CADETSHIPS 2012

Tybalt · 22-03-2012 12:31am

So if you got that far it wouldn't hurt to try to the Irish interview then? If you were not in the PDF/RDF and didn't have a degree.

Turbine · 22-03-2012 12:32am

Tybalt wrote: »

So if you got that far it wouldn't hurt to try to the Irish interview then? If you were not in the PDF/RDF and didn't have a degree.

Definitely, if you have a good command of it and can hold a decent conversation, go for it.

KickstartHeart · 22-03-2012 12:32am

Turbine wrote: »

Yeah that's fair enough. I don't want to get into a debate about the Irish language but I think people should respect the fact that it plays an important role in the Defence Forces. And while you may think now that you won't need a word of it, you'd be surprised how confused people can get over just knowing the difference between deas (right) and clé (left). Just knowing those two words will save you so much hassle when you start training.:P

Yeah your'e right actually. I hope I didn't seam like I haven't respect for Irish or anything like that, or that it shouldn't be part of our daily life, in the DF or not. I do think its very important, especially to our national identity.

What kind of standards to officer cadets have to get their Irish to when studying it in the cadetschool?

Turbine · 22-03-2012 12:38am

KickstartHeart wrote: »

What kind of standards to officer cadets have to get their Irish too when studying it in the cadetschool?

I'm not sure (haven't done a cadetship...yet;)), but given that they'd be giving commands as well as receiving them, they'd want to know them inside out.

Capt Blackadder · 22-03-2012 12:40am

End of the day, when your bonus marks are concerned, it's only your highest applicable bonus that counts. So an Irish speaking, degree holding RDF private will only get the 10% for his degree, even though he qualifies for other bonuses.

If you think you qualify for a bonus mark that could mean the difference between a spot in the Curragh and that "I would like to express my regret..." email, by all means, go for it. Again, this is just this callsign's opinion, and therefore, should be treated as such.

KickstartHeart · 22-03-2012 12:46am

Capt Blackadder wrote: »

End of the day, when your bonus marks are concerned, it's only your highest applicable bonus that counts. So an Irish speaking, degree holding RDF private will only get the 10% for his degree, even though he qualifies for other bonuses.

If you think you qualify for a bonus mark that could mean the difference between a spot in the Curragh and that "I would like to express my regret..." email, by all means, go for it. Again, this is just this callsign's opinion, and therefore, should be treated as such.

It may be just your opinion, but it is an opinion that makes sense.

paky · 22-03-2012 2:00am

Turbine wrote: »

Yeah that's fair enough. I don't want to get into a debate about the Irish language but I think people should respect the fact that it plays an important role in the Defence Forces. And while you may think now that you won't need a word of it, you'd be surprised how confused people can get over just knowing the difference between deas (right) and clé (left). Just knowing those two words will save you so much hassle when you start training.:P

it plays an important role in the irish defence forces and the public service insofar that it creates an elitist mentality amongst native irish speakers who seem to benefit most from this unrealistic provision of the irish constitution. its such bullcr.ap. sorry for the rant

Capt Blackadder · 22-03-2012 2:10am

Thems the rules. If you want to play the game, you have to follow them, whether you agree with them or not. Simple as.

Aaaaaaaaanyway, the best of luck to everyone. Here's hoping for a few more Army spots than there have been in the last few years.

Tybalt · 22-03-2012 6:07am

With the army spots for the last few years being around 20, what would a full sized class be? Compared to cadet class of the past when recruitment was less scarce

Turbine · 22-03-2012 11:49am

paky wrote: »

it plays an important role in the irish defence forces and the public service insofar that it creates an elitist mentality amongst native irish speakers who seem to benefit most from this unrealistic provision of the irish constitution. its such bullcr.ap. sorry for the rant

More nonsense from someone with a political agenda and a serious chip on their shoulder, who probably knows sfa about the Defence Forces.:rolleyes:

KickstartHeart · 22-03-2012 1:10pm

I'm half of thinking of giving it a try, so I rang the competition section to see how many army places are going. They said that 21 is the minimum they can take, and they're expecting that it will be similar numbers to last year.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news

TheBigLt · 22-03-2012 1:52pm

Just to say, I believe that a chap was in training for the 87th Cadet class 8 hours or so and left, and he wouldn't be the first to leave either. So we can't really say that every candidate picked to begin training is 100% suited. At the end of the day those who see it as a job aren't suited to it, it's the ones who see it as a way of life that are the ones who will last

KickstartHeart · 22-03-2012 3:41pm

TheBigLt wrote: »

Just to say, I believe that a chap was in training for the 87th Cadet class 8 hours or so and left, and he wouldn't be the first to leave either. So we can't really say that every candidate picked to begin training is 100% suited. At the end of the day those who see it as a job aren't suited to it, it's the ones who see it as a way of life that are the ones who will last

Very true. I heard about that exact same guy. At least he quit early and his place was able to be given to someone else.

