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then come in and do more admin ? It is not the Cadre's function to do that stuff !
Let's take a simple example :
transport req for the a coy rifle range
I'd expect my RDF NCOs to come to me having talked to Bn Tpt weeks in advance during the daytime with 2xGS,1xFFR , 2xTransit,1xTCV etc ( or whatever ) , have the req signed by me etc and in Tpt office at least by Mon/Tue in advance , daytime phone call followups during the week to tpt office to ensure snags can be dealt with by beg/borrow . THe other NCO ( or the same NCO) has ensured with CS the drivers are boxed off to drive and for timings , and if they are to complete their range practices, and also boxed off with Q for stores and ration run timings . This is really pared down and just for tpt , same goes for rations, range documents, and all the other administration
I'd expect the Cadre's ONLY possible role here might be keys but we had to do all the above ourselves cos we didn't have cadre last 3 years
The above is RDF NCO business
+1
Worth also mentioning that there are only 32 cadre (+ NSR) in the whole DF now
Officers come up with the plan, NCOs make it happen
look at it this way : I'm on holiday in foreign parts - PDF have phoned me twice already today both long calls to deal with stuff under my wing that has to get done by date X . two hours a week just does not cut the mustard. Others opinions may vary
"The Army’s underutilized reserve component provides an example of misused inputs. Though some argue that maintaining a large, educated officer corps better prepares the force to meet evolving, technology-driven threat environments, the harsh reality is that much of the expertise necessary to counter such threats is best represented in the private sector. For an all-volunteer military, the reserve component can serve a critical role in injecting new ways of thinking into a comparatively ossified bureaucracy and in providing a bridge between public and private sectors—but only if it is effectively leveraged."
Reserves would be properly recognised if there was a legal requirment on employers to allow an unpaid holiday time (max two weeks) each year for those called up for annual camp. Mandatory transfer to Reserve for all leaving the PDF for a fixed period afterwards.
I think things are moving in the right direction again for the most part, but i worry that a number of units will be lost along the way purely based on the snails pace that things are happening. I think there are units that have hit critical mass, if not already gone beyond the point of no return.
Scheduled fun will commence at 1900Hrs.
Punishment beatings will continue until moral improves.
Recruiting is dealt wirt correctly, finally in terms of procedure
I've no problem with the recruitment procedure. It's the resources allocated to it that's killing us. RDF security clearances are rotting on people's desks while PDF competitions jump the queue and receive the lion's share of scarce resources. The choice is logical from their point of view.
Reserves would be properly recognised if there was a legal requirment on employers to allow an unpaid holiday time (max two weeks) each year for those called up for annual camp. Mandatory transfer to Reserve for all leaving the PDF for a fixed period afterwards.
The unpaid leave aspect should be available for all aspects of volunteerism that confers discrete benefits to the community. Widen the scope of the beneficiaries of the proposal and it will get traction in numerous quarters and stand a better chance of success.
264. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will restore gratuity payments and other benefits previously received by members of the Reserve Defence Force; if he will ensure these members are not financially disadvantaged by undertaking their normal duties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27586/16]
Minister of State at the Department of Defence (Deputy Paul Kehoe): I have been hugely impressed by the work of the volunteer members of the Reserve Defence Force and have observed them in training and on ceremonial duties. Similar to many other voluntary organisations, members of the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve undertake unpaid activities on a voluntary basis and are to be commended for their commitment. While members of the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve are also afforded the opportunity to avail of paid training, there are no plans to restore gratuity payments to members of the Reserve Defence Force.
The Steering Committee which undertook the Value For Money (VFM) Review of the Reserve Defence Force recognised the importance of retaining an effective Reserve capacity that can augment the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) in times of need. In order to ensure appropriate training within the existing resource envelope, the VFM Review recommended the withdrawal of gratuities from members of the Reserve and the reallocation of this money to paid training. This recommendation was accepted and implemented. In the intervening years since publication of the VFM Review in 2012, the reallocation of funding to paid training has ensured that all members of the Reserve have been afforded the opportunity to participate in annual collective training and other specialised training and are financially supported whilst doing so.
The overall budget available in Subhead A5 in 2016 is set at €2.150 million, of which €2.068 million is allocated to paid training of Reserve members. This budget provides for 30,000 training man days. This allocation provides a minimum of 7 days annual paid training for all effective members of the Reserve. It also provides for 14 days paid training for all additional personnel recruited to the Reserve Defence Force in 2016 and for career and specialist courses for selected members of the Reserve. The allocation also includes provision for RDF participation in 2016 commemoration ceremonial parades and events.
I am satisfied with the current financial provision for the Reserve in terms of man days allowance. This allowance ensures that there are sufficient paid training opportunities available to members of the Reserve. These training opportunities, in turn, allows Reserve personnel to fulfil the roles allocated to them, which remain as set out in the 2015 White Paper on Defence, to augment the PDF in times of crisis and to participate in ceremonial events.
well fk that so let the bleeding continue ... I'm not sure the impact of this is being seen . Has anyone got comparative research US/UK/NZ of the bounty's proven benefits
i don't know about proven, because that would require a control group and a group who didn't get it, but i don't think i've met a married/whatever reservist who didn't use the grat as part of the mollifying/persuading process - it was always 'the holiday fund', or 'the new bathroom fund'.
the training day pay just went into the general kitty, but the grat/bonus was the 'special thing at the end of the year that we might not be able to afford otherwise' thing...
on a much more general point, you find it much easier to recruit and retain reservists if you can offer them something interesting and worthwhile - overseas ex's, FTRS jobs etc.. even if you could reinstate the grat, would the reserve still be worth bothering with?
Grat aside, to me this is another example of the department's complete and total lack of understanding of how to run a volunteer organisation.
In my experience, money is not the motivating force behind the majority of the most effective (useful as opposed to on paper "Effective") members of the reserve.
Access is a much bigger issue.
Access to training outside of the 9 -5 Monday - Friday range when most volunteers are available. (Paid or unpaid)
Access to medicals
Access to audios
Access to Life Tests
I would happily take part in any activity unpaid as long as I wasn't risking my professional employment to do so.
I work typical hours, and still struggle to make it work.
In fact, access to the reserve AT ALL - Not the farce of the last couple of years "professional" recruitment drives.
Scheduled fun will commence at 1900Hrs.
Punishment beatings will continue until moral improves.
Remember - RDF are still paid 10% less than PDF on the first increment of the scale for Full Time Service , and no MSA
if you can offer them something interesting and worthwhile - overseas ex's, FTRS jobs etc.. even if you could reinstate the grat, would the reserve still be worth bothering with?
It's a moot point - we have a reserve ! The Special Reserve concept needs asking about as its in the White paper.
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