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 Cpl Neville Coughlan 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 A member of the Ordnance Corps during an EOD Exercise. Photo: A/Sgt Colum Lawlor, 103 Sqn For more Defence Forces photographs, checkout: www.flickr.com/photos/ dfmagazine Editorial H ello and welcome to our December/January double issue, which marks the end of another volume in the 77-year history of An Cosantóir. Our main focus this month is on terrorism and takes a look at the education and training in that area that is being conducted by the Defence Forces and other key stakeholders. We also hope you enjoy our large pull-out 2018 wallplanner – designed by Sgt Karl Byrne. This month In Focus looks at former DF member George Nagle who was killed in Vietnam while serving with the Australian Army in 1969. This is followed by a heartwarming story about a primary school in Rathcoole that launched a time capsule built by their Air Corps neighbours. Veterans' News looks at the 2nd Military Veterans Black Tie Gala Ball, held in aid of ONE. Our front cover feature looks at the Ord Sch's third international course on Counter-Marauding Terrorist Attack (C-MTA): Preparing the Incident Commanders, which focuses on lessons learned from recent terror attacks. In Medical Exercise 'Nightingale', we have a report on an inter-agency mass casualty training exercise conducted by the National Ambulance Service, Dublin Fire Brigade, the Defence Forces, Civil Defence and An Garda Síochána's ERU. Next up, Cpl Rory Behan briefs us on his experiences on the British Army's gruelling Platoon Sergeant Battle Course (PSBC), followed by Cpl Lee Coyle's report on his completion of the DF's Specialist Instructor Course Grade 2. Continuing with our main topic, Frontline: Terror in Europe, by Paul O'Brien looks at the unprecedented wave of terror attacks that have penetrated Europe's defences over the last 18-months. For In Reserve, CQMS Michael Barrett RDF covers a 7 Inf Bn Live-firing tactical training (LFTT) shoot for its reservists. Next we visit Hobby Airsoft in Dublin to find out about this popular pastime and the equipment and accessories used. A short feature on a talk titled Michael Collins and Guerrilla Warfare 1918-22 that was given to the National Museum of Ireland by an acclaimed author and Vietnam veteran follows. Another short piece looks at the Defence Forces Review 2017 Conference held in UCC, which focused on Terrorism and the Evolving Terrorist Threat. The results of our 2017 An Cosantóir photographic competition are out, with many thanks to our sponsors Baker Photographic Ltd. In the first of two articles looking at Military Archives, we have the official launch of their Oral History Project, followed by the fifth release of material from the Military Service (1916-1923) Pensions Project. Our history feature looks at the tactically important Battle of Cambrai 1917. Four pages of Sport feature the 40th anniversary of the Defence Forces Sea Angling Club and a look at sports recovery in Eat Your Way to Success. All this, plus our regular features: Tac-Aide, Gear Up, Noticeboard, Reviews, and What I Do. Sgt Wayne Fitzgerald - Editor International Police Association Pistol Club Annual Charity Shoot I n October, over 60 shooters travelled from far and near to the Harbour House Shooting Club Grounds in Nurney, Co Kildare, for the International Police Asso- ciation Pistol Club's (IPAPC) annual charity shoot. IPAPC would like to thank Harbour House and in particular, Tommy, Toby, Dee and all the staff, for the use of this fine facility. The club introduced their new sharpshooter's badge at this year's shoot, which was developed by their deceased colleague Sgt S Mc Colgan, 1 Cn Cois, at the shoot. IPAPC is donating its €650 proceeds to ONE. Photo: Jim Mc Eneaney, Michael Mc Neela Branch ONE

• Cover