Thinking of joining the RDF

concussion

theirishguy wrote: »

any one hear anything from the 33 reserve infantry battalion in regards of recruiting?

Ring them and see, their contact details are on the link I poster earlier.
They can also be found here

http://www.1bderdf.com/33infbn.htm

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

Any recruitment going on in the Greystones area? I was in the reserves for 5 years and got an active discharge, I was in college and couldn't attend training in my final year. I was in the 10th Inf in Carlow. Any suggestions would be great, thanks

abcdggs

Any more information on the recruitment freeze?

DubMedic

abcdggs wrote: »

Any more information on the recruitment freeze?

www.military.ie.

portroe10

I have read that the upper age limit of 35 for the RDF can be waived, does anyone have any info on this. I was in the FCA a long time ago 1986-1988 and was in the Cavalry in the US Army 1999-2005 (04 to 05 was in Iraq). I am moving back to Ireland next summer and was interested in the Cav unit in Dublin.

concussion

All covered by Admin Instruction R5

Section 6 wrote:

To be eligible for enlistment, applicant’s must:-

(a) be not less than 17 years and not more than 35 years of age, provided, however,
that applicants in the following categories shall be eligible for enlistment:-

(i) former members of the Permanent Defence Force who have had not less
than one year’s full-time military service and who are not more than 40
years of age on offering themselves for enlistment;

(ii) former members of the Permanent Defence Force who, immediately prior to discharge, held the rank of Sergeant or Petty Officer as appropriate or higher non-commissioned rank and who are not more than 45 years of age
on offering themselves for enlistment;

or

Section 27, Paragraph 2 (b) wrote:

(b) A person (including a reservist) who is in possession of a university degree or diploma or an equivalent qualification, or who possesses other special qualifications of military value, may, subject to the existence of a vacancy in Establishments for which his particular qualifications are appropriate, be nominated to be appointed to be an officer of the Reserve Defence Force provided that they -

(i) are not more than forty-five years of age on the date on which they are examined by the Interview Board referred to in subparagraph (iii) hereunder;

(ii) have a medical classification not lower than - year of birth - 22 - 512 - as defined in Defence Force Regulations A.12 (Part VI), and

(iii) is recommended by an Interview Board nominated by the Chief of Staff.

No person shall, however, be nominated to be appointed to be an officer under the provisions of this subparagraph to fill a post as Engineer Officer in the Army Reserve unless they hold a university degree in Engineering or a university degree in Architecture or is a Member of the Royal Institute
of Architects of Ireland or a Corporate Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers of Ireland or a Graduate member of the Institute of Electrical Engineers or of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (who was elected or transferred to such Corporate or Graduate membership as a result of
passing the examinations prescribed and conducted by these Institutions).

portroe10

Thanks for the info Concussion. I have a Business Degree from an American University and 6 years of Cavaly experience. I will be 42 when I move back to Ireland and am still in excellent physical shape (I run 6 miles per day). So it sounds like the officer route may be the way to go. I was chosen to go to OCS (Officer Canditate School) while in the US Army but ended up deployed to Iraq instead.

concussion

Direct entry as an officer would be dependant on there being a vacancy for which you are qualified due to your degree; usually this is for medical doctors and engineers. I'll look through CS4 and see if there are positions requiring business degrees but I don't think theres much of a chance to be honest.

This is a real shame as someone with your experience would be a huge asset to any unit.

portroe10

Thanks again Concussion. I could try visiting a unit and talking to them when I move home and see if they could allow me to join with my US Army experience in lieu of PDF experience. I see the upper age limit for prior PDF is 45, I may be worth speaking with them. If not, there's always the Coast Guard.

concussion

RNLI, mountain rescue or Civil Defence could be worth looking into aswell; best of luck anyway, no harm in enquiring anyway.

portroe10

I will check into all of them......I need my adrenaline fix......lol.

Ghestos

just want to ask couple of questions,maybe they could sound stuped,but ow well...
I am doing now my leaveing cert last year,could i nly get at sat and sun to do my training there?or what days is it?i am thinking of joining rdf for now maybe few mounths and reading this topic it doesnt sound bad at all,sounds good to me...Could I join if I smoke and im not irish?But iam from Europe..I am doing some physical actvities,will that give me an advantage to get in little bit easier,or it just dont matter?

concussion

Ghestos wrote: »

just want to ask couple of questions,maybe they could sound stuped,but ow well...
I am doing now my leaveing cert last year,could i nly get at sat and sun to do my training there?or what days is it?

You will need to attend weekly training (Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday depending on your unit) in order to be eligible to attend Recruit Training over the summer. There are no issues with missing weekly parades in the run up to the exams but you couldn't miss the whole year. In any case, three hours on a week night isn't much out of your study time, and gives you a chance to think about something other than your exams.