DipStick McSwindler · 22-03-2012 3:49pm

This post has been deleted.

KickstartHeart · 22-03-2012 5:44pm

feeney92 wrote: »

Sure when I was in the Curragh last year going for the group assestments, a couple of lads left during the night and didnt tell anyone....just shows what happens when people are pushed to do something they dont really want to do themselves........

The strict discipline of loosely falling in in-front of the billets and having to take the used sheets off your own bed by YOURSELF was even too much military life for some people.

Tybalt · 22-03-2012 6:49pm

feeney92 wrote: »

Sure when I was in the Curragh last year going for the group assestments, a couple of lads left during the night and didnt tell anyone....just shows what happens when people are pushed to do something they dont really want to do themselves........

Seriously? I can't imagine doing anything like that. Fairly bad thing to do when there may have been someone who really wanted it but just missed out at the psychometric stage who could have done well at stage 2.

TheBigLt · 22-03-2012 7:18pm

I think it might be a better idea to have some kind of induction phase of a few days or week or two see how the top candidates get on in the type of environment. That should make sure the right people go on to training

KickstartHeart · 22-03-2012 9:37pm

TheBigLt wrote: »

I think it might be a better idea to have some kind of induction phase of a few days or week or two see how the top candidates get on in the type of environment. That should make sure the right people go on to training

That's a pretty good idea.

The Australian Defence Forces run pretty much the entire competition for their cadetship's within one week where all of the candidates that met the requirements at application stayed in the academy for 7 days. Day one, fitness test. You fail, home you go. Next day psychometric testing, you fail, home you go. And so on.. At the end of the week after each stage of testing, which is pretty much the same kind of tests that you have to do for a cadetship in the PDF, your'e left with nearly the amount of candidates needed to fill the class.

All of this is done under strict military discipline, reveille, parades, PT, introduction lectures on military life etc. and even getting shown around and shown weapons displays and the likes.

They lose just as much people to quitting because its not for them as they do from the tests. Its a GREAT system. Also, it doesn't leave the candidates in a state of limbo wondering will they get a cadetship or not for nearly half a year.

That's a whole cadetship competition, done and dusted within one week. The PDF are well able to do something similar. They could easily have the psychometric testing done in the gym in the curragh, split the candidates into groups and different groups could rotate between taking tests and doing different things on different days. For example, group A be could be doing group tests on monday, while their buddies in group B are in the gym doing their psychometric tests.

Not only is it quicker, and better for the candidates and the selection process, its probably WAY cheaper too.

TheBigLt · 22-03-2012 9:54pm

KickstartHeart wrote: »

That's a pretty good idea.

The Australian Defence Forces run pretty much the entire competition for their cadetship's within one week where all of the candidates that met the requirements at application stayed in the academy for 7 days. Day one, fitness test. You fail, home you go. Next day psychometric testing, you fail, home you go. And so on.. At the end of the week after each stage of testing, which is pretty much the same kind of tests that you have to do for a cadetship in the PDF, your'e left with nearly the amount of candidates needed to fill the class.

All of this is done under strict military discipline, reveille, parades, PT, introduction lectures on military life etc. and even getting shown around and shown weapons displays and the likes.

They lose just as much people to quitting because its not for them as they do from the tests. Its a GREAT system. Also, it doesn't leave the candidates in a state of limbo wondering will they get a cadetship or not for nearly half a year.

That's a whole cadetship competition, done and dusted within one week. The PDF are well able to do something similar. They could easily have the psychometric testing done in the gym in the curragh, split the candidates into groups and different groups could rotate between taking tests and doing different things on different days. For example, group A be could be doing group tests on monday, while their buddies in group B are in the gym doing their psychometric tests.

Not only is it quicker, and better for the candidates and the selection process, its probably WAY cheaper too.

Yeah that's the nearest thing to a perfect competition as you can get. It makes sense, but this being Ireland it may happen in,oh lets say, 50 years to never!

Gooleybag · 22-03-2012 10:11pm

KickstartHeart wrote: »

The strict discipline of loosely falling in in-front of the billets and having to take the used sheets off your own bed by YOURSELF was even too much military life for some people.

