Des Macauley is the newest addition to ONE’s Veteran Support Officer (VSO) team and will be covering the Southeast Region.

Des’s Defence Forces career traversed over 37 years, serving in numerous units and barracks in the 1st Southern Brigade and the Defence Forces Training Centre (DFTC) Curragh areas. Des spent 20 years as a sergeant with the Defence Forces Personnel Support Services (PSS) team, his last post was in Stephen Barracks Kilkenny with the 3 Infantry Battalion.

Des has completed courses in counselling/psychotherapy, and addiction studies and is an advanced instructor in Critical Incident Stress Management with the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc. (ICISF), he has completed studies through Manchester University in Suicide and Self Harm and is also a qualified mediator. During his service in the PSS, Des conducted stress debriefs overseas in Lebanon, Kosovo, Bosnia, Liberia, Chad, and Syria.

Des left the Defence Forces in 2021 and has worked with Fire and Emergency Services throughout the country, providing training in Critical Incident Management/Critical Incident debriefing and peer support training, he has also worked with An Garda Síochána and the Irish Coast Guard. Des also worked as a counsellor and facilitator in a voluntary capacity with the charity Accord, the Catholic Marriage Care Service.

Des is delighted to be working with ONE as part of their Veteran Support Officer team, and getting out to meet Veterans, in the Southeast and helping and supporting those that need it. Des will be based in the South Dublin, Kildare, and West Wicklow areas.

About ONE: ONE supports the needs of Irish veterans by the provision of accommodation to homeless veterans and the provision of other advice and support through its nationwide network of Branches and Veteran Support Centres.

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