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  • If it keeps going the way it is, the DF will be little more than a militia/coast guard/civdef organisation, with token UN participation.

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    • If it gets any worse, we'll be asking the Lebanese to come here and do guard duties for us.

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      • Originally posted by Pegasus View Post
        If it gets any worse, we'll be asking the Lebanese to come here and do guard duties for us.
        Shushhh, that’s plan B
        'He died who loved to live,' they'll say,
        'Unselfishly so we might have today!'
        Like hell! He fought because he had to fight;
        He died that's all. It was his unlucky night.
        http://www.salamanderoasis.org/poems...nnis/luck.html

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        • Meanwhile, the number of personnel within the Naval Service is due to fall below the 900 mark any day now, as several more have sought to be discharged before the compulsory age of retirement.

          They include the Naval Service's second-in-command Captain Brian Fitzgerald, which has come as a shock to several service personnel, as he was seen as a very capable, career-driven officer.

          Increasing pressure is coming on resources not just overall in the Naval Service, but particularly in highly-skilled jobs such as engine room artificers (fitters), marine engineers and communications experts. Many are opting for better-paid jobs in the private sector.

          The Naval Service is supposed to have a minimum complement of 1,094 personnel, so it's about to be effectively short 200-plus.

          Capt Fitzgerald has sought to be discharged from the Naval Service, which will be seen as a significant loss as he is second-in-charge of the force, holding the title of Officer Commanding Naval Operations, meaning he has responsibility for all operational matters.

          Originally from Limerick, he joined the Naval Service in 1982, but is leaving before compulsory retirement age.
          This is a huge loss of experience, not to mention continuity. Used to be OCNOC became FOCNS, as a matter of course. Seems that will no longer be the case. We are also approaching a stage where most of the Commanders are very junior and new to their appointment, some only having joined the organisation in the late 90s or early 2000s.
          For now, everything hangs on implementation of the CoDF report.

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          • Originally posted by na grohmiti View Post
            This is a huge loss of experience, not to mention continuity. Used to be OCNOC became FOCNS, as a matter of course. Seems that will no longer be the case. We are also approaching a stage where most of the Commanders are very junior and new to their appointment, some only having joined the organisation in the late 90s or early 2000s.
            Because of command structures, continuity is not in question. Anybody with 20 years service must have gained experience both practical and mentored. Promotion needs a steadier hand, and the first rule must always be " do no harm".

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            • The Irish Examiner yesterday, highlights the continuing drain on NS Strengths and ineffective measures to contain losses of personnel. The Departmental policies have caused most of the problem and Service in-house efforts will not solve it. Trying to find trained replacements on High Street is Utopian, we have to do it ourselves from candidates recruited by continuous means.

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              • Unfortunately, the NS is soon to reach a situation where you won't have enough staff to train recruits/cadets AND keep ships at sea.
                Is it time to centralise all basic training at DFTC in the short term?
                For now, everything hangs on implementation of the CoDF report.

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                • It was tried before but if I remember rightly too many disappeared into the PDF network . Training has always been a drain on units outside the Curragh in that there is no training establishment other than Oi/c and a School NCO all the rest have to betaken from units.

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                  • To be fair, the Irish Examiner are doing good work highlighting the issues. The article on the restoration of the the third brigade was an other example.

                    In the old days of the command structure, was the Curragh Command as the DFTC is now or did it have fighting units too?

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                    • Originally posted by The Connaught Ranger View Post
                      To be fair, the Irish Examiner are doing good work highlighting the issues. The article on the restoration of the the third brigade was an other example.

                      In the old days of the command structure, was the Curragh Command as the DFTC is now or did it have fighting units too?
                      Each Command had a Bde made up of the Inf, Arty, Cav and Corps Field units. The Command had the Corps Garrison units.

                      Curragh Command had I think 3 Inf Bn in the Curragh and 30 Inf Bn in Kilkenny.


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                      • Originally posted by na grohmiti View Post
                        Unfortunately, the NS is soon to reach a situation where you won't have enough staff to train recruits/cadets AND keep ships at sea.
                        Is it time to centralise all basic training at DFTC in the short term?
                        A class of NS recruits is currently being trained in Collins Bks by Army Instructors.

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                        • How do they fit in the basic seamanship elements and ship acquaint phases including SOLAS at the College. If I could also say the New Format of MOL is at least inconvenient and restrictive.

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                          • Originally posted by ancientmariner View Post
                            How do they fit in the basic seamanship elements and ship acquaint phases including SOLAS at the College. If I could also say the New Format of MOL is at least inconvenient and restrictive.
                            Modules.
                            The same way you take a week out of army training for fieldcraft away from the square, you take a week away from Collins to go to NMCI for SOLAS training, firefighting etc. Let's not forget in your time there was Navy PNCO courses being held in Ballincollig and Recruit training on Spike Island.
                            For now, everything hangs on implementation of the CoDF report.

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                            • Spike Island was then a naval facility training recruits and naval cadets. MM was a class officer and McN was CO. There is a difference from wearing the No.1's properly to inoculation by Naval customs and mentored knowledge. I accept exigencies but encouraging helplessness is weakening who we are.

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                              • Originally posted by ancientmariner View Post
                                Spike Island was then a naval facility training recruits and naval cadets. MM was a class officer and McN was CO. There is a difference from wearing the No.1's properly to inoculation by Naval customs and mentored knowledge. I accept exigencies but encouraging helplessness is weakening who we are.
                                All true, however with the Naval Base being an actual ghost town at present, there would be little to be gained by keeping recruits there. The Naval Identity is already weakened while up to 4 ships have been tied up for over a year now.
                                These are extraordinary circumstances.
                                If the NS reserve can master naval customs and knowledge while based away from NHQ, hopefully the quality of training provided mean these recruits will to. Once the numbers are back where we should be, we can revisit.
                                For now, everything hangs on implementation of the CoDF report.

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