VIDEO: Clara soldier ready for six-month mission in Syria
Having previously served overseas in Chad and Lebanon, Clara native Corporal Paul Deehan is getting ready to depart on Tuesday next for his latest tour of duty in Syria.
Corporal Deehan is one of 130 Irish Defence Forces personnel taking part in the latest peacekeeping mission to the Golan Heights, where they will serve as part of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF).
Speaking to the Offaly Independent, Corporal Deehan said this would be a big year ahead both professionally and personally.
He is living in Mullingar, where he is engaged to local woman Rachel Plunkett, and the couple are planning to tie the knot after he returns home next year.
"I would be a bit of a 'home bird'. I'm very close to my family, and it's a little bit harder leaving this time, as I'm getting married," he said.
"At the same time, once I get out there I will enjoy it. It's only six months. It's a drop in the ocean in comparison to the rest of my life."
You can watch our video with Corporal Deehan here:
The Offaly man, who is stationed in Athlone's Custume Barracks, joined the Defence Forces in 2007.
"Ever since I was coming up towards doing my Leaving Cert, I always wanted to go into the Defence Forces or go into the guards," he explained.
"The guards came up. I went for it and I didn't get it. I planned on going for it again, but in the meantime the Defence Forces came around, I went for that, and I haven't looked back since."
He has recently been taking steps to advance his career. Last summer, he completed his Potential Non Commissioned Officer course, which is designed to teach the fundamentals of leadership and is described as the first step up the Defence Forces career ladder.
Corporal Deehan's previous experiences of serving abroad came in the central African country of Chad in 2009 and in Lebanon in 2020.
"I was 21 when I went to Chad. I was very young and very naive, but it was a great experience. Chad was a much different experience, compared to Lebanon, but looking back I really enjoyed my time over there.
"When I went to Lebanon we were in the height of the pandemic, and everyone was in lockdown at the time."
The Golan Heights is situated between Syria and Israel, and Corporal Deehan explained that the Irish troops' role would be to help maintain stability between the two sides.
"It's an OMR mission, which means observing, monitoring and reporting. Basically we're there to make sure the Israeilis and Syria are not violating their agreement. That will be our main role."
Corporal Deehan himself will be a section commander, with five people working under him.
"We will be doing a lot of patrols. My job will be to prepare the troops for when we're going out on patrol, and showing them the route we're going to be taking, which is very important for the drivers."
With his wedding on the horizon, he will have a big milestone to look forward to when he comes home next year.
"My girlfriend when I was going to the Leb' is now my fiancée, but we made sure we got most of the wedding stuff organised before I went," he said.
"I'll be home in April and I'll have three months to finalise the last few details. So, yeah, it's an exciting year ahead."
The 66th Infantry Group deploying to Syria will be under the command of Naas resident Lieutenant Colonel David McNamara.
The 130 personnel in the group consists of 14 officers, 115 enlisted personnel and one chaplain. A total of 34 of those deploying on the trip will be on their first tour of duty overseas.