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 Armn Adam Murphy photo@military.ie 045 44 5307 Subscriptions Cpl Kelly Gallagher +353 (0)45 44 5312 subs@military.ie DF/PR Information Cpl Lynn Ryan 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 27 Inf Bn Sniper team competing in the 2nd International Marksmanship Skills Competition 2017. Photo by Armn Adam Murphy For more Defence Forces photographs, checkout: www.flickr.com/photos/ Editorial H ello and welcome to our September issue, where this month's main theme is the art of shooting, with articles on marksmanship, recce, and ranges: we hope it hits the target! We received a lot of photos since our last issue, with the best chosen to appear On Parade. For our In Focus feature we visited the Midlands National Shooting Centre of Ireland in Co Offaly, which hosted this year's International Gallery Rifle Federation world championships in July. We also travelled to Co Meath to visit the Irish Military War Museum, the largest military museum in Ireland, covering 22 acres. Our Veterans News tells of our visit to Balbriggan, where Siege of Jadotville veteran Pte Terry McMahon (RIP) was honoured and commemorated by his local historical society with a plaque near his old home. Our first feature reports on the 2017 DF Recce Concentration, which saw 10 teams competing against each other for the opportunity to represent the DF at Exercise Cambrian Patrol in the UK in October. It was also the first time a foreign military team participated, with a UK detachment from 1st Bn, Royal Irish Regiment, in the mix. Our front cover feature looks at the 2017 DF Sniper Competition, where 17 pairs of highly trained soldiers arrived in the Glen of Imaal to compete for the title of best sniper-spotter team. The competition had both national and international categories. Four international teams, from the UK, the USA and Germany, and a team from the ARW took part in the international event. In DF Gets a 'Bloods' Transfusion we bring you a short piece on the passing-out parade of 145 Recruit Platoon of 3 Inf Bn, Kilkenny. This is followed by another short piece on the fourth annual 12 Inf Bn Services Day, where members of the DF, the local emergency services, and the gardaí compete for the coveted trophy. In our article on ONE's annual Fuchsia Appeal, we see how it is invaluable in funding their homeless initiatives around the country, and we hear what it's like to be made homeless by a former resident of Brú na bhFiann. That's followed by an extended look at a museum basics course conducted in Military Archives and run under the auspices of the Irish Museum Association. In our Strategic Review feature Capt Alan Kearney tells us how the Ordnance School delivered a cross-agency course for GSOC on Post-Event Analysis: Small Arms and IEDs, to develop and enhance the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission's capability to investigate incidents involving firearms or explosives. In The Military Pilgrimage to Lourdes Rev Fr Séamus Madigan (Head Chaplain to the Forces) gathers the views of three different pilgrims from this year's trip, with a look to raising interest for the 60th anniversary pilgrimage next year. Our History feature, Last Action in the Congo: 38 Infantry Battalion, by Dr James McCafferty DSM, BA (Hons), PhD, looks at the last operational Irish unit to serve in the Congo in 1962. For our Sports feature, To Hellas and Back, Sgt Eric Dalton (IWW) talks about his trip to Greece earlier this year with five other cross-country motorcyclists to take part in the tough Hellas Rally Raid, which has become a warm-up race for the Dakar Rally. Plus, we have our regular Tac- Aide, Gear Up, Noticeboard, Reviews, and What I Do features. Finally, check out our competitions and results on pages 11, 36 and 37. Sgt Wayne Fitzgerald - Editor 500 Milestone in Blood donations By Cpl Lee Coyle Photo by Armn Adam Murphy Gnr Joe O'Rourke (2 BAR, attached McKee Bks Coy) recently made his 500th donation of blood, plasma and platelets in the National Blood Centre beside St James hospital. Joe's amazing accom- plishment was acknowledged and celebrated by the staff of Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS). Joe was very modest about his achievement and said he doesn't do it for the recognition but to help others. He started donating in 1977, when the IBTS came to McKee Bks. After donating 500 times he added jokingly: "The hardest part is the needle; even after all this time I still can't get used to it". After a few years giv- ing blood and plasma, Joe started donating platelets, which takes longer than blood donation. Jo Lawlor from the IBTS told us how important this service is and how grateful they are for people like Joe. "He is only the eleventh person in Ireland to reach this landmark 500th donation," she said, "with only three donors in the country reaching 600 donations so far." The IBTS needs more donors every day; if you would like find out about becoming a donor please visit the IBTS website www.giveblood.ie.

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