Work Experience Diary:
Student Name: Aoife Mahony
Class: TY B
Name and address of Employer: 2/Lt Cathal Mc Sweeney,
TY Coordinator,
A Company,
Mellows Barracks,
Renmore,
Galway.
Date of Work Experience: 23rd to 27th October
Job Title: Trainee Recruit
Job Description: As part of our weeks work experience we learned what its like for recruits and cadets to train with equipment for the first time.
We learned about the role of machinery in the Irish Defence .
We were involved in some of the physical army training during the week and learned about how important fitness is in the Irish Defence.
We also got to visit the Irish Air core on the outskirts of Dublin.
Finally we learned about one of the major factors within the army of serving time on foreign activities such as Peace Keeping and Training.
We also got to see full time Cadets on their first practical training in Oranmore Training grounds.
We got to learn and sample different types of equipment used my different members of the Army eg: Night vision equipment used by snipers and different guns used by different ranks in the army.
We also went on a tour of the Mellow Barracks museum.
Why I selected this work experience:
I decided to complete my work experience in the Irish Defence for the following reasons:
Diary of Work Experience:
Day: 1
Date: 23rd October
Start Time: 9 am
Finish Time: 4 pm
Training and Instructions: We were introduced to the barracks and our leader for the week, Sergeant Mc Sweeney. We were told about the running of the barracks and we had a lecture on the role of the Irish Defence and the different ranks within the army and how training differs between what level you enter the army at and how many careers there are within the army.
Work Undertaken: During the day we had a tour of the Barracks and we learned about the basic equipment each soldier carries.
We also went on a tour of the barracks museum and learned about when and why it was established.
We also learned about the different uniforms for different areas of the army, For example the Irish soldiers abroad on Peacekeeping missions wear different uniforms to soldiers from the United Nations.
Interactions with others: My work experience with the army was on a group level where groups of people from different schools in the area got the opportunity to sample life in the Irish army for the week. We also meet many soldiers from different areas and ranks of the army throughout the week and it was very interesting to hear the stories they had about training and over seas missions etc.
Skills that I improved: I learned that listening and following orders is a huge part of life both inside and outside training in the army whether it is with taking orders or learning from other soldiers past experiences
New Skills I developed: I learned about how intense the basic equipment each soldier must carry how lifting quite extreme weights is a daily requirement in training.
My Personal evaluation of the day: I personally really enjoyed the day, I enjoyed hearing about the overseas missions some of the soldiers have been on and what they have experienced, I also liked becoming aware of the physical strain your body comes under on a daily basis.
What I learned about myself: After the first day of the work experience, I learned that I am actually a lot more interested in joining the army then I thought. I also learned I am not afraid of handling equipment such as pistols and rifles and I also don’t have issues with weight strain which before my work experience I thought I would.
Diary of Work Experience:
Day: 3
Date: 25th October
Start Time: 9 am
Finish Time: 4pm
Training and Instructions: On the third day of our work experience we were told we would undergo the minimum requirement fitness test for entry into the army, We would see this years recruits on their first practical testing activity and to a Sniper/Tracker lesson.
Work undertaken: In the morning we under went the minimum requirement fitness test which was: 20 press ups in a minute, 20 sit ups in a minute and a 2.5 km run where we were graded in order of achievement after.
Later we got to travel to the Oranmore Firing and training range to watch this years recruits train in their first practical testing activity we also learned about the importance of camouflaging in activities like these.
In evening we meant with lieutenant Harte a high achieving Sniper in the Galway barracks, He thought use about sniper and tracker training and about all the ways trackers work to identify presence of others using certain signs.
Interactions with Others: During the day we learned the importance of taking orders and how to take critism. Most of the comments from members in charge after the fitness test was good.
Skills I improved: I improved my ability to take orders and to work hard in a competitive nature.
New skills I developed: I developed lots of skills used by snippers when working to track or gather evidence about people. I learned how to identify traces of people and how to judge the length of time which has passed since they have been there.
I also learned about tricks that can be used to trick trackers and misleading them with false information.
How others viewed my performance: The TY coordinator for the week was very impressed with my grading on the fitness test since I graded fifth overall and highest grading girl.
My personal Evaluation of the day: Personally this was my favourite day of the whole weeks work experience since one of my preferred areas of the army is the fitness and training side of it so having the chance to watch new recruits on training was a great experience. I also really enjoyed the sniper/tracker training as it is an area of the army which I would be really interested in.
