Revisit 850 cap

[Tribunius]

I was just thinking about the 850 cap on DF personel serving overseas at one time. I understand that it was a political decison but I would presume that there is a practical element to it aswell. I mean in reality a full deployment takes up three times this number with those out there, those training to go out there and those on leave after coming back. How much does cost factor into this cap?

So since 2,656 extra personel in the form of the integrated element will be available in a couple of years should this cap be extended to say 950 or so?

This would not only take care of PDF personel worrying about loosing out to the RDF as these extra places would offset their presence but would allow for bigger deployments.

Also I am aware that the DF was bigger when the cap was set than it is now.

[Bravo20]

Not as simple an answer as you think.

The target of 2,656 is only due to materialise in 2009. Also given that the integrated element is only committed to giving 3 weeks full time (plus 6? weekends). This only gives a full time equivalent of 153 in a year.

IMHO worry less about the cap on serving overseas and more on the cap on the DF as a whole.

[Tribunius]

I realise that this number won't be in place until 2009. In fact i'd say it won't be that high probably closer to 2,200 or so but thats beside the point.

"This only gives a full time equivalent of 153 in a year."
I'm not sure where your getting this figure. I get 240. ([2,656/365]*33=240)

As I understand it personnel from the integrated can volunteer to serve overseas and that once they do they will in effect become full time for a year. Do the train up, deploy etc. I know at first it will just be personnel with specialist skills who go but in time I think all branches will be allowed. If not why bother integrating them in the first place.

Also a 100 personnel at a time is a reasonable figure as it represents 3.8% of total strength compared to the PDF figure of 8.1%. Admittedly the PDF figure is slightly skewed as most deployments are made up primarily of army personnel.

[DeV]

As I understand it personnel from the integrated can volunteer to serve overseas and that once they do they will in effect become full time for a year. Do the train up, deploy etc. I know at first it will just be personnel with specialist skills who go but in time I think all branches will be allowed. If not why bother integrating them in the first place.

What are you basing this on? does this sound familiar by any chance?

... should be considered for participation in overseas peace support missions subject to suitable qualifications, personal availability and appropriate advance training. ...

As specified in the Implementation Plan, any such participation is likely to be in specialist areas such as medical, transport, engineering and communications & information services ... An amendment to the Defence Act will be required in order that members of the Reserve can serve overseas. ...

While there are no immediate plans for participation by members of the Reserve Defence Force in overseas missions, policies to support the selection of Reserve personnel for overseas duties will be developed over the lifetime of the Reserve Defence Force Implementation Plan.

http://www.defence.ie/website.nsf/Sp...7?OpenDocument

[Bravo20]

I was using the full weeks training and ignoring the weekend commitments. Either way it is a pretty small figure.

I still refer to my point, remove the cap on the size of the DF before you ask for increase in the CAP on those serving overseas.

[Tribunius]

What are you basing this on? does this sound familiar by any chance?

Was looking at it from a return on the investment they are currently making in the integrated element. Yes that is one of the places I have read that.

I was using the full weeks training and ignoring the weekend commitments. Either way it is a pretty small figure.

I still refer to my point, remove the cap on the size of the DF before you ask for increase in the CAP on those serving overseas.

Fair enough you could look at it that way.

Yes it would be an idea to look at the cap on the size of the DF as a whole but barring some disaster/conflict its not going up anytime soon.

If only corps elements are eligible for overseas service then a 100 increase is not need 50 or less would do. But if so why bother integrating infantry at all? It won't require all that much investment for them to pitch in with duties and such. Sure a little extra training would be needed but that is all.