Ghestos wrote: »

Could I join if I smoke

Yes

Ghestos wrote: »

and im not irish?But iam from Europe

Are you an EU citizen? Non-EU citizens need three years unbroken and legal residency in the State plus a Certificate of Residency.

Ghestos wrote: »

..I am doing some physical actvities,will that give me an advantage to get in little bit easier,or it just dont matter?

It will be of no advantage whatsoever unfortunately. You will train as hard as the weakest man :mad:

Doylers

I sent an email today to see if they had any news. see below.


"Hi Sean
There is a recruiting ban at present but it is expecetd to be ease shortly conctact your local centre they will help you ph 051 374425

regards "

I also rang my local unit(33 Reserve Infantry Battalion) and he said he doesnt have a clue when they will be recruiting and to ask Brian cowen or get them to stop dumping money into banks

I really want to join I have so much free time that I could dedicate to the RDF.

Nuttzz

portroe10 wrote: »

Thanks for the info Concussion. I have a Business Degree from an American University and 6 years of Cavaly experience. I will be 42 when I move back to Ireland and am still in excellent physical shape (I run 6 miles per day). So it sounds like the officer route may be the way to go. I was chosen to go to OCS (Officer Canditate School) while in the US Army but ended up deployed to Iraq instead.

You wouldnt get in via the officer route, RDF units are very clicky about who they promote, and some outside isnt going to be parachuted in despite his experience.

I trained in the RDF (fca) as it was then with an ex dutch marine, despite his experience he started life as a recruit (and left about a year later when he realised he had been sold a pup)

concussion

Doylers - that email is certainly news to me. As of last week, we were accepting applicants, having been allocated x number of recruit places. I will confirm at training this week.

Nuttzz - while I agree with your post, I do sense some shift since promotion on seniority was replaced with promotion on aptitude/courses/commitment etc. I have seen it with NCO's but haven't yet seen it with commisioned officers. Maybe in a few years we'll see those with extensive military skills being welcomed into the organisation.

Doylers

concussion wrote: »

Doylers - that email is certainly news to me. As of last week, we were accepting applicants, having been allocated x number of recruit places. I will confirm at training this week.

So you are taking people?? I seem to be getting conflicting information from people so I dont know what exactly is the current situation is.

concussion

As of last week, yes. We have 4 times more applicants than places so we are applying to Bde. for more I believe. Will confirm more when I have it.

Doylers

concussion wrote: »

As of last week, yes. We have 4 times more applicants than places so we are applying to Bde. for more I believe. Will confirm more when I have it.

Ok I see, and by applicants do you mean people who have handed in forms and stuff our just people who have shown an interest. I have gave in my name and number, but is there anything else I can do?

concussion

People who have filled in, or who will soon be returning, their paperwork.

I would go up to the barracks on a training night and talk to the recruiting staff there, they should give you a better idea. Another option, if you have transport, would be 31 Cav based in Clonmel. Either way, if you do go up and get paperwork, but think they won't call you back, just tell them you can't remember your PPSN or something. Once they have sent off the documents it could be tricky joining another unit.

Doylers

concussion wrote: »

People who have filled in, or who will soon be returning, their paperwork.

I would go up to the barracks on a training night and talk to the recruiting staff there, they should give you a better idea. Another option, if you have transport, would be 31 Cav based in Clonmel. Either way, if you do go up and get paperwork, but think they won't call you back, just tell them you can't remember your PPSN or something. Once they have sent off the documents it could be tricky joining another unit.

So were they still taking forms even when recruiting was stopped??? So should I go get the forms and had them in and keep on at them ? Tbh Im a student with no job, I couldn't afford the petrol costs of driving to clonmel

concussion

If you've no other options besides your local unit I would call up and find out. If they're unsure, ask to get paperwork sent off and see if you can continue training with them in the meantime. I have no idea if other units have vacancies for recruits and, if they have, how many applicants they have or what they are doing with them.

concussion

Didn't get a chance to confirm last night, however we still have potential recruits parading so I'm assuming we have been approved x number of recruits this year.

mr tatz

de5p0i1er wrote: »

Why are the taxpayers of this country been made fork out there hard earned cash to let a bunch of teenagers drink cheap booze and get free combats. The day there called up to defend the country I'll start flying the enemy flag there a joke.

i as a serving member of the RDF will be the first to admit that there are alot of eejits in the reserve who i wouldnt send for milk never mind ask them to defend a country! having said this i strongly disagree that we go for the drink or gear! the cheap drink is a bonus but the clothing we are issued is a "uniform" and not some fashion accesory we are there to take advantage of!

there are plenty of highly skilled members of the rdf! I myself am a 3*, marksman on steyr and usp, i also have an AF 154! there are plenty of other soldiers with these skills or status and more so as irishguy said, There is allot of highly trained extremely dedicated people in the RDF, I would gladly entrust my life with!

the_chin 58

hi im in limerick at the moment and me and my friend were thinking of joing the army that is in limerick and we were just wondering wat is the pay like and what type of things happen during the years whenn we are there

concussion

Have you read this thread from Page 6?

