The Future of the Army Reserve - Discuss

[trellheim]

I know several who tried to get out and their paperwork was "lost" or excuses made multiple times. It was made clear to one that he was wasting his time trying to get out and that they were worried about the optics of the collapse in RDF numbers.

Seen many things in the FCA/RDF but never that.

[batterysgt]

Neither have I. Was it stopped by PDF or RDF???

[Fantasia]

There were some that thought by indicating their desire to leave at the reorg that that was enough. It was not.

There were those that thought an unsigned AF607 was enough. It was not.

There were those that thought a single copy of a triplicate document was enough. It was not.

The problem is not that no one wants them to leave. The problem is that people quarter arsed a legal document and expectedit to just be fixed for them.

[DeV]

There were some that thought by indicating their desire to leave at the reorg that that was enough. It was not.

There were those that thought an unsigned AF607 was enough. It was not.

There were those that thought a single copy of a triplicate document was enough. It was not.

The problem is not that no one wants them to leave. The problem is that people quarter arsed a legal document and expectedit to just be fixed for them.

Nothing new there

[DeV]

The next year or so could be very interesting times for the RDF on a positive note

[trellheim]

this reminds me of a huge long running grudge that RDF officers cannot retire under Act section 48 , we can only be mandatorily relinquished under Act S49.

The next year or so could be very interesting times for the RDF on a positive note

This year our strength is 1600 Estab 4500. Its effectively though not entirely nearly a dead year for recruiting and we'll lose the normal amount to age retirements , normal being last years number approx 275 see the pqs thread ; quite a few simply wont come back after COVID


Even if we take our best year in the last 10 ( 2013) for recruiting (475 attested) we still would attrit 50% of them at least before they get to 3*, leaving 200 new per year. At that rate it will take 20 years to get back to strength. The scope required here needs to be of a different order.

[DeV]

this reminds me of a huge long running grudge that RDF officers cannot retire under Act section 48 , we can only be mandatorily relinquished under Act S49.




This year our strength is 1600 Estab 4500. Its effectively though not entirely nearly a dead year for recruiting and we'll lose the normal amount to age retirements , normal being last years number approx 275 see the pqs thread ; quite a few simply wont come back after COVID


Even if we take our best year in the last 10 ( 2013) for recruiting (475 attested) we still would attrit 50% of them at least before they get to 3*, leaving 200 new per year. At that rate it will take 20 years to get back to strength. The scope required here needs to be of a different order.

Never spotted that one (even on age grounds which is strange, although R5 does say retire)

Well let’s hope the changes coming improve things

[Fantasia]

Retire indicates pension

[trellheim]

Retire indicates pension

When you leave after 38 years after whatever, being told you are mandatorily relinquishing your commission is not nice and not a great way out the door . Hence (extremely, at least 50 years ) long running grudge. Retire does not need to indicate pension and S47 only mentions it in passing.


Bigger problems to worry about though.

[DeV]

Enlisted ranks are only ever discharged (pension or not)

But I agree

[trellheim]

CIS Reserve working at the moment on Cyber Coalition 2020

[trellheim]

pqs

Question:
75. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Defence if he has met with the representative organisations of the Reserve Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The Government appreciates the service of the members of the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) and recognises the important role that they play in contributing to Ireland's defence capability.

The Programme for Government 2020 contains a commitment to establish an Independent Commission on the Defence Forces. This will encompass the role and contribution of the RDF, including its legislation; the regulations governing the RDF, the development of the First Line Reserve and whether specialists from the RDF should be able to serve overseas. The Reserve Defence Force Representative Association (RDFRA), along with the other Representative Associations have been invited to submit their views on the terms of reference.

I have not had the opportunity to meet with RDFRA as yet. However, I hope to do so at the earliest opportunity, having regard to the current Covid 19 restrictions.

Question:
75. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Defence if he has met with the representative organisations of the Reserve Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

[trellheim]

72. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Defence the developments that have taken place since the completion of the Reserve Defence Force skills survey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36190/20]

The Government recognises the importance of the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) in contributing to Ireland's defence capability. The 2015 White Paper on Defence is clear that there is a continued requirement to retain and develop the RDF. The White Paper also sets out a blueprint for the development of the RDF and confirms that its primary role is to support the PDF in crisis situations and to contribute to State ceremonial events. In non-crisis situations the main focus is on training for this role.

The White Paper states that the types of tasks that the RDF could be required to undertake in crisis situations is varied. It acknowledges that there may be professional skills that on occasion may not be readily available in the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) and outlines an intention to harness specialist skills that members of the Reserve may have to better support the PDF.

A range of actions and supports, including legislative provisions, are required to develop this concept. In this context, a Skills Survey of the RDF has been undertaken which provides an overview of the range of skills available within the Reserve. A Workforce Planning project is underway which will identify skills sets in the PDF and identify appropriate measures to address any such gaps. The skills survey undertaken of the RDF will assist in identifying possible options to address gaps. Options to underpin the engagement of Reservists will be identified as the various stages of this work unfold.

The Programme for Government 2020 contains a commitment to establish an Independent Commission on the Defence Forces. The work of the Commission will also encompass the role and contribution of the RDF, including its legislation; the regulations governing the RDF, the development of the First Line Reserve (FLR) and whether specialists from the RDF should be able to serve overseas.

Question No. 73 answered with Question No. 46.

https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2020-11-17/section/63/

I fking weep for defence policy

[trellheim]

finally

76. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Defence the number of applications, inductions and discharges in the Army, the Naval Service, the Air Corps and the reserve in each of the years 2017 to 2019 and to date in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36186/20]

Air Corps and reserve not answered

https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2020-11-17/66/#pq_66

[DeV]

pqs






Question:
75. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Defence if he has met with the representative organisations of the Reserve Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

They are meeting on Monday