42 | what i do
Sarah Downey
Signalwoman
2 Fd CIS Coy
I joined the Defence Forces last year after I finished third-level,
where I achieved an honours degree in physiology and applied
Information Technology (IT). With my educational background
it isn't surprising that I opted to join the CIS Corps after recruit training.
Since then I have completed the communications operative (ComOps) course, which is a six-month course that is compulsory for anyone joining the CIS Corps. The course trains personnel on all the Corps'
radio equipment including the VHF SINCGARS and HF Harris radios
and the NorSat satellite communications equipment. Students are also
trained to work on a line crew where, among other things, they learn
how to set up a building for telephone and IT. I have also just completed
the detachment commanders course.
The Corps provides many different services both in barracks and on the
ground. In barracks CIS personnel rotate between line crew (maintaining
telephone lines and the computer network), ComCen, and the CIS stores,
covering the entire brigade. The Corps is also responsible for the intranet,
the PMS, the Helpdesk, and the SDS post.
On the ground the CIS detachment provide communications for battalion-, brigade-level and above. Detachments can either set up a static OP or
operate from a fitted-for-radio (FFR) Nissan, CIS Mowag, or the CIS LTAV. At
brigade-level and above we can utilise the C2 container. Our ground equipment includes the Toughbook Tactical Battlefield Management System. This
provides file transfer, command messaging, and GPS positioning, giving eyes
on other vehicles in your patrol or other detachments.
I have recently been accepted onto the CIS technician scheme, which is a
three-year bachelor of engineering degree in electronic engineering (military
communications systems) in Carlow IT. Personnel on the scheme are attached to
the CIS School so that when not in college students attend the School for practical, hands-on training.
As can be seen, even from this short article on my experiences over the last
year, the CIS Corps is very diverse, forward-looking and interesting place to work.
An Cosantóir Dec 2012/Jan 2013 www.dfmagazine.ie
