Des FitzGerald is a self-employed defence consultant. He served for 33 years, most of it as a commissioned infantry officer. He was an Armoured Infantry Company Commander, Battlegroup Chief of Staff and deployed on a wide variety of operational tours and training posts abroad. He also served at the NCO Tactics Wing (Brecon) and was Chief Instructor of the Combined Arms Tactics Division. He has, some might say, an unhealthy interest in battlefields, military history and doctrine.