An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir July/August 2016 www.dfmagazine.ie 44 | I joined the Defence Forces in April 1979 en- listing in the 1 Mtr Sqn, Fitzgerald Camp, Fermoy. My recruit training was conducted with 12 Inf bn, Clonmel, the highlight of which was the guard of honour the platoon took part in for the Pope's visit to Ireland that year. As I had previously at- tended a catering college before the army, I was as- signed to the Officer's Mess on my return to 1 Mtr Sqn, November 1979. During my up skilling within the Cavalry Corps, I completed driving and gunnery training on all the Panhard series of ve- hicles. I also completed a basic sniper course with the FN and HK 33 weapons, a Reg Sigs course and a PTI course. The normal yearly routine during the 80's and 90's included security duty in two prisons, border duty with 'Operation Mallard', CIT escorts, prisoners escorts, explosives escort to quarries and vital instal- lations – these patrols are still ongoing!!! I completed my POT NCO's course in 1987, and was posted to the BTC South for two years. While there I trained numerous recruits and 3 star courses. I completed a Light Infantry Weapons Instructors course, a weapons coaching course and instructed on various other courses. From there I did a basic and armoured driving instructor's course with the cavalry school, which included, at the time the SISU APC. I went on to complete numerous courses includ- ing both infantry and cavalry standard courses. The Defence Forces was becoming more reliant on IT and a lot of emphasis was put into this area and as a result I completed various computer courses. In 1996 I got the oppor- tunity to do one of the first NCEF (National Certificate in Exercise Fitness) instructor's courses in the Defence Forces Physical Educa- tion School. In addition we did a manual handling instructor and a confidence train- ing instructor courses. I then spent 2 months in the old apprentice school in Devoy Bks, Naas, training an apprentice class. Towards the end of the 90's barrack closures meant redeployment and I went to a Reserve unit on long term detachment for a number of years. I was the operation's Sgt for the 34th RDF Inf Bn. This was an interesting period as you had to be a jack of all trades, due to low staff numbers. Constant recruit- ing, training and camps etc kept you busy despite what the perception may have been. I saw the lack of tasking for the RDF during this time as under us- ing their potential. Thankfully with integration this has now been addressed. Our Reserve Troop in 1 ACS are constantly on the ground with the unit or assist- ing with training recourse requirements (TRRs). I completed a logs management course and a logs accountancy course in 2009 and completed a senior NCO's course in 2010. Within the unit I completed a Mowag driving course and dispatch riders course. I have completed 11 tours of duty overseas, 5 with the cavalry element/recce company/BMR (Battal- ion Mobile Reserve) of IrishBatt, UNIFIL, one with UNIFIL HQ in Naqoura. In 1998 I served with SFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as part of the Military Police group. In 2002 I travelled to Kosovo, with the 6th Tpt Gp, KFOR as the Ops Sgt. In 2004 I went to UNMIL, Liberia, as the Logs Admin Coy Sgt. In 2006 I went to Macedonia as part of the NSE with 33 Inf Gp, KFOR as the customs and movement NCO. I again travelled to Bosnia with EUFOR in 2014 as the S3 Ops NCO for Camp Butmir, Sarajevo. I was promoted to Squadron Sgt in 2013 and my current job is with 1 Armoured Cavalry Squadron. Like all unit Sqn/Bty/Coy Sgts I'm the interface be- tween commissioned and other ranks. The human resource manager whose everyday taskings in- clude the deployment of the unit on TRRs, guards of honour, security escorts and many others that make up our working week. The unit is currently preparing for a Cav Sch shoot in the Glen of Imaal, commencing rehears- als for Merrion Square, finished training our recruit troop (in training since October 2015). We have just completed a truck-driving course and will commence a cavalry gunnery course shortly. We are the holding unit for the Defence Forces 30mm MRV Mowags. MRVs are now being deployed overseas and the unit has been desig- nated as the up skilling unit for the cavalry corps on 30mm Gunnery. Terry Donnelly 1 ArmoureD CAvAlry SquADron Sqn SgT

• Cover