An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir May 2015 www.dfmagazine.ie 36 | M y grandfather served with 2 Inf bn so I was following in his footsteps by enlisting in the Defence Forces in 1998. I was 18 and living in ballyfermot when I joined 56 Recruit Platoon in CtD E (now 2 btC) in Cathal brugha bks. After training I opted for 2 Cav Sqn, where I went on to complete many driving courses, including Dispatch Rider (DR), and was a mem- ber of the presidential escort of honour. I've always had a keen interest in sport and before joining up I studied Sport and Leisure in Co- láiste Íde, Finglas. I've also played soccer with Crumlin Utd under-18s, Cherry Orchard and St Patrick's Athletic over-18s. I was offered a football scholarship to America, but at the time I was young and unsure about going abroad and turned it down. My soccer highlight was winning the Oscar Trainer Cup in 2007 as captain of the amateur football league selection. Since then I've played with Mala- hide and Grange Woodbine in Coolock. I also played for the Defence Forces soccer team. I travelled overseas to Lebanon with 89 Inf Bn UNIFIL in 2001, which was an interesting trip as we were closing down the mission and handing over to the Nepalese. I was employed as the water truck driver, which meant I got to see a lot of the mission area. I also travelled to Liberia with 91 Inf Bn UNMIL in 2004. I found this to be a very different mission; the heat and humidity was incredible and it was tough going with long-range patrols lasting from three to ten days. In 2005 to further my career, and to be closer to home as I had now moved to Malahide to start a family, I applied and received a transfer to the Director of Hu- man Resources Management (DHRM) section in Coláiste Caoimhín, Glasnevin. I was employed in the Commissioned Officers Management Office (COMO) where I was responsible for processing military passports and visas, overseas rotation manifests, AF95s (officer movements) and producing the officers gazette. In 2010 I travelled overseas again as a logistician with the NSE for 102 Inf Bn MIN- URCAT in Chad. Again I was with a unit involved in closing down a mission, which was another challenge. I completed many courses, including ECDL, PMS, web design, Orderly Room Cpl, and a MIF Course, and a Pot NCOs course in 2012. In July 2013 I was promoted to Cpl Clerk in COMO. In November 2013 DHRM was relocated to DFHQ/DoD HQ in Newbridge as part of the government's decentralisation plans, which meant taking a bus, the Luas and a train to get to work. It was also a busy time, setting up new offices in Newbridge, as only four of the original staff from Glasnevin moved with the section. I found myself helping to train new staff as they were posted in to the vacancies. Thankfully, the transition went as planned with very little down time. In late 2014, I applied for a position in Records and Data Manage- ment Section, HQ 2 Bde, based in Cathal Brugha Bks, in order to get closer to home and reduce my travelling costs. In September that year I got the move to Records, where I'm now employed in the RDF section, responsible for enlistments and discharges, extension, re-engagement and continuance in service, postings and transfers, and medal returns. It's a busy job, especially during the last RDF re- org, which included up to 1,600 discharges. At present I am making good use of the IKON system, which is a great tool in running the reserve section. Over the next few years I would like to travel overseas again and complete a standard NCOs course, see out my 21-year contract and possibly extend it. Looking back I would say the highlight of my military career has to be meeting my wife Jenny O'Connor (now Hardiman) in recruit training. We started seeing each other shortly after passing out as three-star privates; we are now happily married with two beautiful children. "I am making good use of the IKON system, which is a great tool in running the reserve section" Stephen hardiman Corporal reCordS & data management, hQ 2 Bde

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