www.military.ie the defence forces magazine
| 17
REPORT & PhOTOS By CPl MIChAEl 'RAMA' WAlSh AlONG
WITh CQMS SEAN O'CAllAGhAN, BOTh 12 INF BN
T
he 12 Inf Bn Services Day was first run in 2014, which
was the 75th Anniversary of the battalion. It was the
brainchild of CQMS Sean O'Callaghan to involve the
other emergency services in our celebrations due to our
close co-operation between the emergency services and
the 12 Inf Bn over recent years with flood, snow/ice relief
and searches.
From then on, it has become a much anticipated annual
event with the emergency service teams getting stronger
and stronger.
This year PTIs Cpl Alan Hayes and Cpl Mark Kirwan took
up the reins to organise the event and put their stamp on it.
Teams are drawn from the Defence Forces, An Garda
Síochána and Limerick
Ambulance & Fire Services.
Each team is made up of
seven individuals, women
and men.
What is unique to this
event is each team has
a former member of the
Defence Forces in it.
The Services Day is made
up of ten events that test
leadership skills, teamwork,
mental and physical capa-
bilities of the teams.
The team tasks differ
every year and this year
was no different as they
consisted of the follow-
ing sequence
of events: 2km
row with team
members were
allowed alter-
nate on and
off the rowing
machine; push a Nissan GS, Transit Bus and Ford Ranger 50m;
Construct a wheel barrow from parts given and roll it 50m;
solve a brain puzzle; stack a quantity of tyres; navigate under
and over a series of hurdles; carry a large tyre over a distance;
50m log carry; drag a tyre 50m and a sprint to finish.
Finish time is taken when the last person crosses the line and
then penalty time is added for obstacles not performed correctly.
This year, the 12 Inf Bn won by a short margin of 13 sec-
onds over An Garda Síochána, with Limerick Ambulance &
Fire Services in a close 3rd.
The event was brought to a close with a presentation
ceremony and a celebratory BBQ.
www.military.ie the defence forces magazine
| 17
