Four local army recruits celebrate 'passing out' in Custume Barracks

Four local army recruits were among a 27-strong 2-3 Star Platoon who have completed an intensive 12-week training course and celebrated with a military parade in Custume Barracks Athlone on Friday last.

The recruits will now join units across the Defence Forces and Air Corps and continue their professional development to progress in their military careers.

A soldier is considered to be a fully trained member of the Defence Forces when they achieve a 3 Star Private rank and can be considered for overseas duty as part of their new role.

The new 3 Star Privates were under the guidance of Platoon Commander Lieutenant Eoin Minagh and Officer in Charge of the Course, Captain Seamus Byrne, for the 12-week training course duration.

From Carricknaughton, Clonown, Private Patrick Hussey said the hard work of the three-month training course was "all worth it" as he passed out with his platoon colleagues.

"You were always on the go and there were difficult moments, but today makes it all worthwhile," Pte Hussey said.

The Private said the final 96-hour training exercise was "particularly tough", but he was delighted to have overcome the challenge and complete the course.

Private Hussey will now be based at Custume Barracks with the 2 Brigade Artillery Regiment as he looks forward to progressing his career in the Defence Forces.

Private Jack Curry said he was "delighted to be finished" the training course and now be "in a proper job" as a member of the Defence Forces.

The Private is carrying on a family tradition as his grandfather Austin Curry served as a Quartermaster in Custume Barracks for over 20 years.

From Monksland, Private Curry will be based in Custume Barracks as a member of the 6th Infantry Battalion.

"The course was very challenging, but I just kept my head down and got through it. It was great to make new friends on the course and we all helped each other get through the 12 weeks," Pte Curry said.

Private Tadhg Wallace is also carrying on a family connection with the Defence Forces in Custume Barracks Athlone.

His great great grandfather William Wallace came to serve in Custume Barracks in 1906, while his great grandfather, also William, was a driver with the Defence Forces based in Athlone.

Tadhg's grandfather, also named William, served as a Company Sergeant for 42 years in the 6th Infantry Battalion and his father Robbie has 28 years service with as a Private with the 6th Infantry Battalion.

Tadhg said he was "extremely proud" to be carrying on the family connection with the Defence Forces and commended his colleagues for the all the work they put in during the 12 week course.

"On the whole it was a pretty intense 12 weeks but we were also helping each other with morale with the aim of getting through each exercise. We were on site here at Custume Barracks for five weeks, but the course had a lot of challenging aspects to it, so it's just great to have passed out today," Private Wallace said.

Private Alex Kreuer said the camaraderie amongst the troops enabled the soldiers to overcome all the exercises as part of the training course.

From Clonbrusk, Private Kreuer said there were times during the course when all the soldiers "relied on each other for support", particularly when the "going got tough".

"We had a great platoon and that made the difference when it was needed," Private Kreuer added.

As a member of the 2 Brigade Artillery Regiment in Custume Barracks he is looking towards a "bright future" in the Defence Forces and seeing where his army career "can take me".

Family members and friends gathered in Custume Barracks to view the military parade as Brigadier General Stephen Ryan addressed the new 3 star Private soldiers.

The Brigadier General congratulated the soldiers on parade for their "collective efforts" over the physical and mental training.

"Serving in the Defence Forces is not for everyone and is not to be taken lightly. It comes with a large degree of responsibility," Brigadier General said.

He acknowledged the diversity amongst the soldiers on the military parade, citing that they hailed from "14 different counties" with two new 3 Star Privates from "Latvia and Poland".

"This is a true reflection on modern Irish society and what we have before us, I believe is the best of our society today," he added.

Brigadier General Ryan informed the 27 soldiers that they had a "very strong and proud reputation to uphold at home and overseas" as members of the Defence Forces.

"In your careers to date you have learned about teamwork, discipline, fitness and resilience. As soldiers you also have to take into account the core values of the Defence Forces - physical and moral courage, loyalty to the State and to one's self, respect, integrity and patriotism.

"These attributes are the cornerstone of all we do in the Defence Forces so I am calling on you to uphold these values as you continue your career in the army," the Brigadier General said.

Brigadier General Ryan also commended the families of the new 3 Star Privates hoping they too "felt the pride" of the soldiers passing out in the military parade.

Concluding, he described the fully qualified soldiers as being the "best of the best", all of whom had "very bright futures to come".