An Cosantóir

www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 23 by 2/LT (RDF) NEIL RICHARDSON, PL CMDR, 1 MIC O n Friday 22nd July, the reservist students of 2 Pla- toon, 1 Mech Inf Coy (MIC), completed their three- star training in the DFtC, qualifying as three-star privates in the Reseve Defence Force (RDF). the majority of the students on the course had undergone their RDF recruit training in 2015. As evidence that the RDF is attracting high calibre recruits, many of whom are intent on a full-time military career, 35% of their colleagues from the 2015 recruit class had successfully joined the PDF, either through general enlistment or cadetships. The newly qualified three-star RDF privates come from a wide variety of civilian backgrounds. To mention a few: Pte Diarmuid Connon (Best Soldier) is an astrophysics student at Maynooth University; Pte Barry Walsh is an automotive technology graduate and product executive with Volvo Cars; and Pte Gerard Murphy (Best Shot, GPMG) are former members of the PDF. For the final element of their three-star course, the stu- dents underwent a 72-hour dig-in on a defensive warfare exercise in the DFTC, on which they received an excellent and rewarding insight into defending entrenched positions. Each student was supplied with a healthy amount of pyro- technics, and sufficient NVE and comms equipment so that every individual was fully equipped to meet the various en- counters with enemy forces throughout each day and night. During the dig-in the students were visited by Comdt Tom Fox, OC 1 MIC, and Lt Col (RDF) Gerry Maguire, DFTC HQ, both of whom complimented the students on their commitment to the Reserve Defence Forces. It is understood that the RDF three-star course syllabus is currently under review to bring it into line with its PDF equivalent as part of the single-force concept. For the students of 2 Reserve Pl, 1 MIC, it was a challenging experi- ence that has prepared them for future development and advancement as soldiers with the RDF. Each student was supplied with a healthy amount of pyrotechnics, and sufficient NVE and comms equipment so that every individual was fully equipped to meet the various encounters with enemy forces throughout each day and night " " Pictured (l-r): RDF Ptes Sean Curran and Diarmuid Connon, 1 MIC, during the dig-in. Lt Col (RDF) Gerry Maguire visits the reservists during their final defensive exercise. Pictured (l-r): RDF Ptes Barry Walsh and Karl Rooney.

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