The 'Blue Green' Ship a Look at Intelligence Section Naval Service
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ISSN 0010-9460 00-An Cos-DEC-05(p1-11)1/12/056:59pmPage1 0 9 THE DEFENCEFORCESMAGAZINE DECEMBER2005 9 770010 946001 UNOCI Mission inCôted’Ivoire Naval ServiceReserve A LookatIntelligence Section The ‘BlueGreen’Ship € 2.20 (Stg£1.40) 00-An Cos-DEC-05 (p1-11) 5/12/05 10:11 am Page 3 An Cosantóir VOLUME 65 inside Number 9 December 2005 EDITORIAL MANAGER: Capt Fergal Costello Over the next two issues, to mark the establishment of the new Reserve Defence Force and the beginning of the integration process, An Cosantóir will feature a substantial number of features looking at the EDITOR: activities of our Reserve units. In this month's magazine we have articles on the Naval Reserve, medics, Sgt Willie Braine and air defence, we also have a 'vox pop' of personnel, giving their views on life in the Reserve. For those of you wondering what has happened to your October and November issues, you will be receiv- JOURNALISTS: ing a double-size issue commemorating 50 years of Ireland's membership of the United Nations, from the Terry McLaughlin Defence Forces' point of view. This special issue, which will cover all of our UN missions since our first, Wesley Bourke UNOGIL, in 1958, up to the present missions in Liberia, Kosovo and Ivory Coast, among many others, will be coming out to coincide with the anniversary of our accession to the UN on December 14th. CONNECT: Sgt David Nagle The ‘Blue Green’ PDFORRA PHOTOGRAPHER: Armn Billy Galligan Ship – Yes or No? 7 Annual 20 A new type of ship for Delegate SUBSCRIPTIONS: the Naval Service? Sgt David Nagle Report by Conference Cmdr Mark Mellet Report by ADVERTISING: Terry McLaughlin Above Board Publishing Paul Kelly, Advertising Manager Tel: 0402-22800 Getting on Looking Printed by Kilkenny People, Board 12 Forward 23 Kilkenny. The integration of the Interviews with Naval Service and the personnel about The fact that an article Reserve. changes in the Reserve appears in this magazine Report by Defence Force. does not indicate official Wesley Bourke & Interview by approval of the views Armn Billy Gallligan Wesley Bourke expressed by the author. © Published by OiC Public Relations Blazing Skies UNOCI – West Section for the Defence A look at a fully Forces at DFHQ, Parkgate, 14 Africa’s Other 24 Dublin 8, Ireland. integrated PDF/RDF Tel: 01 8042691 unit. Mission Fax: 01 6779018 Report by Comdt Mark Brownen E-mail: ancosantoir Wesley Bourke & gives us a report hav- @defenceforces.iol.ie Armn Billy Galligan ing recently returne- from Côte D’Ivoire. Front cover: Pte Nora Bulmer (3 Fd Med Coy) smiling after Band Aid The Need to finishing the obstacle The Director of course during this year’s 16 Know 29 Medical Corps Cup. Medical Corps Cup. A first-time look at Report by Photo: Armn Billy Intelligence Section. Wesley Bourke Galligan. www.military.ie/pr/an_cosantoir AN COSANTÓIR December 2005 3 00-An Cos-DEC-05 (p1-11) 1/12/05 5:12 pm Page 4 news update… news update… news update… Congratulations Our photo shows Capt Anita Hogan (DF Psychologist) and Capt Brian Leahy (Student Counsellor, Cadet School) graduating with honours from Dublin City University with Masters of Science in Work and Organisational Psychology. First for the A New Reserve Start Minister for Defence Mr Lt Col Padraig Ua Willie O'Dea accompa- hUallachain, pictured nied by Comdt Byrne here with Coy Sgt inspects a Guard of Walsh and 2/Lt Keogh, Honour in Sarsfield was one of four com- Bks, Limerick on mandants promoted to October 1st on a day of become the first lieu- ceremonies to mark the tenant colonels in the establishment of the RDF. Reserve Defence Forces. Review Armn Billy Galligan's photos show Minister of State for Defence Mr Tom Kitt TD with Lt Col JJ O'Reilly (OC 94 Inf Bn) inspecting the troops of 94 Inf Bn in McKee Bks prior to their departure to Liberia. (See November’s Connect for more.) 4 AN COSANTÓIR December 2005 00-An Cos-DEC-05 (p1-11) 1/12/05 5:12 pm Page 5 te… news update… news update… news update… Charities Books for Receive Liberia Proceeds Sgt David Nagle’s photo shows Three charities received the pro- Gnr George Whelan (94 Inf Bn) ceeds of an Open Day and Table Quiz accepting books donated from held in Custume Barracks recently. the students of Scoil Náisiúnta Lt Col Michael Kennedy (OC 6 Inf Íosa, Tallaght for School chil- Bn) presented cheques to Mrs dren in Liberia. Pte Liam Loretta Farrell (Friends of St Luke's) McGuinness (94 Inf Bn) sug- for €3,000; Mrs Patricia Cleary gested the idea to collect (Special Olympics) for €3,000; and books, after reading an article finally to Col Senan Downes (ABF) in An Cosantóir, to his sister for €1,200. Linda who is a Special Needs Cpl Mandy Connolly's photo Assistant in the school. The NEWS UPDAATE shows: (back row l-r): Comdt Shane pupils are from (l-r): Shona Fahey, PJ Kelly, Philip Dolan, Eugene McGuinness (Liam’s niece), Farrell and Sgt Maj John Touhey. Matthew O’Connor, Noel Front row: Lt Col Michael Kennedy, Moran, Gnr George Whelan, Loretta Farrell and Jeffrey Case. Craig Curran, Mark Power and Louise Farrell. 