Garda Reserve Force - (See Moderator note in first post #1)

given that most of the chatter about the reserve force on boards has been "curtain twitching busy bodies", I doubt that anyone would actually admit to being a member.
Saying that a mate of mine is a member of the pilot scheme, and all is going well, as usuall the press reports are over exagerated, she has had no problems other than getting the time to fit in the training, which is far from the 48 hours published and banded about by the gra.

Anyone out there in the reserves? I'm in the process of signing up. Any thoughts?

Ok here it is step by step.

I applied by phone in Sep 06. They sent me out an application for which i completed and returned.
(Oct 06) A few weeks later I was called for an interview and a written exam. The interview was about 1/2 hour and I was interviewed by a public servant and a Superintendent of some sort. The interview was along the theme of "challenges" and "what would you bring to the Gardai", "Why do you want to join the reserve", "would you or have you ever considered joining the full time Gardai", alot about challenges in your own job and what type of challenges have you encountered and how u overcame those challenges. They also asked about any other community involvement and volunteer work.

(Nov 06) I was then sent an e-mail with a form GR2 (background check) which takes ages to fill out. You have to give the details of all your family members including aunties & uncles. You also have to give your PPS number and all the addresses where you lived and all previous employment details aswell as 2 written references.

(Dec 06) They send you a medical cert asking about illnesses and any allergies. You also have to make an appointment to go for a medical in HQ in phoenix park. This will take up a full morning. The medical is very straight forward, if you're in an shape at all you'll pass. They check eyes, ears, heart, urine, blood pressure, weight, height and then they grab your balls and say cough (seriously).

(Jan 07) I was called in for another interview in the local Garda station with the Sergeant. It's more of an informal chat "ever in trouble with the gards" ask about friends family etc. He just tries to get a feel for what type of person you are.

Jan 07 Called in for another interview with the superintendent, not as informal as previous interview but throws a few tricky questions at you "what would you do if u felt a Garda wasn't acting appropriately and what procedures would you follow"?

Feb 07 I got a call from HR to say that I can expect to b called up in early March 07

However, as of today I have not received any formal notification that I have been accepted.


Steyr, what does RDF mean?

Bren,

Were you given any indication where you would be stationed, I posted a thread the other day in the wrong forum asking the question, so dont know if the thread will be closed. A friend of mine is a Reserve, she was on the pilot scheme. I think 50 recruits are now in station training at the moment, and a further 50 going to templemore in march.
There doesnt seem to be a lack of recruits, but a lack of room in templemore to train them, given the size of phases of regular student Guards. the thread I posted is "Garda Reserve Stations", I posted it on "News & Media", muppet.

Fyr.Fytr wrote:

RDF = Reserve Defence Forces

Steyr guessed you were in RDF as the Bren gun is a support weapon they use

Correct but the Bren is gone and has been replaced by the GPMG and 0.5 HMG.:D

Good shape as in, If you can run you'll be fine.

Hi Bren, I had the interview and test yesterday. Thought the interview went very well but raging over the test as I think I mentioned two or three bits of unnecessary information. I only included them as relevent information as in a way it was a fact, just maybe not relevent.

Ah well. See what happens.

Good luck with your application.

Ian.

Howya Lads,

I think everyone is a little shy on the replies, as its still early days with the Reserve as a whole, but if its any use to you, a friend of mine is a serving Reservist and she is getting on fine. Good luck to both of you.

Wex:

Hi Robbie,
Where you on the pilot scheme, or one of the following phases, interested to find out which stations are now coming on line.

Wex

Steyr wrote:

Bren with that nickanme im guessing your RDF?

Add dan to Bren and what do you get?

Hi,

Congratulations !!!! Thats brilliant. Well done. I'am still waiting. I handed in my GR(2) about two weeks ago and I got a call from a Garda Sergeant last night about arranging an interview to go over my charactor. I'am expecting a call from him soon to talk to him today. Other than that not much. Still no word on going for the medical. I know my background check is still in progress too, so maybe I'll get my orders soon. Still off the drink, but seem to have cusped at 10.11. I've got holidays at the end of August too to go to a wedding, so If i do get into the late april group I just might make it, otherwise I'll have to hang on for a while.

Well done again. Really envious now. But maybe my time will come eventually.

I have two friends who've applied for this. One got a phone call yesterday to say that she's to report to Templemore for training at the end of April. She has gone through all the procedures. The other has also gone through all the procedures but no word yet. Needless to say she's up the walls now worrying that she doesn't have it. But, everyone seems to have done the interviews/report writing etc. at different stages. So maybe they don't phone everybody at the same time. Anyone any ideas on this?