Page 37 - Signal Winter 2019

| RACO BDC 2019 |
Comdt Des Connolly, 1 Bde Chair
Cdr Gareth Mawdsley, RN briefing Conference on the benefits of the UK Armed Forces Pay Review Body
of the difficulties your troops are experiencing. Our membership also live that leadership challenge every day in their engagement with their staffs.
Additionally, Lt Col Tadhg Murray and his staff merit particular mention. C&A Branch have the unenviable task of walking the line between the Department, Senior Military Leadership and the Representative Associations. But it is readily accepted that the necessarily impartial efforts of Tadhg, Stephen Hall and both Branches are vital to the future rehabilitation of the Defence Forces.
Finally, I would like to extend our gratitude to Brig Gen Peter O’Halloran who will be retiring in the new year. Sir, thank you for your sterling efforts to effect change during your tenure as ACOS. You have always been fair in your dealings Sir, and while you have also always held a strong official line, your experience and expertise have made negotiations workable and realistic. A strong Assistant Chief of Staff is essential in this IR theatre and you have not been found wanting. Thank you Sir. And we look forward to working with your successor.
In conclusion, I would like to remind this gathering of the mission of Óglaigh na hÉireann, which is “to provide the military capability to defend Ireland and assigned interests internationally”. Our people are instrumental in ensuring that we continue to carry out our assigned roles..... and we must attract, train and keep them to do so.
Therefore, it is essential that we all continue to work together to address the current challenges facing the Members of RACO and the Defence Forces at large.
Abbreviated version of Conference Address by Comdt Conor King, RACO General Secretary:
“This year’s Biennial Delegate Conference unsurprisingly focuses on the current Retention Crisis gripping the Defence Forces, evidenced by the historically high level of turnover, and historically low strength. The issue of inadequate manning levels or gapping in operational units of the Defence Forces was highlighted in the RACO BDCs of 2015 and 2017, and the fact
Comdt Shane Keogh, RACO President addressing Conference
DCOS Sp and ACOS listening intently to the UK Armed Forces Pay Review Body presentation
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