I actually know the story behind this as we we're told about it last year. The lad in question was an ultra marathon runner. When he got to the Curragh to start training, you do some overnight then the next morning you're giving your timetable. On inspection of the timetable he noticed he wouldn't have enough time to continue training for ultra marathons. He made the decision that his training meant more to him than a Cadetship. He decided to leave and the man behind him on the list got a place.

KickstartHeart · 22-03-2012 10:19pm

Gooleybag wrote: »

I actually know the story behind this as we we're told about it last year. The lad in question was an ultra marathon runner. When he got to the Curragh to start training, you do some overnight then the next morning you're giving your timetable. On inspection of the timetable he noticed he wouldn't have enough time to continue training for ultra marathons. He made the decision that his training meant more to him than a Cadetship. He decided to leave and the man behind him on the list got a place.

No I was talking about the guys that just left during the group stage, not the guy that left when he stared the cadetship. But God isn't mad how rumours spread, I had heard he left because he wouldn't be able to get the time off to train with his GAA club for the first 3 months. The marathon explanation seams much more plausible I must say.

Tybalt · 23-03-2012 12:38am

Has anyone here had to do a flexibility test during a cadetship competition? And if so what level of flexibility is required?

It wasn't me! · 23-03-2012 1:32am

What I find hard to believe is that anyone thinks they have time to train like a serious athlete while in their cadets training. I mean, I'm planning to go for it and I know it realistically means stepping back my long term sports training goal by at least a year.

KickstartHeart · 23-03-2012 1:32pm

Tybalt wrote: »

Has anyone here had to do a flexibility test during a cadetship competition? And if so what level of flexibility is required?

I've spoken to people who have done it. Its standard in Army medicals so anybody in the Army will tell you, they just get you to stretch downwards and try to touch your toes etc. Its just tests for the kind of stretches that you would be doing after training normally.

Lockstep · 25-03-2012 1:11am

FWIW, I know a guy who got into the cadetship class a couple of years ago straight out of school. He was VERY good though.

KickstartHeart wrote: »

That's a pretty good idea.

The Australian Defence Forces run pretty much the entire competition for their cadetship's within one week where all of the candidates that met the requirements at application stayed in the academy for 7 days. Day one, fitness test. You fail, home you go. Next day psychometric testing, you fail, home you go. And so on.. At the end of the week after each stage of testing, which is pretty much the same kind of tests that you have to do for a cadetship in the PDF, your'e left with nearly the amount of candidates needed to fill the class.

All of this is done under strict military discipline, reveille, parades, PT, introduction lectures on military life etc. and even getting shown around and shown weapons displays and the likes.

They lose just as much people to quitting because its not for them as they do from the tests. Its a GREAT system. Also, it doesn't leave the candidates in a state of limbo wondering will they get a cadetship or not for nearly half a year.

That's a whole cadetship competition, done and dusted within one week. The PDF are well able to do something similar. They could easily have the psychometric testing done in the gym in the curragh, split the candidates into groups and different groups could rotate between taking tests and doing different things on different days. For example, group A be could be doing group tests on monday, while their buddies in group B are in the gym doing their psychometric tests.

Not only is it quicker, and better for the candidates and the selection process, its probably WAY cheaper too.

That sounds like a really, really good system.

discus · 25-03-2012 1:23am

KickstartHeart wrote: »

That's a pretty good idea.

The Australian Defence Forces run pretty much the entire competition for their cadetship's within one week where all of the candidates that met the requirements at application stayed in the academy for 7 days. Day one, fitness test. You fail, home you go. Next day psychometric testing, you fail, home you go. And so on.. At the end of the week after each stage of testing, which is pretty much the same kind of tests that you have to do for a cadetship in the PDF, your'e left with nearly the amount of candidates needed to fill the class.

All of this is done under strict military discipline, reveille, parades, PT, introduction lectures on military life etc. and even getting shown around and shown weapons displays and the likes.

They lose just as much people to quitting because its not for them as they do from the tests. Its a GREAT system. Also, it doesn't leave the candidates in a state of limbo wondering will they get a cadetship or not for nearly half a year.

That's a whole cadetship competition, done and dusted within one week. The PDF are well able to do something similar. They could easily have the psychometric testing done in the gym in the curragh, split the candidates into groups and different groups could rotate between taking tests and doing different things on different days. For example, group A be could be doing group tests on monday, while their buddies in group B are in the gym doing their psychometric tests.

Not only is it quicker, and better for the candidates and the selection process, its probably WAY cheaper too.

