An Cosantóir

June 2018

An Cosantóir the official magazine of the Irish Defence Forces and Reserve Defence Forces.

Issue link: https://digital.jmpublishing.ie/i/987359

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An Cosantóir June 2018 www.dfmagazine.ie 8 | 8 | By CPl lEE COylE, PhOTOS By SgT KARl ByRNE AND ARMN JAMIE BARRETT Travelling overseas on a UN mission for the first time brings a bunch of mixed feelings to every soldier, it can be those of excitement and eagerness, but it can also bring feelings of fear and trepidation of the unknown and unexpected. The 112 Inf Bn departed for lebanon in early May, we caught up with some of them in gormanston Camp for a quick word just before their Mission Readiness Exercise (MRE). Pte Richie coffey (25), 6 inf bn, 2 bde tell us about yourself and your family? "I'm 25 years old and have three and a half years service with the 6 Inf Bn, this will be my first trip overseas. I'm originally from Stillorgan in Dublin but moved to Athlone when I got posted. Waiting for me at home I have my mother and father." how does your family feel about you going overseas? "Grand really, my father is delighted that I'm in the army and traveling abroad, he always thought I would like the army, my mother is a bit nervous about me travelling away, but she is happy for me to go to Lebanon." how have you found the training for the mission? "The training has been good, meeting the other troops and getting to know them and who you will be serving with. We have been doing a lot of training for the MRE, which is all building up to the stands on it, which will be good." what have you heard about lebanon, and how do you feel about the mission? "I've heard it's a good trip out there from other soldiers who have served over there. We will be very busy out there doing patrols of the area. The threat level isn't as bad out there compared to what it used to be. I've no worries about the mission, we are trained and prepared for doing our job out there, and we have trust in our NCOs who are travelling with us." what are you looking forward to most about the mission? "I think it will be interesting to see the difference between where we come from and over there and being able to give the people of Lebanon a help- ing hand." armn Sean moriarty (23), No 1 ops wing, ac tell us about yourself and your family? "This is my first trip overseas, I have served four and a half years in the DF with No 1 Ops Wing in the Air Corps in Baldonnel. At home in Navan, I have my mother and father and I also have two younger brothers and a younger sister." how does your family feel about you going overseas? "My family are happy with me going away, I have a cousin who has served in Lebanon so they know what it's like and have seen it with that side of the family with him traveling over, because of this they're not too nervous about it." how have you found the training for the mission? "I liked the training for the mission, it's good to get a chance to do this sort of military training as it is different from my normal day to day in the Air Corps. The training with the Mowags was the best part, being able to use these vehicles during training, getting in and out of them was really enjoy- able. I'm looking forward to our MRE, it will be good to put everything we have done in the last number of weeks into practice and see how it's done at Platoon level." what have you heard about lebanon, and how do you feel about the mission? "I'm not worried about the trip, I've heard a good bit about the mission from other soldiers and my cousin, so It makes us a bit more relaxed know- ing what we will be doing out there, also we have lads that have been out there recently." what are you looking forward to most about the mission? "I've never been in the Middle East before and it's going to be interesting to see what way of life people have over there and how we get on over there." We also spoke to two veterans, who are returning to Lebanon after over 20 years since they last served in the country. 112Th INF BN ARE BOUND FOR lEBANON Ministerial Review of 112th Inf Bn, Aiken Bks, Dundalk, April 2018.

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