FCA Medical Requirements ?

MDR

I am 24 and have thought for a while about joining the FCA, partially because I think I would look cute in the uniform and paritially because I am a patriot (and enjoy outdoor pursuits). I think it is something I culd be enthusiastic about.

Now comes the rub, I am very poorily sighted, I suffer from a condition called KERATOCONUS . Meaning I am slightly shortsighted in one eye and extremely shortsighted in the other. This is not correctable with glasses, but is correctable by a sophisicated contact lense system (not the sort of thing you can put in the field).

So heres the question, am I a) Too old/unfit to join or b) too blind to join ? Or is there hope left in the old bones yet ?

Gordon

Try this
http://defence.skynet.ie/army/index.php?page=bases

I may move this somewhere else soon...

MDR

doesn't seem to want to let me post ...

Gordon

Give them a phone.

Scruff

i've been thinking of doing the same thing myself. 24 & shortsited but have always though of joining the FCA. would be interested in seeing if i could if i ain't too blind or old either.

Typedef

I'm thinking of joining the FCA wierdly enough.

I'm 22 ...... my measurements are.....

MDR

Sent em an email ...

Dampsquid

I think they have a age limit, you may be too old!

Typedef

You have to be between 18 and 35.
So no you aren't too old.

MDR

Yeah,

but you don't want to turn up to training and find that there is 40 x 17 year olds and then you ....

just call me Papa Smurf ...

Victor

I'm not sure if there are any fitness requirements per se (I'm sure the will insist you have 2 legs, arms, eyes, ears, etc) you can join at any time up to age 35. I suspect the medical is more to determine your current state of health than anything else. Also try www.military.ie , the official website.

Caesar_Bojangle

F.C.A IS REGRETFULLY DEAD

Its now known as the Regional.Defence.Force or RDF, they gave a lecture in my year last week. Heres the information you require.
No restrictions really on height as long as you are more than 5ft6 male and reasonably fit, they except people with spectacles as the guy giving the talk was half blind and wore Weezer style specs. You must be over 17 prior to some month, cant recall which month as i was having a sleep, and be under 30 or 35. But my friend was refused admission as he is colour blind but my other friend with specs got in whos short sighted so he only needs them for distance.

I would have joined but you get no dogtags which is pretty buncombe.

Victor

Originally posted by Caesar_Bojangle
Its now known as the Regional.Defence.Force

You mean Reserve Defence Force.

http://www.military.ie/reserves/fca_recruiting.htm

"...applicants ... must satisfy the Attesting Officer that they possess such mental and physical qualifications as may from time to time be laid down.

See http://www.military.ie/pr/faq.htm for the PDF requirements.

PiE

Was considering signing up myself, but what I want to know is do you have to BE physically fit to join or do they GET you fit?

I'm not overweight but I'm seriously out of shape

MDR

Contact the following:

Directorate of Reserve Forces

052-21222


All the best.

:rolleyes:

Fidelis

Originally posted by PiE
Was considering signing up myself, but what I want to know is do you have to BE physically fit to join or do they GET you fit?

Nah, about once a year you go for a 10m trek across Table Mountain in full combat gear. Other than that, there's no physical fitness routines.

PiE

So theres no physical training involved?

What do they do every week then?!

spaczed

MDR i don't think they really mind at the medical as long as you can pass the hearing test ( they even let you have a second go- "uhh, yeh i was listening to loud music/using headphones this week- how stupid of me"::rolleyes: ).
If you can see the chart, however you do it, and tell them that you wear contacts, there shouldn't be any problem - in my experience they do their very best to get willing applicants in, they don't want to turn you away.

ah yes, physical exercise! well you might get a (PT physical training) instructor or maybe a willing/qualified officer when you're on annual camp to do something with you, or a lecture/talk on getting fit sometime but really the most you do is some marching-recruit training and the walk with pack when you're out on the ground doing a basecamp or section attack exercise.
Age is nothing - i personally know a 32 year old recruit.

What do they do every week then?!

great fun- messin around with guns, ah no seriously training, weapon handling, and tactics.

irishguy

I have been in it for the past 3 years, I am a corporal :cool: .its a great laugh I would recommend you joining an infantry unit they get to do allot of cool stuff also the medics get to go on loads of camps. They aren’t that strict on eye sight but they are REALLY strict on hearing, wit all the claims. You should just ask to go up to training with someone you know that’s in it or contact your local barracks .we do loads of things tatics,medical tranining,survival training,wepons [possibly the cools part,they are also starting other activites such as absailing,rowing,mountaining climbing and they allready do skydiving + loads more,if you fail the medical you have lost notting, if you have any other questions I would be delighted to answer them btw the RDF represantiave website is http://www.rdfra.ie they have some information on goings on in the rdf

PiE

Cheers for the info... think I might just get off my arse and do it :]

Er... actually, do I ring up and ask for a form or is there recruitment office(s) in Dublin? Where? :]

Victor

Just show up at your local barracks on a training night.

irishguy

just ring and tell yhem you want to join up and they will tell you what units are taking people on and what night to go

Caesar_Bojangle

You cant have long hair and must be clean shaven so i was told but it could be utter crap.

irishguy whats the situation with women, i know they can join but are the men and women devised into separate units come training days.

irishguy

Ya u have 2 be clean shaven and no long hair [must be tied up] no jewlery.men and women are put together at all times except wit accommodation.

