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

celticlegend03 wrote:

Hey thanks for the above. Due to have my interview and exam next wk. Is there any documents or sample questions for the exam stage on the public jobs web site or anywhere else?

Also I am hoping to join full time in the near future, should I mention that at the interview? Any views

Dont think there are any sample questions available, at least I havnt seen any, but I would mention that you are interested in Full time after, some of the original Reserves are joining full time I think.

hi everyone, i was oe of the people attested and graduated yesterday from the Garda Reserve, now i joined initially as ive intentions of joining the regular force. Im loving where im station, and all the people im working with, ive met a great bunch of people throught the reserve training and really enjoyed every aspect of it! so good luck to anyone applying. PS only bad thing was i was on the TV3 news yesterday recieving my cert and ive had too many texts from people who've seen it! Embarrassing!

Congrats,

Hope things went well for you on the day, I am a Reserve member, passed out with the first batch, stationed in Dublin. At least there are a few more of us now, think there is another phase behind you guys passing out in a couple of months. I have been following the forums on the Reserve for a while, looks like its getting a bit easier to chat about now.

Well I finally got the time to write in. As the user id states I am the first RG to have gone on duty in the country. As a member of the first batch to have passed out in 15-12-06, it has been a pleasure getting involved, seeing the real issues outside of my own life. For anyone who is wondering about joining up......Go for it. I hate reading other threads with people moaning about taking the mick out of what we all are trying to do. I have not heard of any negative reaction to us from either the general public nor the full time members. It still is a learing experience for all of us and each will be picking up new info as we go along. There isn't even a new full garda member who knows everything.

If in doubt.....Sign up for the challenge.

R u thinking of joining up?

Have just created a filter email address. This will be used to weed out the junk emails etc

<removed>

Regards

Cork.
R u on the Reserve Mailing list? Did u get your mail shot? U can reply to the above rg1 email address later

69sparkie69 wrote:

hi guys and girls..
just wondering if anyone up for a medical this week..as i`m up for the hi jump on Friday..hopefully,all going well,i should get it..still lost frig all weight..but have firmed up..and looking good..well i think i am..hahaha..
on a different note, taking to Sgt at my local Stn.,and he`s in the gra committee in this county ,,and he has said since McDowell lost his seat,the gra are looking for changes, all ready to the reserves,with the new minister of justice..bloody hell..they got there pay increase`s to accept the reserves,do they want more..cant understand it, when people are willing to give up there own time to do something good for the country, and others are milking that for there own financial benefits.. well thats my rant for the day over..
sparkie.

If you have such a low opinion of full time Garda members,why do you want to work with them?Perhaps you should undertake some more research before commenting further about something you so obviously don't know much about,e.g Sgts are not in the G.R.A. they are in A.G.S.I

I'm afraid that your attitude to full time Gardai will be exposed before long which will only lead to your presence being tolerated not welcomed.I hope you never need full time G.R.A. members to help get you out of a sticky
situation.

69sparkie69 wrote:

so lennox.
what do you do..??? what do you do for your community..?? as for my attitude,..i dont think you know me,..and as for that,..you should keep your opinion to yourself.. i`ve haven`t a low opinion off the guards,,if i did ,why would i like to join the force..?? as for the agsi, they are guards, too with stripes and pips..after being promoted from the gra..so forgive me for getting that wrong.. but as i said before..ie. milking the system.. must off hit a nerve..,everyone one is out to get something for nothing..as for getting out off a sticky situation,..you don't allow yourself get into one..i`ve plenty life experience off sticky situations..perhaps you should off given your experience and opinion to the donegal enquiry..?? just a thought..
anyway, nice to hear from you and your opinion, and you are welcome to this Volunteer thread..for the garda reserve..

I have no desire to argue with you.However as a member of the public,I have a right to express an opinion and if you become a member of the Reserve,you will be expected to defend my right to lawfully and peacefully express it.