Pay details can be found here
http://www.military.ie/careers/pay/index.htm

the_chin 58

thank you very much for the link it helped alot

richy1

hi.... I applied for the rdf last year, got a text to say i have hearing test and medical test on saturday. i was wondering when will i begin my training, just need a rough idea, and will it be weekends or evenings that i will be training

concussion

Contact your prospective unit.

deise go deo

Doylers wrote: »

Ok I see, and by applicants do you mean people who have handed in forms and stuff our just people who have shown an interest. I have gave in my name and number, but is there anything else I can do?

Hi Doylers, Are you in the City or closer to Dungarvan? I am in the Dungarvan Company, Best thing you can do would be to call into the center on a training night and have a chat with the Cadre staff, (Sargent who dose everything)

deise go deo

richy1 wrote: »

hi.... I applied for the rdf last year, got a text to say i have hearing test and medical test on saturday. i was wondering when will i begin my training, just need a rough idea, and will it be weekends or evenings that i will be training

They started recruiting again? Great,

Training will be once a week, (Usually Tuesday/Wednesday night) With a few Saturdays now and again, There will be Full time training over the summer, Usually 2 weeks.

Doylers

deise go deo wrote: »

Hi Doylers, Are you in the City or closer to Dungarvan? I am in the Dungarvan Company, Best thing you can do would be to call into the center on a training night and have a chat with the Cadre staff, (Sargent who dose everything)

Hi deise go deo, im in the city, I have all my forums in since October so im waiting for a call back now once they all clear.

richy1

whats the story with being in college and being in the rdf. is it ok to miss the midweek trainings

the monk5845

im in the rdf and in college and i miss alot of wednesday nights but its not too bad if you get down the odd night just to keep up with what is being done and go to any weekends or camps that are on and it should be fine

concussion

If you don't meet the requisites for Gratuity, you get put on the non-effective list. This involves a minimum of training nights. Talk to your unit about parading with a local unit while you're at college, that's what most people do.

Teangalad

Slightly o/t

Well, this thread brings back some great memories, 13 years ago I left Ireland and one of the things I miss the most was the FCA/RDF as it is called now.Despite all the jibes about the Free Clothes Association/ weekend warriors etc it was the best crack ever.As mentioned before there are a few knobs involved but what organization dose'nt have them, to this day though I am still in contact via my brother with lads that I served with.Luckily for my brother and I we happened to be in the 8th FAR 21bty Heavy mortars when they used to be based in Ballincollig,Cork.The reason I say lucky is because if any serving members of the RDF here are in the Artillery regiments then I am sure they would agree that there is nothing quite like a night shoot/exercise in the Glen in the summer in conjunction with the PDF and eventhough we were in the Artillery we were trained in a lot of the small arms,FN, Bren , BaP , Gustav and all the nessecary tactics ....If you are an adrenalin junkie then I suspect this will get the blood pumping.Also it is nice at beating the PDF at their jobs:)

In short any one even considering joining don't think twice about it but be careful choosing which Reg /Brigade you join, we were living in mahon at the time and it was worth it travelling to the other side of the city to get the extra kick.( luckily for us the Cadre used to organise a truck to pick us up)


Ah those were the Days!!!!!

phil devlin

does anyone know if any units in the dublin wicklow area are recuirting. Could anyone give some info was in the 62MP and had to leave cuz of collage and would love to get back into it

concussion

Were you discharged or did you simply not attend training for a while? Contact details for all units can be found on rdf.ie

Sean.F

What age do you have be to join the FCA and is there any unit,regiment in Cork that do it sounds really good as I am thinking joining when I am older.

Cryos

phil devlin wrote: »

does anyone know if any units in the dublin wicklow area are recuirting. Could anyone give some info was in the 62MP and had to leave cuz of collage and would love to get back into it

If you were discharged on legitimate grounds you might be able to get some stuff back (i think theres a two year limit). Security clearance at the moment is taking about 4/5 months. (if you've been out a year your clearance would of lapsed)

62nd MP's and 62nd CIS are still actively looking for people.

CIS Parade Tuesday @ 20:00 in Rathmines, i think MP's are Wednesday at 20:00.

