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  • Operational taskings take priority usually, therefore if training dates must change then they must change.

    This happens all the time, but the flexibility of the RDF in this regard is not well understood by the PDF, in that if you plan it, people will select work leave dates etc to match up with the planned dates. If these dates are changed then then the number of people who can train will drop off. Since there is no facility for making the employer give you the time off then this occurs.

    Secondly, full-time jobs usually take precedence in the current economic climate.
    "Are they trying to shoot down the other drone? "

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

    Comment


    • Or on the other side, there are more out there now than ever with much free time on their hands that would be able to meet training. Although, hopefully if and when these people are back in employment they might try and accomodate the Reserve better
      "The Question is not: how far you will take this? The Question is do you possess the constitution to go as far as is needed?"

      Comment


      • Originally posted by trellheim View Post
        Operational taskings take priority usually, therefore if training dates must change then they must change.
        Perhaps even more of a reason to re-inforce the Brigade Training Centres to shield the personel from duties to afford students a solid training calender
        "The Question is not: how far you will take this? The Question is do you possess the constitution to go as far as is needed?"

        Comment


        • Establishment Non-integrated Army Reserve (Jan 2009)
          9292


          Total AR Strength (31 Jan 09)
          7284

          Establishment Non-integrated Naval Service Reserve
          400

          Total NSR Strength (31 Jan 09)
          291

          Effective strength qualified for gratuity AR + NSR Dec 2008
          2,371


          The figures alone speaks volumes
          "The Question is not: how far you will take this? The Question is do you possess the constitution to go as far as is needed?"

          Comment


          • Where are you getting those, out of curiousity?

            Comment


            • Dail Questions - Deputy Ciaran Lynch to Minister for Defence, Willie O Dea TD
              "The Question is not: how far you will take this? The Question is do you possess the constitution to go as far as is needed?"

              Comment


              • Does that 2371 include integrated ?
                "Are they trying to shoot down the other drone? "

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

                Comment


                • Defence Forces Recruitment.
                  181. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Defence the establishment and the appointments filled in the Reserve Defence Force; the number of each rank to have attended annual training in 2008; the number who were paid the gratuity and the number who were not paid having attended the camp; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9322/09]

                  Minister for Defence (Deputy Willie O’Dea): The following tables indicate the establishment against the strength by ranks in the Reserve Defence Force as of 31 Jan 09. Non-integrated (Army Reserve)
                  Establishment Non-integrated Army Reserve


                  Non-integrated (Naval Service Reserve)
                  Non-integrated Naval Service Reserve

                  Total RD Strength (31 Jan 09)




                  The following table shows the number of times each rank attended annual training during 2008, under each category of training provided.
                  RankTraining Category
                  Training Course RDFRA Security Misc


                  The military authorities have advised me that 2,371 reservists were paid a gratuity in 2008. The terms and conditions for receipt of gratuities changed for 2008. In addition to the phased increase in gratuities linked to specified training levels with a minimum aggregate of seven days paid training and the completion of specified voluntary training, there is a requirement for members to have a minimum of one year’s service prior to being eligible for receipt of a gratuity.
                  The improved rates and the conditions for award of gratuities were sanctioned by the Department of Finance. The Reserve Defence Force Representative Association was consulted by my Department when the gratuity structure was being revised and the changes had their broad agreement and support.
                  THe established and strength figures are non-int but the grat figures are for both int and non-int is my interpretation
                  "The Question is not: how far you will take this? The Question is do you possess the constitution to go as far as is needed?"

                  Comment


                  • The 2371 does not include recruits (less than one year service) and possibly others
                    "Fellow-soldiers of the Irish Republican Army, I have just received a communication from Commandant Pearse calling on us to surrender and you will agree with me that this is the hardest task we have been called upon to perform during this eventful week, but we came into this fight for Irish Independence in obedience to the commands of our higher officers and now in obedience to their wishes we must surrender. I know you would, like myself, prefer to be with our comrades who have already fallen in the fight - we, too, should rather die in this glorious struggle than submit to the enemy." Volunteer Captain Patrick Holahan to 58 of his men at North Brunswick Street, the last group of the Four Courts Garrison to surrender, Sunday 30 April 1916.

                    Comment


                    • This is an idea I had a while ago but was shot down for it.

                      Reduce the army to 3 Brigades.

                      Each brigade having

                      - Two Regular Battalions
                      - Two Reserve Battalions
                      - A Mixed Arty Regiment (2 Reg Bty, 2 Res Bty and mixed HQ and Sp Bty)
                      - A 2 Sqdn Cav Regiment with 1 Reg Sqdn and 1 Res Sqdn

                      - Outside the Brigade structure Create 2 CIS Bns, 1 reg and 1 res with units based around the country.

                      - Do like wise with the Engineers and create more specialised roles and equipment for them to work on re-building during overseas missions.

                      - Mash the 3 Logistic and support Bns together into a Brigade with a 50/50 split in Reg Res personnel. Or alternatively just have 3 mixed Bn's attached to each Brigade.

                      Of course the reserves would train more often along side the PDF to prepare them for possible deployment overseas.

                      And the DF Training Centre would remain as it is

                      Now I await someone to pick holes in this theory.
                      Last edited by mugs; 17 April 2009, 22:30.
                      Theirs not to make reply,
                      Theirs not to reason why,
                      Theirs but to do and die:
                      Into the valley of Death
                      Rode the six hundred.

                      The Charge of the Light Brigade

                      Comment


                      • Originally posted by mugs View Post
                        This is an idea I had a while ago but was shot down for it.

                        Reduce the army to 3 Brigades.