What I learned about myself: From completing the fitness test I learned I am a lot more competitive then I thought I was. I also found out I am actually quiet suited to the army which I honestly didn’t expect.
Diary of Work Experience:
Day: 5
Date: 27th October
Start Time: 9 am
Finish Time: 1:30 pm
Training and Instructions: On the final day of our work experience we travelled to the Irish Aircore on the outskirts of Dublin city for a tour of the barracks.
Work Undertaken: On the tour of the barracks we learned about how and why the barracks were established. We got to go inside the Aircraft hangers and see some of the Machines whish the Irish Defence had on offer.
We also got to watch some of the trained helicopter drivers perform stunts in air which was amazing to see the skill of some soldiers are trained to.
Problems/challenges I encountered and how I overcame them: Overall during the week I found I didn’t come into contact with any problems and because I was working as part of a group it is much easier to get jobs done and one of the main things they are thought in the army is the importance of communication which helps to avoid problems.
My personal evaluation of the day: I personally really enjoyed the day, I got to see an area of the Irish Defence which I had not expected to see as part of my work experience I also got to learn a lot about over seas missions and how it’s a factor which you most defiantly need to take into account before joining the army and how mentally straining it is working in an environment unlike your home training ground.
What I learned about myself: I learned I am most defiantly not suited to the air core side of the Irish Defence because I do not like heights and the certain level of responsibility which comes with flying an aircraft.
Work Experience Review:
After my work experience;
Student Name: Aoife Mahony
Class: TY B
Name and address of Employer: 2/Lt Cathal Mc Sweeney,
TY Coordinator,
A Company,
Mellows Barracks,
Renmore,
Galway.
Date of Work Experience: 23rd to 27th October
Job Title: Trainee Recruit
Job Description: As part of our weeks work experience we learned what its like for recruits and cadets to train with equipment for the first time.
We learned about the role of machinery in the Irish Defence .
We were involved in some of the physical army training during the week and learned about how important fitness is in the Irish Defence.
We also got to visit the Irish Air core on the outskirts of Dublin.
Finally we learned about one of the major factors within the army of serving time on foreign activities such as Peace Keeping and Training.
We also got to see full time Cadets on their first practical training in Oranmore Training grounds.
We got to learn and sample different types of equipment used my different members of the Army eg: Night vision equipment used by snipers and different guns used by different ranks in the army.
We also went on a tour of the Mellow Barracks museum.
Why I selected this work experience:
I decided to complete my work experience in the Irish Defence for the following reasons:
- The high physicality of the life of a recruit/cadet is very suited to my interests in fitness and training.
- Many members of my family are members of the Irish Defence and this interested me in a career in the army.
- Many of my hobbies contributed to my suitability to work in the army like camogie (teaching me to work with a group and about the importance of high levels of fitness and stamina )
Diary of Work Experience:
Day: 1
Date: 23rd October
Start Time: 9 am
Finish Time: 4 pm
Training and Instructions: We were introduced to the barracks and our leader for the week, Sergeant Mc Sweeney. We were told about the running of the barracks and we had a lecture on the role of the Irish Defence and the different ranks within the army and how training differs between what level you enter the army at and how many careers there are within the army.
Work Undertaken: During the day we had a tour of the Barracks and we learned about the basic equipment each soldier carries.
We also went on a tour of the barracks museum and learned about when and why it was established.
We also learned about the different uniforms for different areas of the army, For example the Irish soldiers abroad on Peacekeeping missions wear different uniforms to soldiers from the United Nations.
Interactions with others: My work experience with the army was on a group level where groups of people from different schools in the area got the opportunity to sample life in the Irish army for the week. We also meet many soldiers from different areas and ranks of the army throughout the week and it was very interesting to hear the stories they had about training and over seas missions etc.
Skills that I improved: I learned that listening and following orders is a huge part of life both inside and outside training in the army whether it is with taking orders or learning from other soldiers past experiences
New Skills I developed: I learned about how intense the basic equipment each soldier must carry how lifting quite extreme weights is a daily requirement in training.
My Personal evaluation of the day: I personally really enjoyed the day, I enjoyed hearing about the overseas missions some of the soldiers have been on and what they have experienced, I also liked becoming aware of the physical strain your body comes under on a daily basis.
What I learned about myself: After the first day of the work experience, I learned that I am actually a lot more interested in joining the army then I thought. I also learned I am not afraid of handling equipment such as pistols and rifles and I also don’t have issues with weight strain which before my work experience I thought I would.