This is near identical to how the British Army do it, except it's over a 2 day assessment (AOSB Briefing), then a series of 5 day regimental selections (not compulsory, but good to have a regiment sponsor you through the last round) followed by a 5 days assessment (AOSB Main Board). Only differend is the drinks on the last night at main board... if you happen to get caught shagging a female candidate, or lets say you drank too much and piss the bed and exchangedd it with someone elses yet STILL got caught...... you can redeem yourself on the last mornings activities (FINAL ASSAULT COURSE :cool:)

ECSD · 11-04-2012 2:27pm

Lads if you get past the first stage then your on the right track....its the toughest of all the stages and after doing a cadetship, with all the late nights of cleaning gear, doing night navigation exercises and battle PT's I can honestly say that the toughest thing about it is getting in.

limboninja · 11-04-2012 2:34pm

ECSD wrote: »

Lads if you get past the first stage then your on the right track....its the toughest of all the stages and after doing a cadetship, with all the late nights of cleaning gear, doing night navigation exercises and battle PT's I can honestly say that the toughest thing about it is getting in.

I found the group assessment tough!! its where I fell down last year!! the people who had done it a few times had the edge over the rest of us!!

Poccington · 11-04-2012 7:50pm

ECSD wrote: »

Lads if you get past the first stage then your on the right track....its the toughest of all the stages and after doing a cadetship, with all the late nights of cleaning gear, doing night navigation exercises and battle PT's I can honestly say that the toughest thing about it is getting in.

If the worst part of your Cadetship were night nav's, battle PT's and scrubbing kit well then they must be rolling Cadet's in cotton wool down in the Jedi Academy.

KickstartHeart · 12-04-2012 9:49am

ECSD wrote: »

Lads if you get past the first stage then your on the right track....its the toughest of all the stages and after doing a cadetship, with all the late nights of cleaning gear, doing night navigation exercises and battle PT's I can honestly say that the toughest thing about it is getting in.

Thanks for the advice.

How challenging was the training in the cadetschool?

ThawkA · 16-04-2012 10:33pm

[Deleted upon request]

DipStick McSwindler · 16-04-2012 11:11pm

This post has been deleted.

DipStick McSwindler · 17-04-2012 12:01pm

This post has been deleted.

Gooleybag · 17-04-2012 7:52pm

limboninja wrote: »

I found the group assessment tough!! its where I fell down last year!! the people who had done it a few times had the edge over the rest of us!!

The Group Assessment took on big changes last year over previous so no one had any edge over anyone else at the end of the day if you're the right candidate you'll get through

Topper Harley · 18-04-2012 1:04am

feeney92 wrote: »

Are you sure?? Where abouts did you find this out? (Dont mean to come accross as snotty or anything)

I speak from experience and it's also in the 2011 Cadetship Information and Rules Booklet...

2. MINIMUM EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

a. School Leavers/Non Graduates Army & Air Corps must posses a minimum of Grade C3 in 3 Higher Level papers and Grade D3 in 3 Ordinary/Higher level papers, in a single sitting of the Leaving Certificate Examination.

Each candidate for Army (Line) must possess a minimum of Grade D3 in the following Ordinary/Higher level subjects:
(1) Mathematics. (2) Irish. (3) English. (4) Third language. (5) Any two Matriculation subjects not already selected.

b. Graduates Army & Air Corps must possess as a minimum Grade D3 in the following Ordinary/Higher level subjects:
(1) Mathematics (2) Irish or English (3) Any four Matriculation subjects not already selected.

AND
Must have obtained a recognised degree i.e. a Third Level Degree awarded up to the end of 2004. With effect from 2005 have successfully completed an Honours Bachelor Degree programme at pass or honours level (level 8 of the National Framework of Qualifications).

Section 2.b. makes no reference to a requirement for graduates' to have completed all the required LC subjects in a single sitting.

Capt Blackadder · 18-04-2012 1:16am

Gooleybag wrote: »

The Group Assessment took on big changes last year over previous so no one had any edge over anyone else at the end of the day if you're the right candidate you'll get through

That it did. I wish they'd go ahead and launch the thing already.

KickstartHeart · 18-04-2012 12:14pm

Topper Harley wrote: »

I speak from experience and it's also in the 2011 Cadetship Information and Rules Booklet...

Section 2.b. makes no reference to a requirement for graduates' to have completed all the required LC subjects in a single sitting.

So to sum it up, if you have a degree, you also need to have met the LC standards.

For anyone in the situation of having a degree and not having the LC standard met, I reckon you should ring recruitment and see; if you have a degree, can you go and obtain the LC standards on your own accord with another sitting of the subjects that you didn't meet the standard with in the past.

