Page 28 - Signal Summer 2019

| RETENTION |
“It was a Difficult but Necessary
Decision”
SIGNAL talks to Commandant (Ret’d) Declan Sheridan, who recently made the difficult de- cision to retire from his defence forces career due to the direction of the organisation and work life considerations that made his continued service untenable. He gives his personal perspective on the HR realities within the Defence Forces and the impact on personnel.
What were best aspects of your military career?
For me it has been the people that I met along the way who you would immediately turn to in good times or bad. There is a special friendship and understanding that is quite unique to the military sphere. I met and got to know some great characters, leaders and mentors in the Defence Forces and true friends for life. I also believe that the personal, life and leadership development formed in the Cadet School has been a key enabler to the success of Officers both inside and outside of the organisation.
Why did you leave and was it something which you took a long time to consider?
It was a difficult but necessary decision to make. Over the last ten years of my military career I was based at home for four which was quite challenging with a young family. We investigated the option of relocating to the east side of the country but it wasn’t a viable option. This meant spending considerable time away from home and on the road, which presents its own economic and personal demands. This situation was far from unique to me and had become the norm for many across the organisation. It was also difficult to see the way the organisation was going in terms of pay and conditions for other ranks. I was company commander for recruits in Donegal and couldn’t help but think about their future and what it looked like. These are exceptional young men and women who are hugely committed and placing their trust in the state to provide for a reasonable standard of living but the reality is something different.
Comdt (Ret’d) Declan Sheridan
Front Row: Comdt Richard Kilfeather, Comdt Jerry Jordan (RDF), Comdt Declan Sheridan, Mr Hilary Beirne, Lt Col Flynn, Lt Col Peter Keenan, Comdt John Anderson, Comdt Fintan Dunne
44 | | SUMMER ‘19 |