An Cosantóir the official magazine of the Irish Defence Forces and Reserve Defence Forces.
Issue link: https://digital.jmpublishing.ie/i/659344
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 Connect Sgt Karl Byrne connect@military.ie Photo/Journalist: Cpl Lee Coyle journalist@military.ie Photographer Cpl Neville Coughlan photo@military.ie 045 44 5307 Subscriptions Cpl Kelly Gallagher +353 (0)45 44 5312 subs@military.ie DF/PR Information: Cpl Lynn Ryan admin@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5308 DF Webmaster Sgt Mick Burke +353 (0)45 44 5309 webmaster@military.ie Magazine Archivist Mr Sean Shinnors Designer/Advertising JM Publishing & Media, Arklow, Co. Wicklow,Ireland Tel: +353 15331911 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 Members of the Army Ranger Wing, Ireland's elite special operations force. Photo by Sgt Karl Byrne For more Defence Forces photographs, checkout: www.flickr.com/photos/ dfmagazine Editorial H ello and welcome to our April 2016 issue. We were blown away by all the feedback and compliments on our March 1916-2016 Commemorative Issue & Connect – thank you. I would like to take this opportunity to wish our manager Captain Declan Barrett all the best on his impending overseas UN mission to the Congo – from all the team, safe trip and it has been a pleasure to serve with you. Your pictures are ever-present On Parade. In Focus this month features Cpl Martin Malone (Retd), now a fulltime novelist on his writing career to date and the restoration of a 1950s Defence Forces Willys Jeep. In our front cover article we have a 4-page interview with members of the Special Operations Force (SOF) – the Army Ranger Wing. Next in 'Left of the Boom!' Cpl Lee Coyle reports on an Open Day held in the Ordnance School, DFTC on bomb disposal and retrieval. Lt Cdr Tony O'Regan, OiC Naval Service Diving Section informs us about the current 30th Naval Service Diving Course and their arduous journey to qualify from one of the hardest courses run in the DF. In Rally to the Cause - 1916 Battlefield Tour, Niamh Kelly looks at a history tour of Dublin to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Easter Rising by author and historian Armn Michael Whelan, of the Air Corps. On the same theme Cpl Lee Coyle's Onboard the 1916 Bus! covers the 'Rise of the Rebels Bus Tour', a new sightseeing tour that commemorates the 1916 Rising. For Strategic Review, Paul O'Brien's piece Fuelling the Fire looks at how Islamic State funds its continuous campaign of terror across the Middle East. Next the staff of the Office of the Defence Forces Registrar, J7 Training & Education Branch has put together a comprehensive guide to navigating the Leadership Management and Defence Studies (LMDS) Programme. In History military author and historian Paul O'Brien looks at the beginnings of the SAS and their Special Forces warfare in WWII. Our Sports pages this month feature the colourful DF Indoor Track & Field Championships, by Comdt Noel Conway, Chairman of DF Athletics Committee. We also have our other regular features Gear Up, Tac Aide, Reviews and What I Do. Check out our competitions and results on pages 31 and 32. Sgt Wayne Fitzgerald - Editor International Women's Day Pictured on Tuesday 8th March 2016 in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham are the 32 members of the Defence Forces Tri-Service Female Guard of Honour. 2 Arty Regt Custume Bks Athlone were honoured with the organisation and training of the GoH for International Women's Day commemorating the role of women in the events of the 1916 Rising. Lt Col Dermot Hannifin OC 2 Arty Regt, Captain Danielle Murphy OIC GoH, RSM Noel O'Callaghan, Sgt Loraine Poynton NCO IC GoH, are pictured with NCOs, privates, sailors and airwomen of 6 Inf Bn, Naval Service and the Air Corps. Photo: RSM Noel O'Callaghan, 2 AR TRANSPORT VETERANS GATHERING On Friday 27 th May 2016 (1030hrs to 1400hrs), the inaugural meeting of 'The Transpor t Veterans Gathering' will be held in Defence Forces Vehicle Based Workshops, Plunkett Bks, DFTC, Curragh Camp. The main purpose of this inaugural gathering is to foster camaraderie and mutual suppor t between ser ving and veteran members of all ranks and retired civilian employees.