My community involvement is not something I feel the need to shout about.Suffice to say that I have been involved for as long as you you are on this earth(you previously said that you are in your early forties)

I have no connection with the Donegal inquiry or any other inquiry,but have an interest in what goes on in this country,and with our Garda force.Your cheap shot is unbecoming of someone who hopes to wear the same uniform as the many proud members of the Gardai.

The lives of many Gardai and their families have been changed utterly by the results of sticky situations that brave Gardai could not get out of so don't presume you won't get into any sticky situations and be dependent on Gardai to assist you.

I wish you well in your endeavours to become a member of the reserve and hope that you will respect the full time Gardai and their opinions as you expect them to respect you.

geo1212 wrote:

I think lennox has a valid and extremely important point, there have been unfortunatly several sticky situations that ALL MEMBERS OF THE FORCE have dealt with and without a mutual respect between them and indeed members of the public, the idea of a Reserve system could not work.

Thats a fair point Geo, also given that An Garda Siochana, as with all organisations will have I would assume its fair share of rumours, its probably worth taking some things with a pinch of salt.
Maybe there will be changes to how the whole thing works, but I doubt it will be because Mc D. is out of Government.

With, is it 13,000 ish Guards, and at most 150 Reserves, it stands to reason that probably only 300/400 Guards have actually worked along side a Reserve Guy/Girl, and most of them are probably in the Dublin region.
Its probably these 300/400 who know what the situation is like on the ground as such.

As with us Nationwide, we all know what we are like, The Smoking Ban for example. Ah jasus, sure that wont work here. The Euro, the whah, I'm not bleedin yousin dem tings. I am not by the way trying to slag any accents off, but just trying to make a point. We sometimes can be guilty of shooting something down in flames until we have had a chance to get used to it.
At some stage is it not probable that a Reserve will be in a situation where they have helped save a Guard from a thump or worse, simply because they were on duty with the Guard at the time, when that happens, or if it happens, then common sense would mean that the Guard would probably give the Reserve a slap on the back in thanks.
But that rumour might take longer to do the rounds, as at the moment it would go against the flow.

Hi gooser,

where bouts you stationed

freddiew wrote:

Was your test a cartoon about a Fire.

Hi, Yep it was indeed !!! I think I had my written test at about 1.30 on the day I went for interview. The time flew on that test too and I was really worried that I'd failed as I'd metioned things that I regreted later on, but then I got the letter to say I'd passed so I was delighted. I wonder how long it'll be before we're notified to attend for the medical ?? Just a matter of waiting longer I suppose.

iandromiskin wrote:

Yeah, I must give them a shout so. Still no official word of the GR(2), but I presume having the interview with the Gard ment it was ok. I'll give them a ring after 5 as any emails responses I get are one line answers.

Hi Sparkie, I rang them just after 5 to be told that my background check is still not completed and has not been returned to them yet. Talk about frustrating !!!! Thats been going on since April !!! Trust me to have relatives in England, Spain and Australia that they have to check up on ... Typical.

anyone logged onto the new reserve forum?

charliedog wrote:

i have no idea why any person would possibly want to join the garda reserves - i just dont get it - putting up with abuse and dressing up as a wannabe cop is beyond and no pay? theres something wrong definitely!

That seems to be a common reaction among people all right. I'am not in the Reserves (yet) but I am in process and I hope to make it all the way as its something I want to do and be part of. Most of the people applying and joining have been involved in communitiy activites of some sort and this is another way of doing something for the community at large. Its not a pretend cop thing at all nor does anyone have an axe to grind, its just we want to do something more for our community and country. That might sound naive or innocent, but thats really most peoples motives, mine anyway, for wanting to be part of it - even with the potential for abuse and no pay.

iandromiskin wrote:

Hi Babs1. I was in a similar postition to you in relation to this, though maybe a bit early for you to be worrying about it this early if you havn't done your primary interview yet ?



hi, thanks for reply. it is early but i want to make sure there is any point in me going for this interview before i put myself through it because i hate interviews so much. suppose i could track everyone down if i had to but its people i (or my immediate family) dont really speak to. did you get your medical sorted?