Local soldiers outline importance of family support at passing out ceremony

The support of family was key to success for a number of local soldiers who achieved the rank of corporal at a passing out ceremony in Custume Barracks, Athlone, on Friday, May 30.

A total of 41 soldiers achieved the rank of corporal, bringing them into the ranks of non-commissioned officers (NCOs), after a 19-week training course.

Cpl Clive Harris, who lives with his partner Harriet and two-year-old daughter Ella in Auburn Heights, Athlone, said: "The support I got from home was unreal. I just couldn't have done it without it."

He and Harriet are expecting their second child in July and he said Harriet had cut her working days during his training course in order for things to run smoothly at home and give him the opportunity to complete the course.

Cpl Harris, who is attached to the 6th Infantry Battalion in Athlone, joined the Army eight years ago and served overseas in Lebanon in 2021. He said the course was hard as it was difficult to get into the mindset of training initially after the eight-year gap.

"I'm definitely glad I did it," he said, adding that he now hopes to serve overseas in Lebanon again from November, with training due to begin in August.

"I want to learn the trade as an NCO and get overseas experience and then I'd like to get up to sergeant," he added. "I had long experience as a private, which was helpful in the training."

For Tubber native, Cpl Olsen North, there was cause for a double celebration as he and his wife, Emer, recently welcomed the arrival of their first child, Alfie.

While Cpl North was undertaking the training course, baby Alfie arrived seven weeks prematurely, and he is now looking forward to spending some time off with his new son.

The family lives at The Orries, Athlone, and he and Emer welcomed Alfie into the world nine weeks ago.

"It came as a surprise," he said of Alfie's early birth during the training course, "but he's doing really well and he's healthy".

Cpl North joined the Defence Forces in 2012 and was stationed in Galway for three years before transferring to the 6th Infantry Battalion in Athlone. In 2017 he undertook a carpentry apprenticeship with the Army and transferred to the 2nd Field Engineers Corps in 2018, where he will remain after his promotion to the rank of corporal.

Cpl Rónán Walker from Kilkenny West has 12 years service in the Army and is also attached to the engineering corps, where he is based as a mechanic fitter.

Of the course, he said: "I always intended to do it and finally got to. It was very tough, physically it was very tough."

He praised his fiancee Inga and three daughters Kali (14), Pippa (12) and Lucy (5) for their support, saying: "It's tough at home too. She (Inga) has taken up all the slack with the school runs and everything else. Without the support from home, it just wouldn't be possible."

Coosan's Cpl Neal Rattigan proudly wore the 1916 medals of his grandfather Patrick Rattigan and granduncle Seán Rattigan, keeping a little of them with him on the day. On his left, his own medals displayed his 15 years service with the Defence Forces, his Peace Medal for overseas service, his centenary medal for service during 2016 and medals for his service overseas in Lebanon and Syria.

Attached to the 2nd Field Engineers Corps in Athlone, Cpl Rattigan described achieving the rank of corporal as his career highlight to date, and said that the course was very difficult.

The course is newly-developed and was delivered over three modules.

Cpl Leah Dolan from Ballinasloe agreed that the course was tough, but said the members of the two platoons got on well and worked well together. Currently attached to the 1st Battalion in Galway, Cpl Dolan plans to undertake her first overseas tour of duty in Lebanon in November with the 6th Infantry Battalion.

"I'm nervous and excited about it," she said. "It will be my first overseas trip and I'll be going as a corporal but there are others from the course going."

She said she would encourage others to join the Army and said: "I've really enjoyed Army life. I went on the right path for me, I came straight in after school."

The 41 soldiers who achieved the rank of corporal at Friday's passing out ceremony were inspected by the General Officer Commanding the 2nd Brigade, Brigadier General Stephen Ryan.

Brig Gen Ryan told the families and friends of the soldiers: "The standards I have seen today are excellent, in terms of dress, deportment and the small bits of drills we saw is outstanding."

He said they had undertaken a long and arduous training course, which included night-time exercises, patrols, and light firing exercises.

"You deserve our thanks and gratitude. The efforts you put in were superb," he said. "You collectively represent everything that is good about Irish society and modern Ireland. You have a strong reputation to uphold at home and overseas."