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The Future of the Army Reserve - Discuss

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  • Originally posted by trellheim View Post
    mm not convinced, BUT it does make me think the DF should have a big badge NCO ( 1 off . , serves the same time as the COS ) for the whole force with the right to speak it as he saw it ( for both PDF and RDF ) .
    Agree, It may remove all the filtering that goes on as a issue progress up through the ranks to the COS

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    • Do they have a PDFORA setup or similiar?

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      • 24 jan

        636. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien Information on Jonathan O'Brien Zoom on Jonathan O'Brien asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence Information on Enda Kenny Zoom on Enda Kenny if the single force concept for the reorganisation of the Reserve Defence Forces has achieved its stated goals of 4,069 persons. [2695/17]

        637. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien Information on Jonathan O'Brien Zoom on Jonathan O'Brien asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence Information on Enda Kenny Zoom on Enda Kenny the figures for recruitment to the Reserve Defence Forces for each of the years 2013 to 2016. [2696/17]

        638. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien Information on Jonathan O'Brien Zoom on Jonathan O'Brien asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence Information on Enda Kenny Zoom on Enda Kenny the numbers in service and the number of discharges of the Reserve Defence Forces for each of the years 2013 to 2016. [2697/17]

        639. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien Information on Jonathan O'Brien Zoom on Jonathan O'Brien asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence Information on Enda Kenny Zoom on Enda Kenny if he plans to stand down the Reserve Defence Forces. [2698/17]

        Minister of State at the Department of Defence (Deputy Paul Kehoe): Information on Paul Kehoe Zoom on Paul Kehoe I propose to take Questions Nos. 636 to 639, inclusive, together.

        The major re-organisation of the Army Reserve (AR) and Naval Service Reserve (NSR) was implemented in 2013 and the RDF is now organised alongside the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) within a more efficient single force structure. In practice, this provided for the retention of 4,069 personnel spread countrywide based in barracks and 16 other locations. As part of the subsequent re-organisation, all RDF units have been disestablished and amalgamated within PDF units. The re-organisation has provided significant advantages in terms of training and development with PDF units having Reserve components rather than the previous parallel structure. Reserve units are supported by their parent PDF unit and the 16 units outside of PDF installations are supported by dedicated full time PDF personnel.

        There are, therefore, no plans to stand down the Reserve. On the contrary, in the White Paper on Defence 2015, the Government recognises the important role that the Reserve Defence Force has played in contributing to Ireland’s defence capability, and in particular, to the spirit of voluntary service which has been the hallmark of the Reserve. The Government appreciates the service of the members of the Reserve and the White Paper on Defence is clear that there is a continued requirement to retain and develop the Reserve. In that regard, the White Paper also sets out a developmental path for the RDF. It provides that the overarching establishment of the Army Reserve (AR) and Naval Service Reserve (NSR) is to be set at 4,169 personnel, consisting of 3,869 Army Reservists and the expansion of the establishment of the four NSR Units from currently 200 personnel to 300.

        Initiatives for the Reserve outlined in the White Paper include the following:

        - The potential to utilise the Reserve in a voluntary unpaid capacity will be progressed in consultation with the Representative Associations.

        - Consideration will be given to activating Reserve Sub-Units for short periods of training with PDF Units or other support tasks.

        - Specialist members of the RDF will be placed on a panel, to be known as the Specialist Reserve and, subject to their availability, they will be considered as an option to meet specialist skills shortages.

        - The terms and conditions of membership of the First Line Reserve will be revised to include capping the length of service of members, reactivating annual paid training and introducing criteria for retention as an effective member. The case for the current gratuity will also be examined.

        - Consideration will be given to establishing a database of former members of the Army Reserve, Naval Service Reserve, First Line Reserve and Permanent Defence Force who could be called upon to volunteer in a crisis situation, by listing these as an “Inactive Reserve”.

        The strength of the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) at the end of December, 2016 (the latest date for which figures are available) was 2,049 effective personnel. As the Deputy will be aware, a key challenge is to recruit, train and retain sufficient personnel to meet the reserve establishment provided for in the White Paper. It is necessary to strike an appropriate balance in terms of both PDF and RDF recruitment so as to deliver the desired effects in terms of maintaining the capacity of the Defence Forces to undertake all roles assigned by Government and to advance the single-force concept. However, within that framework and having regard to the training capacity of the Defence Forces, I am anxious to accelerate the rate of recruitment to the RDF.

        For administrative reasons, the military authorities were unable to provide the data sought. Figures relating to RDF recruitment, the numbers in service and discharges for the years 2013 to 2016 will be provided to the Deputy within the allowed timeframe.
        "Are they trying to shoot down the other drone? "

        "No, they're trying to fly the tank"

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        • One would have thought that calculating the totals would not be a challenge given the nominal amounts involved.