KickstartHeart · 25-04-2012 11:03am

Well, so it begins.

The applications for cadetships are now online.

Anyone know the numbers breakdown yet?

It wasn't me! · 25-04-2012 11:35am

Defence Forces Facebook Account wrote:

The Defence Forces are now accepting applications for Cadetships as follows:
Army (Line) - 21 places
Army (Equitation) - two places
Air Corps (Pilot) - five places
Naval Service - 14 places broken down into the following:
Operations - nine place
Marine Engineer - four place
Electrical Engineer - one place

Good luck everyone!

goldie fish · 25-04-2012 7:03pm

Interesting to see so many Naval Cadets. Usually there are a total of about 8.

It wasn't me! · 25-04-2012 7:30pm

goldie fish wrote: »

Interesting to see so many Naval Cadets. Usually there are a total of about 8.

Aye, thought that myself alright. Plenty of opportunity in any case. I'll be challenging for one of the 21 army places.

Poccington · 25-04-2012 7:31pm

21 Army Cadets?

I give up.

KickstartHeart · 25-04-2012 9:13pm

Poccington wrote: »

21 Army Cadets?

I give up.

Do you think its too much, or too little?

Delancey · 25-04-2012 10:16pm

Is the continued recruitment of Cadets for the Equitation school and indeed the continued existence of the school not a complete anachronism for a 21st century Army ?

I know the propaganda spouted by the Horsey lobby about 20,000 jobs , blah , blah, is all too willingly regurgitated by the media who never seem to challege it , personally I believe the Horse industry greatly exaggerates its importance to the economy . Even if it were true the question has to be asked just why the Army see fit to run an equitation operation when horses left service 70 odd years ago ?

Poccington · 25-04-2012 10:33pm

KickstartHeart wrote: »

Do you think its too much, or too little?

Too much.

The DF as it is, is already top heavy with Officers. Adding in the upcoming re-org and the number of Units almost certainly being downsized considerably, it makes no sense to continue bringing in more and more Cadets to fill vacancies which could very well soon not exist.

It makes no sense.

Delancey wrote: »

Is the continued recruitment of Cadets for the Equitation school and indeed the continued existence of the school not a complete anachronism for a 21st century Army ?

I know the propaganda spouted by the Horsey lobby about 20,000 jobs , blah , blah, is all too willingly regurgitated by the media who never seem to challege it , personally I believe the Horse industry greatly exaggerates its importance to the economy . Even if it were true the question has to be asked just why the Army see fit to run an equitation operation when horses left service 70 odd years ago ?

It's ridiculous.

It's like a little bubble in which Edwardian society prospers. The peasants muck out the stables, brush the horses and give the Royalty a leg up onto the horse so they can go for a trot.

In the face of multiple barrack closures, Units being stood down etc. the Horsey School's continued existence is going to become a serious credibility issue for DF leadership.

goldie fish · 26-04-2012 7:48pm

Delancey wrote: »

Is the continued recruitment of Cadets for the Equitation school and indeed the continued existence of the school not a complete anachronism for a 21st century Army ?

I know the propaganda spouted by the Horsey lobby about 20,000 jobs , blah , blah, is all too willingly regurgitated by the media who never seem to challege it , personally I believe the Horse industry greatly exaggerates its importance to the economy . Even if it were true the question has to be asked just why the Army see fit to run an equitation operation when horses left service 70 odd years ago ?

While the Irish horse industry may be a huge contributor to the Irish economy, (I don't know either way) surely the money comes from horseracing and not Gymkanas? The ES should be racing in fairyhouse, not posing in the RDS if it wants to promote the irish horse.

hopefulaplican · 26-04-2012 8:59pm

Hey folks, do they check for photo ID on the day of interviews and/or fitness tests for the Air Corps??? If you could let me know quick that would be great!

ThatGuy93 · 26-04-2012 9:59pm

Hi guys,

Does anybody have a rough idea as to when the Psychometric testing for the Air Corps cadets will take place?

Cheers

goldie fish · 26-04-2012 10:45pm

hopefulaplican wrote: »

Hey folks, do they check for photo ID on the day of interviews and/or fitness tests for the Air Corps??? If you could let me know quick that would be great!

Who are you planning to send to do the test for you?

PDF101 · 26-04-2012 11:37pm

hopefulaplican wrote: »

Hey folks, do they check for photo ID on the day of interviews and/or fitness tests for the Air Corps??? If you could let me know quick that would be great!

Speechless....

CADETSHIPS 2012

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