An Cosantóir

www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 5 Manager Comdt Colin Lawlor 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 (Overseas) 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 Pictured is CQMS Sean Baldwin. Design concept by Sgt Wayne Fitzgerald. For more Defence Forces photographs, checkout: www.flickr.com/photos/ dfmagazine Editorial H ello and welcome to our September 2016 issue. This 40-page issue is due to there being so much content supplied over our summer break - we decided to get it all out to you now. This issue starts with your pictures On Parade – please keep them coming in. This month In Focus looks at a military career from both ends. Firstly 'God's Tears' … Fuchsia Appeal 2016, looks at the largest annual fundraising appeal by the ONE for retired members of the DF who have now fallen on hard times. That is followed by the experiences of a young RDF member starting out on his reservist career on an RDF Range Weekend. Veterans News by Sean Shinnors looks at this year's Annual IUNVA Conference that was held in the Tullamore Court Hotel in Offaly. Our front cover feature 'The Bright Side' is on prolific Paralympic shooter CQMS Seán Baldwin, who gives an honest interview on his recovery from a coma to where he is now – many thanks to Paralympics Ireland for the report and photos. In Charting a New Course - Life after the Defence Forces, CPO/ERA Ruairí de Barra NS gives us a look at some Defence Forces members on their transitioning to civilian life after lengthy careers. Next we have a short piece on a recent visit made to the Magazine Fort Phoenix Park by regular contributors and military historians/authors, Paul O'Brien and Mícheál Ó Doibhilín on behalf of An Cosantóir. This is followed by another interesting piece by Christy Parker, who informs us about the Irish Navy to return Historic Crest to Malta story. In the first exercise feature, Cpl Lee Coyle and Armn Adam Murphy visited the Glen of Imaal to see how members of the Corp of Engineers on TACEX 9 'Combined Effort' got on. Our Strategic Review by Paul O'Brien MA looks at Libya: A War on Many Fronts - Libya is the fourth-largest country in Africa and has a population of just over six million. In Reserve is by CQMS Mike Barrett RDF 7 Inf Bn who gives us the reservist' views from the previously mentioned COE Exercise 'Combined Effort'. This is followed by Exercise 'Strongbow' by Comdt Eamon Cahill, where members of 3 Inf Bn deployed to Rosslare Europort, Waterford Airport and Bellview Seaport as part of a co-ordinated major emergency exercise. Our History feature Diving Into History – The Helga & The Aud by CQMS Mick Duffy looks at the Defence Forces Diving Group's (DFDG) recent historic dives. The DFDG are also our first Sports feature as we visited them on camp in Bere Island during a beginners diving course. Our second Sports feature 'by Comdt Barry Byrne' is on the inaugural international Beaufort Cup regatta boat race. This issue finishes with our other regular features: Gear Up, Noticeboard, Reviews and What I Do. Check out our competitions and results on pages 35 and 36. Sgt Wayne Fitzgerald - Editor C A N Y O U H E L P ? A/Sea Robert Dean was tragically lost at sea on 20th July 2000, while returning from an inter- national visit to the USA with LÉ Eithne. Dean's mother, Eleanor, is looking for any photographs of her son. (She received nine rolls of film in his be- longings but there were very few photos of Dean on them). This photo was taken on Dean's last day in Boston and sent to Eleanor by an American lady with a lovely letter about Dean's kindness to her and her family when they visited the ship. Eleanor asks: "If anyone has some, would they be so kind as to let me have a copy. Thanking you in advanced." Email: edeanmum2@gmail.com

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