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          • There is still a lot of carrying of people on the books, the numbers really do not reflect reality , and it is very sad.
            "Are they trying to shoot down the other drone? "

            "No, they're trying to fly the tank"

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            • "specialists"...."unpaid"..

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              • sounds like what I'm doing lol
                "Are they trying to shoot down the other drone? "

                "No, they're trying to fly the tank"

                Comment


                • Comment


                  • Should drag in the head of the Department of Defence and ask him a few hard questions

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                    • TBH I think it is a lot to do with a failure/willingness to realise that reservists need to be facilitated, processes need to be reformed (and not just for the benefit of reservists), people need to be treated better.

                      It isn't a PDF -V- RDF thing, it would benefit all, it would save money and resources and improve morale. Both PDF and RDF.

                      IMHO it isn't the top layers of management. It is the middle management. And I don't think it is all necessarily by design. They just don't know how to deal with us.

                      There are people with other motives, but the vast majority are friendly and helpful.

                      The PDF (due to their smaller size) are more likely to need the RDF now than ever before, they are more likely use us. The other part of it is get rid of the RDF and you could argue that the ranks could be reduced.

                      Also there are people in the RDF that one day could be interviewing a now ex-PDF man for a job
                      Last edited by DeV; 10 February 2017, 20:10.

                      Comment


                      • It seems that to some the key question may be "What effect would the scrapping of the Reserve have upon the output of the DF"

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                        • Originally posted by DeV View Post
                          TBH I think it is a lot to do with a failure/willingness to realise that reservists need to be facilitated, processes need to be reformed (and not just for the benefit of reservists), people need to be treated better.

                          It isn't a PDF -V- RDF thing, it would benefit all, it would save money and resources and improve morale. Both PDF and RDF.

                          IMHO it isn't the top layers of management. It is the middle management. And I don't think it is all necessarily by design. They just don't know how to deal with us.

                          There are people with other motives, but the vast majority are friendly and helpful.

                          The PDF (due to their smaller size) are more likely to need the RDF now than ever before, they are more likely use us. The other part of it is get rid of the RDF and you could argue that the ranks could be reduced.

                          Also there are people in the RDF that one day could be interviewing a now ex-PDF man for a job
                          I used to always think of the last point whenever I encountered a less than enlightened (most polite way I can put it) member of the PDF
                          "Well, stone me! We've had cocaine, bribery and Arsenal scoring two goals at home. But just when you thought there were truly no surprises left in football, Vinnie Jones turns out to be an international player!" (Jimmy Greaves)!"

                          Comment


                          • It seems that to some the key question may be "What effect would the scrapping of the Reserve have upon the output of the DF"
                            Zero is the answer. A Reserve that is not used properly now and then to keep it viable (and trusted) is not a reserve. The same could be said of any Orderly Officers' ammunition store - it needs to be rotated now and again, and for the same reasons.


                            Everyone here knows this.


                            I note, btw, in reading the revised estimates, that RDF recruitment is a KPI to not increase the numbers on strength. ( my bad : should have remembered they put those KPIs in there now ).
                            Last edited by trellheim; 11 February 2017, 18:51.
                            "Are they trying to shoot down the other drone? "

                            "No, they're trying to fly the tank"

                            Comment


                            • Originally posted by trellheim View Post
                              Zero is the answer..
                              given that, and i don't disagree, i wonder what the 'drag' the Reserve imposes on the Regular force is..?

                              X thousand clothing sets, Y thousand rifles to be maintained and upgraded, Z% of the Regular force working time supporting the Reserve...

                              would that lot provide an Arid/Desert combat uniform, Minimis and DMR's for the overseas Bn, and a couple of extra hundred rounds of 5.56 each year for everyone going away?

                              Comment


                              • Originally posted by ropebag View Post
                                given that, and i don't disagree, i wonder what the 'drag' the Reserve imposes on the Regular force is..?

                                X thousand clothing sets, Y thousand rifles to be maintained and upgraded, Z% of the Regular force working time supporting the Reserve...

                                would that lot provide an Arid/Desert combat uniform, Minimis and DMR's for the overseas Bn, and a couple of extra hundred rounds of 5.56 each year for everyone going away?
                                Good question, but the answer would probably be it would provide a minutely small dent in the black hole that is either the HSE or Social Welfare...
                                'He died who loved to live,' they'll say,
                                'Unselfishly so we might have today!'
                                Like hell! He fought because he had to fight;
                                He died that's all. It was his unlucky night.
                                http://www.salamanderoasis.org/poems...nnis/luck.html

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