim myself in 2010 so it's never too late." (Gretta is competing in Ironman Canada in July and will have to swop the tepid tempera- tures of the DFTC pool for the 3.8km swim in Lake Alta. She is hopeful of qualifying for a place in Ironman Hawaii. We wish her all the best.) Vox Pops and is tested rigorously. On passing the course you must achieve a minimum of 15-hours as an assistant swim teacher before progress- ing to the Swim Teachers course. Sgt Stephen O'Toole has 41 years' service in the Defence Forces and will retire later this year. Any- one who uses the DFPES's training facilities and students who have attended any of the school's various courses will be familiar with Stephen. A multi-talented athlete, he won many sporting titles over the years including boxing, running, swimming and CISM pentathlon, and was Irish triathlon champion in the 1980s. His love of swimming stems from his belief that it is a ba- sic life skill and one that should be promoted in all walks of life. Sgt O'Toole encourages water safety alongside the enjoyment aspect of swimming and recalls that the Defence Forces has lost personnel due to drowning accidents overseas and at home. He gets great enjoyment from seeing a non-swimmer with very little confidence in the water improve their skill and make progress over the two weeks of the Basic Swimming course. For the assistant swim teachers, Stephen would like to see them utilise their qualifi- cation and teach basic swimming strokes to members of their home units. Sgt Mick Brogan out- lined the annual events in the DFPES swimming pool to give a flavour of how utilised the facility is by members of the Defence Forces and civilians alike. The school conducts the Assistant Swim Teach- ers course, Swim Teachers course, three Basic Swim- ming courses and two Life Saving courses annually. The staff also conducts confidence training with all recruit platoons and a one-week intensive training course with Naval Service recruits. There are twice-weekly, early-morning, stroke- improvement, endurance swims and evening water aerobics lessons available. The DF triathlon, dive, canoe and water polo clubs also regularly use the facility. In addition, the pool pro- vides access to lessons for all local schools and numerous swim clubs. It's certainly a busy spot! Remaining courses in 2015 basic Swimming: 30th March -10th April basic Swimming: 30th August – 11th September Life Saving: 29th June – 24th July Swim Teachers: 30th August – 11th September Pencil dive off high platform

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