Ok so how do you join Civil Defence.

Odysseus

Cheers for the info lads, I went to an info session at Wolfe Tone Quay the other night, interesting stuff. Hoping for the rescue service.

star gazer

The civil defence website has an FAQ.
The list of the various civil defence units throughout the country

civdef

Any other CD members on boards?

Dr Strange

Hi civdef,

great to see you modding this forum!

Yes, I am but not very active atm due to finishing up research. Will probably last till end of November next year and be active after that again.

EDIT: I see Hagar as well! Nice one.

r3nu4l

I was involved with CD for 3 years, rescue service in Ballyfermot, Dublin and I represented Dublin at National Exercise in 1995(?) in Clonmel. I was on the Mountain Rescue team and also a specialist multidisciplinary team that was set up for a while in Dublin. My PhD responsibilities put paid to my involvement in CD

I really, really enjoyed my time in CD. Great days!

Hagar

Preusse wrote: »

EDIT: I see Hagar as well! Nice one.

Always turning up like a bad penny.

Some thread this, started in Sept 2003.

captain caveman

sorry for ressurecting this, but interested in joining the aux fire service. anyone got any advice/recommendations? Took a gander at the website (3 actually) but its just really general stuff. Also whats your level of fitness got to be like?

r3nu4l

To join, find your nearest unit. I find the CD website isn't very good tbh but here is a list of current CDOs for each region.

Your best bet is to phone them at this number: 0505-25310, find out where your local centre is, the training times and then visit the training centre. Talk to the officer in charge and ask about joining. The AFS (like the rest of the CD) are a friendly bunch. No need to be nervous

Fitness wise, it always helps to be fit but to be honest unless you are absolutely appallingly unfit you won't have a problem. Your fitness will develop over time and as you train you'll get an idea of exactly how fit you need to be.

When I was in the Rescue service and on Mountain rescue I was quite fit and always up for more but some of the people on the 'team' were totally unfit and shouldn't have been there imo. However, it's a voluntary service and these people were willing to give their time so I won't criticise that!

Hope this helps.

controller

Best organisation you'll ever join for friends, training & anyone with an interest in pursuing a career in the emergency services. Go for it. It definitely stood to me when I started in my choosen area of the ES.

i-digress

Glad to hear that! I start my initial training course this week.

triple-M

Hi all,im interested in joining the cd particuarly the water rescue,im just wondering if theyll be recruiting again soon,i know with all the cutbacks etc theyre funding may have been cut,and just one more Q,im just wondering where abouts the water rescue is based,just so that i can see if it would be practical for me to be able to make it out for training every week as im in blanchardstown and transport isnt great especially to coastal areas

5500

triple-M wrote: »

Hi all,im interested in joining the cd particuarly the water rescue,im just wondering if theyll be recruiting again soon,i know with all the cutbacks etc theyre funding may have been cut,and just one more Q,im just wondering where abouts the water rescue is based,just so that i can see if it would be practical for me to be able to make it out for training every week as im in blanchardstown and transport isnt great especially to coastal areas

In Dublin anyways the initial inductions began a few weeks back,id say at this stage you will have to wait untill the next round to apply but im not sure when that is.

Any other boardsies on the current induction?

i-digress

I think so. I'm on an induction course anyway. We covered CAS last week, is that the one you mean?

civdef

CAS?

i-digress

The Casualty and Ambulance Service. We're getting talks on all units before we go out to visit classes. Last week was my first week so sorry if I'm getting everything the wrong way round! :rolleyes:

El Che

Hi,

I'm thinking of joining the Civil Defence but have a few questions.

1. Once inducted into a local unit, how does a Probationary or Volunteer receive a uniform? Does it cost much? And what elements are their in the uniform other than the boiler suit, etc?

2. If a Volunteer has a Provisional drivers license (now Learner's Permit), could they be permitted to drive a Civil Defence vehicle (that meets their license class)?

3. Are qualifications earned in the Civil Defence official? For instance, if someone reaches Instructor level, does their qualification meet national and international standards? (Ie: do the qualifications gained in the organisation count?)

4. What's footdrill like?

civdef

1. The uniform is supplied by CD, there is no cost to the member. It varies from county to county how long it takes to get the full issue before you join, but eventually you should have:
Safety boots, combat trousers, white t-shirt, uniform shirt, mid layer jacket, reflective jacket, waterproof trousers, safety cap, beret, dress tunic, dress trousers / skirt.

Other uniform items such as fire kit, rescue PPE, dry suits etc are issued based on the activities you undertake. The yellow boiler suits are gone a couple of years now.

2. The CD insurance policy requires that all drivers have a full licence appropriate to the category of vehicle.

3. Qualifications are switching gradually to national standards as opposed to being purely from CD. For example, all first aid qualifications are switching over to PHECC, AFS instructor courses are run by the Fire Services Council, and the process of getting FETAC / HETAC recognition of all courses is underway.

4. Footdrill is easy, that said, it varies from place to place whether you do it at all, some units / counties hardly ever do it.

El Che

civdef wrote: »

1. The uniform is supplied by CD, there is no cost to the member. It varies from county to county how long it takes to get the full issue before you join, but eventually you should have:
Safety boots, combat trousers, white t-shirt, uniform shirt, mid layer jacket, reflective jacket, waterproof trousers, safety cap, beret, dress tunic, dress trousers / skirt.

Other uniform items such as fire kit, rescue PPE, dry suits etc are issued based on the activities you undertake. The yellow boiler suits are gone a couple of years now.

2. The CD insurance policy requires that all drivers have a full licence appropriate to the category of vehicle.

3. Qualifications are switching gradually to national standards as opposed to being purely from CD. For example, all first aid qualifications are switching over to PHECC, AFS instructor courses are run by the Fire Services Council, and the process of getting FETAC / HETAC recognition of all courses is underway.

4. Footdrill is easy, that said, it varies from place to place whether you do it at all, some units / counties hardly ever do it.

Thanks for your answers, its much appreciated.

Sierra Oscar

Im really considering joining up - I would really love to, just a question however . . .

Are there many people that are studying in college part of the CD? Could it be an issue if you were?

If I ended up in Dublin studying for a number of years, would it be possible to join a unit in that area? Or would I be best of first joining a unit in the area I am in at the moment, which is North Tipp.

5500

There's a mix of everything really,in my group theres some fulltime dfb,mechanics,sparks,builders,financial analyist ect

If your gonna be moving to dublin soon you may aswell string out,theres another intake starting in september and there's units all over dublin so plenty to choose from depending on location ect

Sierra Oscar

Thanks eireal, Ill have to get in touch with the office in Dublin.

looks like rain ted

hey i hope to join the cd in september, according to an email i got that is when they are recruiting in my area. I just like to know what way is it operated? so you do the 2 or so hours of training once a week, but if a situation comes up and the cd are needed what happens? are we all called in to help or just the ones that are available? and if your not available i.e. working or in college etc do they put that against you?