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 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 Pictured are SOF members from the Army Ranger Wing. Photo: Sgt Karl Byrne For more Defence Forces photographs, checkout: www.flickr.com/photos/ dfmagazine Editorial H ello and welcome to our February issue, in which terrorism and security are to the fore. We start the issue On Parade with your photographs from around the Defence Forces community. First up for In Focus is Sgt Rena Kennedy's piece looking for DF personnel to get involved in the Defence Forces 1920- 22 commemorations - Do You Have Family Links with the Early Years of Óglaigh na hÉireann? This is followed by reports on two reunions: one involving two three-star training buddies meeting up 38 years later and the other about former comrades of 1 Pl, A Coy, 8 Inf Gp, UNFICYP, who gathered in Custume Bks, Athlone, in 2017 to mark the 50th anniversary of their tour of duty. In Veterans News, Caroline Carr, from the Donegal County Museum, writes about the recent unveiling of a plaque in Letterkenny that commemorates a WWI hero Pte James Duffy VC. Our front-cover feature looks at December's Exercise 'Ullamh', which saw the DF's largest counter-terrorism exercise in support of An Garda Síochána take place at key locations around the city. Continuing with our main theme, Cpl Lee Coyle's Defeating the Device looks at IED/EOD training on the 23rd Ordnance Young Officers Course. This is followed by a report on the third International Protection of Civilians Course, which was held recently in the UN School recently and included students from the UK, Spain, Mexico and Israel. Next, Dinos Anthony Kerigan- Kyrou looks at what we can do to be proactive and lessen threats by Defining Our Approach to Cybersecurity. In our Strategic Review feature, Shadow on the Sun, Paul O'Brien MA looks at one of the worst attacks on UN peacekeepers in recent years. From the 'Enemy's' Viewpoint, by CQMS Michael Barrett, 7 Inf Bn RDF, looks at how reservists supported their PDF colleagues on an exercise in Kilworth Camp during the NCOTW's last All-Arms Standard NCOs Course. Then we meet a DF veteran whose bespoke military equipment could help save lives, before our first History piece looks at the GPO Witness History Visitors Centre in the heart of Dublin, where we are brought back to that fateful Easter in 1916. This is followed by our second history article, James Scannell looks at a WWII naval battle in The Destruction of Force Z - 10th December 1941. Our Sports pages feature a roundup of the latest series of representative GAA games involving the DF, Bank of Ireland, Allied Irish Bank, and An Garda Síochána. All this, plus our regular features: Tac-Aide, Gear Review, Noticeboard, Reviews, and this month's What I Do, which carries the first interview in our 'Eldest Veteran' series. Sgt Wayne Fitzgerald - Editor On Sale & Only €5.00 Our An Cosantóir A5 Black Notebooks are available for €5.00, which fit into large uniform pockets. To purchase contact: subs@military.ie or call: +353 45 44 5312. Limited numbers left.

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