Joining the Reserves

[futurepilot]

Before anyone points it out,these questions are probably just stupid newbie questions that everyone but myself already knows.

1.when can i join the reserves? Can I just wander over to the barracks on the training night and sign up?

2. What do I need to bring when I turn up? and will I be given a fitness test or any other test?

3.Whats the standard of fitness required?(i`m quite fit,just curious)

4.I`m hoping to join the Air Corp once I finish college so which should I join (infantry/cav or air defence etc)?

5.How does one get promoted and how hard is it?(Ì`m willing to put in a lot o effort to get promoted because of future career plans) and will promotion be a big plus when it comes to applying to the Air Corps?

6.I noticed some people saying they only got weapons training every two weeks. I live very close to Cathal Brugha barracks and was wondering what the situation with weapons training is like there(how often?where is it done?and how much do we actually get to shoot?)

Cheers for your time

[BRENDAN]

You have to be 17, you find out what night the unit you want to join are training and show up with you`re birth cert.
At the moment there is no fitness test for reserve personel, that might change in the future as the RDF become more active and involved with the PDF. You will have to do a medical, hearing, vision etc.
I dont think it would make any odds what RDF unit you choose for joining the air corps, I personnaly recommend the cav theres normally a lot going on but it depends on you`re own interests. In my unit(cav) there would be weapons training every week unless there was something else on like driving or whatever.:-patriot:

[Truck Driver]

Some Answers To Your Questions...

1.When can i join the reserves? Can I just wander over to the barracks on the training night and sign up?
You say that you are near the Brugha, so yes, as you say,
go over on a training night - unsure of ALL the training days, but I'm definite
about Tues/Thurs night, and Sun morning, dependent on who you want to
join. Check HERE for units
in the Brigade

2. What do I need to bring when I turn up? and will I be given a fitness test or any other test?
Bring with you (i) Birth Cert (ii) 2 passport sized pictures (iii) Your PPS (formerly RSI) number


3.Whats the standard of fitness required?(i`m quite fit,just curious)
Medical decides entry requirements

4.I`m hoping to join the Air Corp once I finish college so which should I join (infantry/cav or air defence etc)?
Again, depends on what you would like to do in the Air
Corps, so couldn't really say

5.How does one get promoted and how hard is it?(Ì`m willing to put in a lot o effort to get promoted because of future career plans) and will promotion be a big plus when it comes to applying to the Air Corps?
Promotion is achieved by firstly, meeting laid-down
requirements for training for promotion, and secondly, by completing that
training. When a vacancy occurs in the unit strength, suitably qualified candidates
are eligible for promotion

6.I noticed some people saying they only got weapons training every two weeks. I live very close to Cathal Brugha barracks and was wondering what the situation with weapons training is like there(how often?where is it done?and how much do we actually get to shoot?)
This is verging on disclosing information which should not be
discussed in the public domain. Suffice to say that a Reservist based in a
permanent post would have a distinct advantage over a rural, training centre
oriented Reservist in this regard

[bulldemboots!]

Hey futurepilot. Take a look at this site You'll find out some things about the reserve there.

[futurepilot]

cheers for that. I was actually thinking about the cav cause it sounded like the most fun. The only thing is that I want to be a Corps pilot and was thinking that infantry would be better for the officer training. What do you think?

just spotted something on that website. Whats the deal with pay? I hadn`t even thought about that(doesn`t actually make a difference,i`ll still join).Is thaat 300euro for training camps? Do you get paid for weekend training too?

[MIA]

so far as I know whenever you're out on full time kinda work-training weeks, operations and whenever they need someone to look smart in front of the EU heads in dublin castle.

[hptmurphy]

Brendan....thats not very fair ....did you possess all the requirements listed above !

:D

[DeV]

there is no fitness test (run etc) to join - just a medical

[MIA]

so in other words so long as your heart isen't about to give up you're ok?

[BRENDAN]

All the requirments and more murf! The big thing in our area that seems to stop people getting in is the hearing test but if you were to fail that the air corps is definetly out of the question for you futurepilot!

[DeV]

Avoid loud noises, wearing headphones, going to discos for at least 48 hours is recommended, I say 72 hours

[bulldemboots!]

Training Days

Does anyone here know of any units in Dublin who train on Monday or Friday evenings as I have a query from someone who only has those days available who wants to join the RDF.

[Roger McGee]

To future pilot,
It does help being in the reserve if your going for the aercorp. They give you extra points, I think 6 percent or something onto the aptitude test.If you can prove you've been in the reserve for a year and have carried out a full week of training. I'm sure that having a rank above private would also be of more help in getting into the aercorp. But it takes a long time to go through the ranks in the rdf because the fact that it takes longer to train up troops than in the pdf. By right it should take 3 years to become a Corporal and if your unit senses that you just want the rank so you can f off to the aercorp they might be hesitant to give to you and give to someone with more rdf orientated goals.

[trellheim]

Negative ; Mondays and Fridays are out.

Tue,Wed,Thu,Sun all available as regular Parade nights or mornings

[futurepilot]

Roger McGee,
I`ve figured out that the whole getting tpromoted to an nco is probably out for me before I apply to the Aer Corps because we already have quite a few 3 stars who want to apply. I`ll also be lucky to make 3 star before I apply because the police are taking their time with security checks and I probably wont be even able to go on recruit camp this summer(its on in 3weeks so itys not looking good) which is very annoying since I passed my medical and hearing with flying colours(no pun intended).
When we were doing our hearing test in bricken hosp, a group of engineers came in aswell and said that they hadn`t got security checks back since jan,Is this the case for everyone? and does anyone know of any "methods" that can be used to speed the whole thing up?