An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir Dec 2015 / Jan 2016 www.dfmagazine.ie 42 | A fter I finished school I joined FÁS in newbridge and in 1992 I began a two-year diploma in mechanical engineering in ballyfermot. After completing that course, I decided to join the Defence Forces, which is not really surprising as I grew up in a military house: my father served in the Cadet School and I also had two uncles in the 1 Cav Sqn. I enlisted in Plunkett Bks, DFTC, on 11 April 1994, and after completing recruit and three-star training I was posted to 1 Tank Sqn, also in Plunkett Bks. During my time in the DF I completed a number of courses, including a Basic AML 90mm and a VTT Gunner Course in January 1995, which I really enjoyed as it gave me the opportunity to work with large combat vehicles. I did my first overseas trip in 1995 with the BMR, 77 Inf Bn, UNIFIL. I really enjoyed being de- ployed in a foreign country and getting to see the world, so it wasn't long after my return before I decided to go back with 79 Inf Bn in 1996, serving again with the BMR. Not long after I returned from my second tour to the Lebanon I completed a Cavalry Drivers course, which gave me the chance to move on to larger military vehicles like the Scorpion light reconnaissance vehicle. I travelled overseas again in 1997, with Recce Sec- tion, C Coy, 81 Inf Bn, before completing a clerks course in April 1998. This was the last course I completed in the DF as I left in June 1999 after five years service and got a job as a stock controller in a computer hardware company. I decided to go back to college and got a diploma in English literature from Kilroys College, Dublin, and an ECDL cert from Kildare Computer Training School in 2000. A few years later I saw an ad in FÁS for an engraver with the DF. I applied for the position and was successful, becoming an engraver in Ordnance Base Workshops (OBW) in the Curragh Camp in December 2007. When I arrived in OBW, Cpl Séamus McGann took me under his wing and trained me in; showing me the ropes and what the job entailed. After Séamus retired in 2012 Cpl John Doyle took over. One of our jobs as engravers in OBW is to number all items of DF ord- nance and we have just finished numbering the Steyr model 14 upgrade. We also produce decals for vehicles and outdoor signs for military camps and barracks, and we make plaques for presentations to foreign dignitar- ies, for overseas trips, retirements, courses, etc. It's a very busy area, with a lot of deadlines and targets to meet, but it's also very enjoyable and rewarding. I'm a keen runner, which is something that remained with me from my time in the army, and I'm a member of Kildare Town Running Club and at the time of writing I'm in training to do the Dublin City marathon. I also compete in tri- athlons and have done a tri-leaders course with Tri- athlon Ireland, which gives me the op- portunity to train athletes. I look forward to continuing to work for the DF as an engraver and to keep running and com- peting in triathlons. Noel Hickey oBW curragH camp Trooper (reTd)

• Cover