4 W Bde RDF The colours of 4 W Bde RDF on parade in Sarsfield Bks on October 1st. Photo: Armn Billy Gallligan. Reserve Trophy Armn Billy Galligan's photo shows Comdt Robert Hume with members of 5 Fd Med Coy, Galway, who reclaimed the Director of Medical Services Cup this year. (See pages 16-19 for more.) New Colours The colours of the NSR on parade for the first time. AN COSANTÓIR December 2005 5 00-An Cos-DEC-05 (p1-11) 1/12/05 5:12 pm Page 6 ????????????? advt page 6 6 AN COSANTÓIR December 2005 00-An Cos-DEC-05 (p1-11) 1/12/05 5:12 pm Page 7 eing in command of a Naval Service ship on patrol, sheltering while a violent storm wreaks havoc in waters where Ireland has responsibili- Bties concentrates the mind. Every naval com- mander knows the old adage 'ships are safe in har- bour' but that is not where ships are meant to be. However, to venture forth needlessly, steaming into danger is not without penalty. If his ship is modest, such a move, at the very least, is likely to quickly dis- sipate his contingent capability, and worse still it could result in injury to his personnel or damage to his ship. While traditionally it has been better to remain poised, ready to respond to an emergency situation, things must change as Ireland prepares to lay claim to one of the largest rafts of ocean area in MATTERS NAVAL Western Europe. Under international law, in addition to a 200 nau- tical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ)1 certain These images provided by Blomb & Boss give an idea of the design and capabilil- ties of possible future naval multi-role vessels. states may also exercise sovereign rights over the seabed and sub-seabed resources of the continen- tal shelf. Ireland has a large continental shelf and is entitled to submit a claim to the United Nations for The ‘Blue Green’ Ship an area of ocean extending far beyond the 200-mile limit off its coast. This potentially will bring an area of almost 1 million square kilometres of the North-east Atlantic under national jurisdiction. In Yes or No? addition to natural resource benefits that may be derived from this area come responsibilities that By Commander Mark Mellett, Ireland is required to uphold under international law. Naval Service Government tasks the Naval Service with con- tributing to the maximum to all of the State's AN COSANTÓIR December 2005 7 00-An Cos-DEC-05 (p1-11) 1/12/05 5:13 pm Page 8 The case for larger requirements at sea. Accordingly, these additional responsibilities will impact on naval operations.2 In ships with greater addition, because Naval Service vessels express survivability and a state sovereignty and political will at sea3 the fleet profile and required capabilities will also need exami- capability to with- nation. The seas of the Northeast Atlantic are generally stand harsh recognised as being among the most hostile in the Northeast Atlantic world. A recent study shows that the most extreme wave conditions are in the storm track regions of the conditions further North Atlantic, west of Ireland.4The effects of global offshore is clear if warming will make this bad situation worse with cli- matologists forecasting more frequent and more vio- Ireland is to exer- lent weather patterns. cise sovereignty In the 2000 White Paper on Defence the Government decided that its commitment to a fleet over its continental replacement program was such that the Naval shelf. Service should have a modern eight-ship flexible flotilla.5 With three ships set to be decommissioned before 2010 and a further three before 2015, in the words of Price Waterhouse there is no 'do nothing' option.6 Taking into account all these factors Defence Forces' naval planners are looking at the Naval Service fleet replacement programme with a view to ensuring that it somehow future-proofs its new ships for service up to 2040 and beyond. They are looking at the Navy's current service provision, taking into account the changing environment in which these services are delivered, and looking at potential new services, which policy makers may ask the Defence Forces to deliver. The case for larger ships with greater survivability and a capability to withstand harsh Northeast Atlantic conditions further offshore is clear if Ireland is to exercise sovereignty over its continental shelf.