                        Each brigade having

                        - Two Regular Battalions
                        - Two Reserve Battalions
                        - A Mixed Arty Regiment (2 Reg Bty, 2 Res Bty and mixed HQ and Sp Bty)
                        - A 2 Sqdn Cav Regiment with 1 Reg Sqdn and 1 Res Sqdn

                        - Outside the Brigade structure Create 2 CIS Bns, 1 reg and 1 res with units based around the country.

                        - Do like wise with the Engineers and create more specialised roles and equipment for them to work on re-building during overseas missions.

                        - Mash the 3 Logistic and support Bns together into a Brigade with a 50/50 split in Reg Res personnel. Or alternatively just have 3 mixed Bn's attached to each Brigade.

                        Of course the reserves would train more often along side the PDF to prepare them for possible deployment overseas.

                        And the DF Training Centre would remain as it is

                        Now I await someone to pick holes in this theory.
                        Part of what you are suggesting was tried before (from 1959 to 1979) at Bde level but mixing at Bn level is worth considering. The Bde structure should left as is (i.e. Inf supported by CS and CSS units) but these units could be mixed. But would it realy change attitudes, cooperation and training?
                        "Fellow-soldiers of the Irish Republican Army, I have just received a communication from Commandant Pearse calling on us to surrender and you will agree with me that this is the hardest task we have been called upon to perform during this eventful week, but we came into this fight for Irish Independence in obedience to the commands of our higher officers and now in obedience to their wishes we must surrender. I know you would, like myself, prefer to be with our comrades who have already fallen in the fight - we, too, should rather die in this glorious struggle than submit to the enemy." Volunteer Captain Patrick Holahan to 58 of his men at North Brunswick Street, the last group of the Four Courts Garrison to surrender, Sunday 30 April 1916.

                        Comment


                        • Intergration of CSS and CS units is something I think should exist anyway. It works else where in the world and would mean increasing the capacity of the CSS and CS units in the DF. It would also give reservists a greater opportunity to serve overseas in a more Humanitarian capacity.
                          Theirs not to make reply,
                          Theirs not to reason why,
                          Theirs but to do and die:
                          Into the valley of Death
                          Rode the six hundred.

                          The Charge of the Light Brigade

                          Comment


                          • They're very large brigades by anybody's standards, and given that there's barely enough equipment for one brigade, ( think of the numbers of 105mm artillery and modern reconnaissance vehicles) not very likely. Was tried between 1959 and 1979, and didnt work then. Furthermore the need for large number of trained soldiers to resist an invasion went with the end of the cold war. The DF is re-structuring towards overseas deployments, the nonintegrated AR is in that case obsolete.

                            What everybody is forgetting is that ireland has one of the largest reserve armies in Europe, the TA in the UK has 14 infantry battaions, were they organised the as the AR then they'ld have a whopping 168 battalions, the TA has three 105mm artillery regiments, as do the AR in theory, need I go on? The department and the PDF want a much smaller reserve, that is far more useful to them, basically the 2300 that qualify for a gratuity annually.

                            They might look at the TA infantry battalion structure in the U.K, and reduce the force to three battalions, which will help keep things spread. As pointed out, there are only enough people qualifying for the gratuity to justify a force this size anyway.

                            They won't get to keep three integrated brigades in the next white paper, they only managed that because of a carefully orchestrated press campaign and given the brass have got their new role more clearly defined, they probably won't want to either.
                            Last edited by paul g; 18 April 2009, 03:12.

                            Comment


                            • Originally posted by mugs View Post
                              Intergration of CSS and CS units is something I think should exist anyway. It works else where in the world and would mean increasing the capacity of the CSS and CS units in the DF. It would also give reservists a greater opportunity to serve overseas in a more Humanitarian capacity.
                              Agreed. AFAIK the cooperation that now exists between the PDF and RDF CS and especially CSS "sister" units at present would lend itself to this. The problem, as I see it is the lask of cooperation between sister units in the Inf. but it is still worth integrating.

                              It gives a second opportunity to rid the RDF of the dead wood - that was possible but lost in the reorg.

                              Originally posted by paul g View Post
                              They're very large brigades by anybody's standards, and given that there's barely enough equipment for one brigade, ( think of the numbers of 105mm artillery and modern reconnaissance vehicles) not very likely. Was tried between 1959 and 1979, and didnt work then. Furthermore the need for large number of trained soldiers to resist an invasion went with the end of the cold war. The DF is re-structuring towards overseas deployments, the nonintegrated AR is in that case obsolete..
                              Yes, as I also mentioned above, this was tried between 1959 and 1979 but then there were 6 brigades - the suggestion now is for 3 integrated.
                              "Fellow-soldiers of the Irish Republican Army, I have just received a communication from Commandant Pearse calling on us to surrender and you will agree with me that this is the hardest task we have been called upon to perform during this eventful week, but we came into this fight for Irish Independence in obedience to the commands of our higher officers and now in obedience to their wishes we must surrender. I know you would, like myself, prefer to be with our comrades who have already fallen in the fight - we, too, should rather die in this glorious struggle than submit to the enemy." Volunteer Captain Patrick Holahan to 58 of his men at North Brunswick Street, the last group of the Four Courts Garrison to surrender, Sunday 30 April 1916.

                              Comment


                              • Mugs, Your suggestion for CAV is not far from reality. As it stands, all the new Mowags are kept in DFTC. Most likely the new LTAVs will stay there too. There isn't enough vehicles for 3 squadrons, never mind six. Ignore the Panhards, the PDF don't use them any more. No point having a reserve trained to operate equipment that the PDF don't use, while the RDF are not qualified to operate the PDF equipment.


                                Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.

                                Comment

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