An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir October 2017 www.dfmagazine.ie 18 | By CPL LEE COyLE PhOTOS CPL JOhn gREEn I think everyone should do this course. Jack O'Shaughnessy (age 18) T he Employment Support Scheme (ESS), which is part of the DF Corporate Social Respon- sibility Programme, was launched in February 2016 by the then Minister for Defence, Mr Simon Coveney TD. The development of the scheme was a joint initiative between the Depart- ment of Defence, the Defence Forces, the Department of Social Protection and the Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board. The objective of the ESS is to help develop a path to economic inde- pendence for unemployed indi- viduals aged between 18 and 24 who are at a distinct disadvantage due to their socio-economic situa- tion. Participation in the scheme is voluntary and does not affect a participant's welfare payments. The scheme is designed to exert a positive influence on participants, with the specific aim of equipping them with life skills and other marketable and certifiable skills that will assist them in their capacity to participate fully in society and enhance their ability to enter the workforce or to pursue further education for this pur- pose. At its launch Minister Coveney stated: "On successful completion of the programme, participants should be able to demonstrate an increased sense of self-confidence, self-discipline, self-motivation and self-worth, and increased physical fitness. They will be able to display social and team skills and to communicate more confi- dently with potential employers." As with any course conducted by the Defence Forces, a specific syllabus was developed for the scheme, TS INF 032/2016, and a very successful 10-week pilot scheme was conducted for 30 participants in Gormanston Camp in June 2016. A commitment was also given to run six more it- erations of the programme over a three-year period. The first of these has recently concluded in Limerick. The selection process for the current course was carried out through the Department of Social Protection in Limerick. All 18-24 year olds in receipt of job seekers allowance in the Lim- erick and Clare area were invited to attend a brief on the ESS delivered by a member of the Defence Forces. Those who subsequently applied for a place on the scheme were then interviewed to assess their suitability and interest in the course. After garda vetting and security checks, successful candidates were offered a place on the course. The course programme consists of five weeks of military-orientated training, provided by 12 Inf Bn, and five weeks educational training, delivered by Further Education and Training Campus Raheen who are part of the Limerick and Clare Edu-

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