Diary of Work Experience:
Day: 3
Date: 25th October
Start Time: 9 am
Finish Time: 4pm
Training and Instructions: On the third day of our work experience we were told we would undergo the minimum requirement fitness test for entry into the army, We would see this years recruits on their first practical testing activity and to a Sniper/Tracker lesson.
Work undertaken: In the morning we under went the minimum requirement fitness test which was: 20 press ups in a minute, 20 sit ups in a minute and a 2.5 km run where we were graded in order of achievement after.
Later we got to travel to the Oranmore Firing and training range to watch this years recruits train in their first practical testing activity we also learned about the importance of camouflaging in activities like these.
In evening we meant with lieutenant Harte a high achieving Sniper in the Galway barracks, He thought use about sniper and tracker training and about all the ways trackers work to identify presence of others using certain signs.
Interactions with Others: During the day we learned the importance of taking orders and how to take critism. Most of the comments from members in charge after the fitness test was good.
Skills I improved: I improved my ability to take orders and to work hard in a competitive nature.
New skills I developed: I developed lots of skills used by snippers when working to track or gather evidence about people. I learned how to identify traces of people and how to judge the length of time which has passed since they have been there.
I also learned about tricks that can be used to trick trackers and misleading them with false information.
How others viewed my performance: The TY coordinator for the week was very impressed with my grading on the fitness test since I graded fifth overall and highest grading girl.
My personal Evaluation of the day: Personally this was my favourite day of the whole weeks work experience since one of my preferred areas of the army is the fitness and training side of it so having the chance to watch new recruits on training was a great experience. I also really enjoyed the sniper/tracker training as it is an area of the army which I would be really interested in.
What I learned about myself: From completing the fitness test I learned I am a lot more competitive then I thought I was. I also found out I am actually quiet suited to the army which I honestly didn’t expect.
Diary of Work Experience:
Day: 5
Date: 27th October
Start Time: 9 am
Finish Time: 1:30 pm
Training and Instructions: On the final day of our work experience we travelled to the Irish Aircore on the outskirts of Dublin city for a tour of the barracks.
Work Undertaken: On the tour of the barracks we learned about how and why the barracks were established. We got to go inside the Aircraft hangers and see some of the Machines whish the Irish Defence had on offer.
We also got to watch some of the trained helicopter drivers perform stunts in air which was amazing to see the skill of some soldiers are trained to.
Problems/challenges I encountered and how I overcame them: Overall during the week I found I didn’t come into contact with any problems and because I was working as part of a group it is much easier to get jobs done and one of the main things they are thought in the army is the importance of communication which helps to avoid problems.
My personal evaluation of the day: I personally really enjoyed the day, I got to see an area of the Irish Defence which I had not expected to see as part of my work experience I also got to learn a lot about over seas missions and how it’s a factor which you most defiantly need to take into account before joining the army and how mentally straining it is working in an environment unlike your home training ground.
What I learned about myself: I learned I am most defiantly not suited to the air core side of the Irish Defence because I do not like heights and the certain level of responsibility which comes with flying an aircraft.
Work Experience Review:
After my work experience;
- I can now properly consider the army as one of my career choice for after school .
- I feel as though I am suited to the work demand the army has to offer and I now know I am well capable of taking control under pressure.
- I feel as throughout the week I did not fail to complete the tasks asked of me.
- Overall I really enjoyed my week in the army and I feel like it is a work environment I would be very comfortable in.
- After the week I think I learned a lot about myself, that I am very competitive and determined and that I am also capable of working as part of a team or work alone.
- I didn’t come into contact with any difficulties throughout the week how ever I did expect a much more hands on working week which was not the case. The majority of the week was based around showing us and not much practical work.
- I learned a lot from the work experience itself, a lot about myself and a lot of things I didn’t know about the army and would have never considered if I never did this work experience, for example I didn’t know that you had to under go a test on your mental strength before entering the army and that you are assigned a partner who you have to look out for visa versa.
- After this weeks work experience the area of the army is defiantly a clear option to me as I really enjoyed my week.
- After this week I feel as though I have worked on many skills, for example; listening to others and taking orders and to be independent and do things for yourself.
- As part of my next work placement I plan to take to my other choice of careers after school; Agriculture. I plan to either find work experience in the area of agricultural business or veterinary.