The Minister for Defence, Mr Simon Coveney, TD, and Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces Lieutenant General Seán Clancy attended the Commissioning Ceremony of the 5th Army Reserve Potential Officers Course, consisting of 29 new Army Officers yesterday in the Defence Forces Training Centre in Kildare.
Among the 29 officers to have successfully completed the course and receive their commissions was Corporal Paul Moore from Drogheda who, along with his colleagues, will now start a new journey in leadership roles in units throughout Óglaigh na hÉireann.
Corporal Moore joined D Company, 7th Infantry Battalion in October 2014. During his time in the Army Reserve he has completed a number of courses including live fire tactical training, FIBUA (fighting in built up areas) a Potential NCO course in 2017/2018 and most recently, the Potential Officers course.
A highlight of the course for Cpl Moore was the platoon-in-attack phase of training. Cpl Moore has also participated in ceremonial duties including the State Ceremony to mark the Centenary of the 1916 Rising in 2016.
Cpl. Moore was awarded a Bachelor of Business and Law from UCD and qualified as a solicitor in 2017. He currently practices as a solicitor in Drogheda.
Also commmissioned was Private Emmet Coulter from Dunleer who enlisted in the Army Reserve joining the 27th Infantry Battalion. In 2018 and 2019 he was awarded two All-Army medals for Novice Rifle and Novice Rifle Team.
Pte Coulter holds an MA in Accounting and is a member of the Institute of Banking. He currently works with BDO Ireland as a Risk and Advisory Manager, supporting their financial services clients.
This course was also a historic milestone in that it is the first one of its kind conducted in over a decade. The course was conducted over a three-year period, with the last eighteen months having been especially testing due to COVID-19 but students and instructors alike rose to the challenge by engaging in new and innovative methods of learning.
In receiving this Presidential Commission, the new officers took an oath of allegiance in which they will swear to be “faithful to Ireland and loyal to the Constitution”.
Addendum 17/11/2021
We have just been informed that a third local man from the 8th Battalion was also commissioned – Neil Sands from Termonfeckin (pictured above) who is following in the footsteps of his grandfather Peter B. Sands who faithfully served until his retirement in 1981.
