An Cosantóir November 2017 www.dfmagazine.ie
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By SGt John SARGEnt (ARMy RESERvE), 2 BDE CIS
A
t a unit training conference in
September, Capt Martin Mulvey
threw out the idea of running
a regimental signals course in Cathal
Brugha Bks for 2 Bde Reserve. It would
be run according to the PDF syllabus,
with the same content, hours of
instruction, etc, with the only differ-
ence being that instead of four weeks
of full-time training, this course would
be run over five months, consisting
of two-hour blocks on tuesday nights
beginning in February, two field days
at the end of every month, and ending
with five days of full-time training at
the beginning of July.
We sent out joining instructions
in January and to our surprise, we
received not only applications from
RDF personnel but also from four PDF
personnel who had missed out on the
full-time course due to it being over-
subscribed. Consequently, the course
began in February with two RDF and
four PDF students.
Chief instructor on the course was
Sgt Peter Brennan (Army Reserve), who
had recently finished instructing on
the PDF regimental signals course. The
other instructors were also RDF per-
sonnel, and Sgt Brendan Clarke (2 Bde
CIS Training Section) providing support
by making sure equipment and train-
ing facilities were available.
The objective of the Regimental
Signals Course is to train personnel in
the skills and techniques required to op-
erate with a regimental signals platoon,
and the course is broken into four mod-
ules: CIS Procedures, Radio Equipment,
Tactics/Line, and Radio Exercises.
The programme was designed so
Sgt Tommy Gunn (2 Bde MPC) on 'Exercise Alpha'.
