An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir July/August 2018 www.dfmagazine.ie 46 | Danny O'Brien 401 Sqn, nO 4 Sp Wing airman By Sgt WAynE FItzgERALD PhotoS ARMn JAMIE BARREtt D anny, from graiguenamanagh, Co kilkenny, has been involved in scouting most of his life (his mother is an adult scouter in kilkenny), where he learned a lot of adventure skills that he still uses today. He enlisted in the Defence Forces in December 2010 and com- pleted his recruit training with 2 Cav Sqn in Cathal Brugha Bks. After three-star training he completed recce and dispatch rider courses. As well as carrying out a number of presidential escorts he also participated with the EU battlegroup. After successfully applying for the Trainee Technician Scheme, Danny was discharged for the purpose of re-enlistment to undertake a nine-year aircraft maintenance apprenticeship with the Air Corps. "I had to take a drop in pay to undertake the apprenticeship," he says, "but I wanted to learn a trade that I could use for life." Danny also had to undergo recruit training again with the Air Corps. "This was a very different experience from the Cavalry Corps," he recalls. "Now I was in a classroom from 9am to 5pm every day and there was lots of technical information; you have to use different parts of your brain." Danny is now working in 401 Sqn, which carries out 2nd line maintenance, such as installing new parts or blending minor chips on compressor blades. Danny's sport is kayaking, in which he is qualified as a level-2 instructor. He has also completed a swift water rescue course and a level-3 remote emergency care course. He also underwent a beach life guard course in Galway to allow him to work at DF triathlons and open-water swimming camps. Danny also instructs on kayaking courses with the DF and has travelled to Nepal and Norway with the DF Kayaking Club, and has travelled to the US to kayak off 100ft waterfalls. However, he rates his best achievement on the water as rowing across the Atlantic. "I got it into my head that I wanted to row across the Atlantic because I kept hearing people say it couldn't be done," he says. "Then when I was away representing Ireland as a judge at the kayaking championships, I met a team called Atlantic Allies, consisting of one Dutch and three British rowers, who planned to kayak to America, and I was accepted onto the team." How- ever, during training Danny got a shoulder injury that put his participation in doubt. With time against him, Danny turned to DF physiotherapists Eimear and Dave in the CMU, St Bricin's Hospital. The pair managed to successfully treat Danny's injury, for which he will be eternally grateful. "Without them I wouldn't have made the crossing," he says. Despite facing Atlantic storms and other trials and tribula- tions, the Atlantic Allies in their Rannock 45 rowing boat made the crossing in 66 days, entering the Guinness Book of Records in the process for rowing the Trade Winds 2 Route across the Atlantic. They also recorded the youngest and oldest team members. Read full story on P38. Danny is now looking forward to taking part in the Canoe Freestyle World Cup in Spain in July. Professionally, Danny recently passed his Tech 1 interview, this will allow him to work unsupervised. On his future ambitions, Danny says: "I want to get an NCOs course soon and I would like to serve overseas. I would also like to qualify in the spray shop, to do plastic welding, composite repairs, panel beating, and spraying."

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