An Cosantóir

24 | FULL-TIME COMMITMENT! Part-time Soldiers, T BY CPL ERICA KEOGH (TPT COY, 62 RES LSB MAIN PHOTO BY BARRY GIBBONS, OTHERS BY COY SGT ALAN LOWRY DFTC, assisted by the Reserve Defence Forces Training Authority (RDFTA). Of the 24 students who began the course in March, 17 passed-out in June. The course comprised two modules, the he second RDF Standard NCO Course was conducted this year by the NCO Training Wing in the Military College, hammered home the importance of orders, preparation and personal administration in the field and gave the students a good grounding when it came to putting theory into practice on the ground. The course covered all the areas neces- first conducted over three weekends and the second consisting of two weeks full- time training. However, the commitment and work required was much broader than this would indicate as the students were required to complete study assignments and quizzes in their own time via dis- tance-learning provided through the RDF e-learning website Restel. The use of this tool ensured students very quickly became acquainted with the work a sergeant is required to undertake and the responsibili- ties attached to the rank. Assignments issued through Restel really sary to turn out effective NCOs capable of understanding and performing all aspects of the role of a platoon sergeant. The first weekend of module one quickly completing a gruelling ammo resupply on day one, with a navigation exercise and tac- tical theory elements dominating day two. The final weekend of module one saw moved on to range management, MOI, tac- tical exercise planning, guards of honour and ceremonial drills. Training culminated with a run across the Curragh plains. The second weekend wasted no time in acquainting the students with TLPP, seven- question combat estimates, leadership, man-management qualities and putting Orbats and Q cards to work. It was on this weekend that students also developed a true appreciation of what is involved in ensuring a company is resupplied through An Cosantóir November 2012 www.dfmagazine.ie students familiarising themselves with the Tank Tracks by way of a challenging run. The remainder of the theory lessons for this module were also conducted along with a written test and a navigation test. All students had to pass these in order to proceed to module two. Throughout module one personal admin in the field and the importance of the platoon sergeant's role were thoroughly hammered home and students very quickly became familiar with, and developed a sense of appreciation for, the levels of deci- sion-making, ownership and responsibility required. Although there was a huge sense of achievement amongst the students at the end of the module the reality of more to come was all too real: module two was

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