An Cosantóir

young guns | 13 Vox Pops Lt John Hopkins, 1 ADR, DFTC The course was a great experience. I got to command a six gun battery. I also got to call in fire from Leitrim Observation Post. To see the impact and devastation that the rounds make on impact is impressive. From an ADR point of view I am now qualified on the Giraffe Mk IV radar. We will be very busy next year with the EU presidency. So for me to be able to go back to my unit and be operational is very important. ing doesn't end on completion of the YOs course. To progress within the Corps normally requires the completion of a wide variety of courses such as the M-UAS, FST/ FOO, LTAV, FCCS, Regimental Sur- veyors Course, Artillery Standard Officers Course, and Joint Fire and Targeting courses, which are being introduced this year. 2/Lt Ciara Sheehan, 1 Fld Arty Reg, 1 S Bde Great course. The staff in the Artillery School were excellent. Although it is a long course it is very varied. You are kept busy and always learn- ing new things. The best part for me was the live firing. This is all your training culminating together and everything fitting into place. On this exercise you get to do all the appointments. I'm going to university in September to do corporate law so it was great to get the YO's course done so when I go back to my unit during my studies I will be qualified to work as an artillery officer. Lt Ken Lyons, 2 Fld Arty Reg, 2 E Bde I was in my unit for about a year before the course. So I couldn't wait. All aspects of the course were great. The live fire is impressive when you see it for the first time. I found all aspects of the course really interesting. I have my degree done already so I am looking forward to going back to my unit and working as an artillery officer. I would like to go on and do some of the specialist courses such as the LTAV. Lt George Balfe, 1 ADR, DFTC Very very good course. The culmination of all your training into the live fire was great. Fire planning, deploying, and then commanding of a six gun battery was great experience. From an air defence point of view to have the Giraffe Mk IV radar system on the course was great. I t means we go back to our unit qualified on that system. Twined with the RBS 70 it makes for a great air defence system. In the ADR our job as YO's is on the radar. The Gunners man the RBS 70. Lt Justin Barry, 2 Fld Arty Reg, 2 E Bde I'm in the artillery five years. I was completing my degree in Informa- tion Systems Management. So it was great to get on the YO's course. In my unit up to now I've just been doing admin appointments. A very en- joyable course, which was challenging in parts. At the end of every sub- ject there was an exercise. These exercises were hard at times and you had to put in long days. The Gun Position Officers exercise in Comeragh Mountains Waterford/Cork was tough. A lot of running around in your appointment and the weather made the exercise all that much tougher. www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE

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