Cryos

Sean.F wrote: »

What age do you have be to join the FCA and is there any unit,regiment in Cork that do it sounds really good as I am thinking joining when I am older.

RDF (Army or Navy) is 17 with Consent.

In around cork there are:
HQ Company, 34 Reserve Infantry Battalion
No 1 Gun Battery, 31 Reserve Artillery Regiment
D Troop, 31 Reserve Cavalry Squadron
3 Field Engr Pln, Field Support Pln, 31 Reserve Engineer Company
Network Systems Platoon, 31 Reserve CIS Company
Provost Platoon, 31 Reserve Military Police Company
Transport Company, 31 Reserve Logistics Battalion

I would encourage if you want something different to look at CIS, MP's or Engineers. Nothing wrong with the rest but generally you get to do all the infantry training + the training relevant to the unit.

Have a look on http://www.rdf.ie/maps/ for contact details; Encourage you find out when the unit parades and call up and see what its all about.

I would encourage you if you are interested to have a serious go at it, i have found that i have got alot more out of the RDF than i have put in; Some valuable team building skills and tech skills i have gained have translated into more skill in my civi job.

Sean.F

Crap I'm only sixteen yet but would they refuse me for that even with parental consent. And what would be the practices of the HQ Company, 34 Reserve Infantry Battalion and is there any requirements for the RDA.

Cryos

As far as i am aware, you would have to be 17 filling out the forms with consent; Talk to the people in the baracks and see.

Infantry is where alot of people start, there is some great info in general here:
http://www.62infantry.com/Useful_Info.shtml

Im not sure if there is a specific website for 34th (alot of corps dont have websites, my own included), but all training would be the same. You can always transfer if you find Infantry not to your liking or not challenging enough.

shanec1928

Sean.F wrote: »

Crap I'm only sixteen yet but would they refuse me for that even with parental consent. And what would be the practices of the HQ Company, 34 Reserve Infantry Battalion and is there any requirements for the RDA.

yes. only when your over 18 for it do you not need parental consent.if youl be 17 in a few months they will probably send your forms trough as by the time they come back you will be 17

richy1

Hi.. I have now been recruited into the RDF. Have my army number and all that. when roughly will the training begin?

concussion

This is another question I have to answer with - contact your unit. You should be starting your syllabus immediately though.

Cryos

richy1 wrote: »

Hi.. I have now been recruited into the RDF. Have my army number and all that. when roughly will the training begin?

As with concussion, the only way to find out is with your unit. which i presume you should be attending weekly anyway ?

RMD

Lads anyone have a regiment they would like to recommend from Brugha barracks? I'm interested in entering one of the infantry regiments, I do know there is the stereotype the RDF is nothing more than a bunch of idiots shooting guns and playing soldier in the fields, but if there any is any particular regiment that has a name for professionalism and it's soldiers taking what they do seriously, please point me the right way.

I'm in no way saying everyone is like this, it's a small minority. I just don't want to end up in a regiment full of idiots and people who couldn't care to be there other than that they might get to fire a gun.

Cryos

richy1 wrote: »

Hi.. I have now been recruited into the RDF. Have my army number and all that. when roughly will the training begin?

RMD wrote: »

Lads anyone have a regiment they would like to recommend from Brugha barracks? I'm interested in entering one of the infantry regiments, I do know there is the stereotype the RDF is nothing more than a bunch of idiots shooting guns and playing soldier in the fields, but if there any is any particular regiment that has a name for professionalism and it's soldiers taking what they do seriously, please point me the right way.

I'm in no way saying everyone is like this, it's a small minority. I just don't want to end up in a regiment full of idiots and people who couldn't care to be there other than that they might get to fire a gun.

There is a small % of full times that give a hard time, i dont think anyone in the rdf expects to be as good as or better than the PDF (there are people in the RDF that do expect this), the skills at using the equipment are relative to the 2 or so hours a week training is provided. By and large your experience will be positive.

Infantry is fine; But have a look at the following if you have any of these interests:

Interest in Policing or law enforcement - Military Police
Interest in Technology / Radio / Communications - CIS
Interest in Engineering - Engineers
Interest in Medical - Medical Corps

Other options are logistics and Cavalry

http://www.rdf.ie/maps/

have a look on the website, read what each corp does and see if any are of more interest to you. Keep in mind with each of the corps your normally do most of infantry training then alot of the core unit specialties (Policing and law in MP's; Radio Apparatus in CIS etc...

davetherave

Since you are looking at Cathal Brugha, have you considered any of the non-infantry companys, MP's, Signals, air Defence or the Cav?
I can't speak from personal experience not being in any of those myself, but as you put it people who just want to fire a gun I think would be less likely to join one of them.