Synkronite

Hey- Im in the FCA too down here in Cork- Im with the MPs so we get to pull the lame infantry men (haha) Nah Im messing, its a great laugh, you dont have to be specifically fit, but do expect some running and long marches when you join. Just remember though, most of your officers will be more unfit than you so you're okay!

We also go on camps- I do about 3-4 a year, handy money tax free, and we get to do loadsa stuff. Military and social!

Id definately say to go for it!

<edit

Just to point out- I have long hair (according to my seniors anyways) Probably even below my chin, but I have my hair shaved from the sides and the back, so I can hide it all in my beret when Im with them- its only when it comes off do they make fun!

Clean shaved and Shiny boots are a must!

irishguy

i am in the MPs in limerick ,3-4 camps a year ye ar spoiled we only get 1 or 2 tops

Caesar_Bojangle

Originally posted by irishguy
men and women are put together at all times except wit accommodation.

ahh, you spoilt any chance i had of joining

irishguy

well this a good laugh on camp+ its €2.05 a pint and there is quite a few women in it.[and some fine birds esp in the cork mps ]

po0k

I was in it (suppose I still am - haven't been training in about 3 years) for about 2 years, got to 3* Private.
We never once went on tactics (had a bit of a crawl around in the grass after a 5mile march at 9am to get to the range.
The craic was excellent.
I'd seriously reccomdend anyone to join.
Great craic.
You don't have to be terribly fit, they won't *get you fit* you'll just feel worse for it.
Thankfully when I joined I was at my fittest and enjoyed every minute of it.
The boots, hair, uniform and clean-shaven-ness(?) are especially important when you're starting out, you'll be brought up on it everytime, cos it's fun for the NCOs to do it
But don't take it to heart.
Once you get your TOETs done on your first weapon (the Styer now, I did the FN - gorgeous weapon to fire, strip and clean) you'll be well into the swing of things and you'll sail through.
Course, nowadays ye probably have the GPMG to lug about we had the Bren (again, gorgeous).
Cheap pints, plenty of experience to be had, well worth it, especially if you join up during school/college as you won't miss work then.

The cash is nice when you're young, but it's not anything spectacular but certainly a fúck-load more fun then sitting on a stool in a corner store on a saturday morning.

PiE

Ye get paid?!

This just keeps getting better and better! :]

( How much? :] )

Typedef

Who cares? They pay you, to learn how to use a gun....
Err I mean, in the national interest.

irishguy

well i think i got €500 ish for my last camp in june ,you get €110 gratuituy once a year payable at camp and i also get about €40 tech pay for training people.so its not a bad weeks work,i cant remember what you start at

Typedef

I've pretty much decided to give it a try, 'sometime' in the new year.

Go me.

MDR

me too ...

irishguy

when i metioned the money people got interested all of a sudden:D

MDR

money is neither here no there,
serving your country is much better reward,

*I hear the people vomiting already* ...

Typedef

I'd just like to quell rumours that learning to use a gun is anything to do with getting paid for it... I mean, umm.

In the national interest.

PiE

Just found out from two friends that joined last Tuesday, that next Tuesday is that last chance to sign up until after Christmas.

po0k

Am, people.
One thing.

Read the contract very carefully.

The change from FCA to RDF was not just cosmetic. There were alot of internal organisation changes too, particularly to do with how it integrates into the PDF (Permanent Defence Force - the Army).
I'm not completely sure, but once you reach a certain level of training you are elligle to be inducted into the PDF, even temporarily, in times of shortage. Now, whether this means you being thrown into battle on lands afar or simply bailing water out of houses/supervising school children (;))/domestic upkeep/security, I don't know.

Does anyone have any definite information on this situation?

Synkronite

The Reservists now get DPMs like the regular Permanent Defence Forces Personel

No seriously though- about joining the PDF on a temporary basis i know it is done now- but I dont think they can "force" you into doing it -UNLESS- the minister specifically invokes a call for all or part reserve units. That last happened in the 60s I think.

A friend of mine spent 3 weeks with the regular PDF this summer.