An Cosantóir the official magazine of the Irish Defence Forces and Reserve Defence Forces.
Issue link: https://digital.jmpublishing.ie/i/504459
www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 5 Manager Capt Declan Barrett info@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5306 Editor Sgt Wayne Fitzgerald magazine@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5307 Photo/Journalist: VACANT Connect Sgt Karl Byrne connect@military.ie Photographer Cpl Neville Coughlan photo@military.ie 045 44 5307 Subscriptions Cpl Kelly Gallagher +353 (0)45 44 5312 subs@military.ie Magazine Archivist Mr Sean Shinnors DF/PR Information: Cpl Lee Coyle admin@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5308 DF Webmaster Sgt Mick Burke +353 (0)45 44 5309 webmaster@military.ie Designer/Advertising JM Publishing & Media, Arklow, Co. Wicklow,Ireland Tel: +353 1 443 3476 Tel: +353871344135 Web: www.jmpublishing.ie Email: info@jmpublishing.ie Printer Turner's Printing Co., Ltd Earl Street, Longford, Ireland Tel: +353 (0)43 3350500 The fact that an article appears in this magazine does not indicate official approval of the views expressed by the author. © Published by OiC Public Relations Branch for the Defence Forces at DFHQ, Block 5, Ceannt Bks, DFTC, Curragh Camp, Co Kildare, Ireland. Tel: +353 (0)45 445312 Front Cover Pictured is Lt Ronan Bonner RDF 1 Mech Coy, DFTC and a civil surveyor with Murphy Surveys by Cpl Neville Coughlan. For more Defence Forces photographs, checkout: www.flickr.com/photos/ dfmagazine editorial Sgt Wayne Fitzgerald - Editor H ello and welcome to our May issue, this issue marks my fifth year as editor and I'm very thankful for the opportunities this position offers. On Parade is very busy this month, with many details attached to your photos. In Focus looks at two different colour parties, the first being an RDF all female and the second celebrating the 100th anniversary of Fermoy's men off to train for WW1 in Guernsey, next we have the account of General Dick McKee's portrait that hangs in McKee Bks NCOs Mess. Veteran's News has a very interesting story about a Garda Superintendant who speaks about his previous DF experiences at a UNFICYP medal parade on St Patrick's Day in Cyprus. The first main article by Lt Mark White, is about UNIFIL's Sector West element who took part in Exercise 'Steel Storm', an inter-contingent capabilities display. On page 14, we have a piece on US General David Petraeus Retd visit to the C&S Sch, DFTC by Dr David Murphy from NUI Maynooth. Then on page 15, myself and Cpl Lee Coyle had the pleasure of going down Dublin's memory lane with the excellent and highly enjoyable 1916 Freedom Tour. In our front cover story we follow recruits of 1 BTC, Cork on their journey where they make the change from From Civilian to Soldier. Next we have Pln Cmdr Lt Ronan Bonner (front cover ) with a similar tale with members of the RDF's First Mech Recruits in the Curragh Camp. In our Strategic Review feature Paul O'Brien continues to look around the world at current threats, this month it's Blood on the Sun - Al Shabaab, in Somalia. In our In Reserve section Eoin O'Shea looks at his prospects of Joining the RDF. Our History feature The Irish Admiral of the South Atlantic by Oliver Murphy looks at Admiral William Brown from Foxford, Co Mayo. In Sport we have a report on the latest DF Hill Run in Two Rock, Co Wicklow and the latest DF Hand Ball news. Plus we have all our regular features and reviews. ARCO Cheque Presentation The Association of Retired Commissioned Officers (ARCO) presented a €2,000 cheque for the Defence Forces Benevolent Fund to Defence Forces Chief of Staff, Lt Gen Conor O'Boyle on 21st April 2015. Pictured are mem- bers of the ARCO Executive Committee (L/R): Capt Ray Bonar (Retd), Lt Col Richard Cummins (Retd), Lt Gen Conor O'Boyle (COS), Brig Gen Liam MacNamee (Retd) (President of ARCO), Lt Col Joe Ahern (Retd), Brig Gen, Paul Pakenham (Retd) and Brig Gen Colm Campbell (ACOS). Photo by: Armn Billy Doyle Pictured on 2nd April 2015 in the NCOs Mess, Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel is Graeme Haughton, MD Míleata Military Watch Company who presented last Month's winner Sgt Robert Taylor, 401 Sqn, No 4 Spt Wing, Air Corps with his Míleata M1 Military Spec Watch worth €645.75. Photo by: Sgt Karl Byrne, PR Branch