Corporal Sinead Carolan, Equitation School, McKee Barracks; Corporal Emma Hannon, DFTC,The Curragh; Corporal Susan Lawlor, Sarsfield Barracks and Private Emma Ging, DFTC, The Curragh who was one of the 200 members of the Irish Defence Forces conferred today at a special ceremony at the Institute of Technology Carlow (IT Carlow) in what was the largest military graduation from a third-level Institute in the history of the State. 224 graduates – all Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO) who completed courses for promotion to the ranks of Corporal, Sergeant and Senior NCO – were awarded with Bachelor degrees and Certificates in Leadership, Management and Defence Studies (LMDS) through an academic collaboration between IT Carlow and the Irish Defence Forces. Some 40 of the graduates were conferred in absentia as they are currently serving overseas in Golan Heights, Lebanon and with the EU Battle Group training exercise in Sweden. The collaborative partnership allows members of the Defence Forces to achieve formal education qualifications through career advancement training and validates the training and learning acquired throughout their military careers.