Joining the Reserve Defence Force

Bam Bam

Don't have the time for a life less ordinary, how about a weekend?

The Reserve Defence Force are recruiting throughout the year and is well worth joining for the experience alone.

In my short career I have been in trench's on a hillside for days and have jumped from a hovering helicopter.

If you want to join the PDF then the RDF can give a very accurate impression of what the training is like

If you enjoy the outdoors and the army appeals to you, but you already have a job, then the reserve is for you.

You need only be between the age of 17 - 35, and be physically fit.

If you want to know where your local headquarters are or whats involved in training, then both myself and the other RDF members on this board will gladly answer your questions.

Ruu_Old

Yeah my younger brother was in it and thoroughly enjoyed the training. He particularly liked being in the outdoors (spending a few days in the Wicklow mountains I think he said) on provisions. I remember him coming back with the tinfoil dish of baked beans and sausages, which were mixed up and those oatmeal biscuits they give you. I think he finished (however long is required) and loved it.

Húrin

I would definitely be interested. How long is the training? Are the entry requirements stringent?

zuma

H&#250 wrote: »

I would definitely be interested. How long is the training? Are the entry requirements stringent?

When I joined in 1998 the most stringent requirement was PERFECT hearing!!!

After th army deafness scandals the last thing they wanted was the FCA looking for compo.
When I was at my hearing test we talked with a Sgt. who had hearing problems and was being retested....if he failed he said he wouldnt be allowed to progress any further in the ranks...he failed!

TerrorFirmer

I would be super interested in the RDF. What sort of hours are there involved? I work 9-5 monday to friday...

Havok, it depends. Generally its 2.5 hours a week, one weekend a month and 2 weeks a year on camp. For me, Ive already done a week at Easter and there's 2 more in June/July.

Dave!

I've been thinking of joining the RDF for a long time now...!

Here's a thread I started on the subject a good while ago:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2054882136

Maybe the mod of that forum will move it to here! I PM'd one of them, anyways.

scojones

I've just finished a degree in Software Development, but, I'm itching to do something like this. I'm planning on traveling the world from January onwards, but, this is definitely something I would be interested in.

babybundy

zuma wrote:

When I joined in 1998 the most stringent requirement was PERFECT hearing!!!

After th army deafness scandals the last thing they wanted was the FCA looking for compo.
When I was at my hearing test we talked with a Sgt. who had hearing problems and was being retested....if he failed he said he wouldnt be allowed to progress any further in the ranks...he failed!

your not 34 inf are you

-boris

i have a medical monday week,what exactly does it entail and are they very strict on anything besides the hearing?

minidazzler

-boris wrote: »

i have a medical monday week,what exactly does it entail and are they very strict on anything besides the hearing?

The RDF Medical is as strict as whoever is doing it. Some of the people who do it let small things slide, anything major and you won't get it!!!

Don't forget to have a good wash before you go up, you will be stripped to your jocks.

Borneo Fnctn

minidazzler wrote: »

Don't forget to have a good wash before you go up, you will be stripped to your jocks.

+1. Make sure you at least rinse around the key areas.

minidazzler

jackpalance wrote: »

+1. Make sure you at least rinse around the key areas.

And CLEAN Jocks!!! Skid Marks would be quite embarrassing!!!

jill_valentine

Worth saying, don't go to a thrash metal band or sleep with your headphones in the night before the hearing test...

steyr fan

don't go to the cinema either for the previous 48 hours. It's very loud.

steve McQueen

jill_valentine wrote: »

Worth saying, don't go to a thrash metal band or sleep with your headphones in the night before the hearing test...

whaaa????:o

djtechnics1210

and don't bring your hearing aid with you.... and if possible try to leave the labrador and stick outside somewhere and you'll be grand...

-boris

minidazzler wrote: »

The RDF Medical is as strict as whoever is doing it. Some of the people who do it let small things slide, anything major and you won't get it!!!

Don't forget to have a good wash before you go up, you will be stripped to your jocks.

I see....but what this part about being stripped to your jocks!i mean what the f#ck?whats that about?Is it just to the jocks or is it balls and all!?

tribulus

-boris wrote: »

I see....but what this part about being stripped to your jocks!i mean what the f#ck?whats that about?Is it just to the jocks or is it balls and all!?

I've heard some just stick a hand down and ask you to cough, I had to lie down and pull everything down, it's just a formality only takes a few seconds.

-boris

tribulus wrote: »

I've heard some just stick a hand down and ask you to cough, I had to lie down and pull everything down, it's just a formality only takes a few seconds.

The c/s never mentioned that part!how long does the medical take!and do they take blood?

tribulus

I'm assuming it's the same as the PDF one in which case it's a full medical, blood, urine, eyes, ears, teeth etc.

Mine took over two hours total but I was there with four other people so there was lots of waiting around.

-boris

tribulus wrote: »

I'm assuming it's the same as the PDF one in which case it's a full medical, blood, urine, eyes, ears, teeth etc.

Mine took over two hours total but I was there with four other people so there was lots of waiting around.

I know they dont cheek your teeth for the rdf but im not sure about the others.2 hours is fairly long.do they give you a 2nd shot at the hearing?I already did the hearing but we wont know if we passed it our not until we go up again for the medical,which is kind of stupid,i'm resisting the urge to listen to my mp3!

jill_valentine

They might give you a formal or informal second shot at the hearing, depending on whether you're obviously half deaf or just a few blips short.

Some of the lads I was tested with failed their hearing test because they'd been sleeping with headphones on. They had to wait until the next round of recruitment to get another go, which they passed no problem.

-boris

jill_valentine wrote: »

They might give you a formal or informal second shot at the hearing, depending on whether your obviously half deaf or just a few blips short.

Some of the lads I was tested with failed their hearing test because they'd been sleeping with headphones on. They had to wait until the next round of recruitment to get another go, which they passed no problem.

Thats what i like abiut hus country,you certainly cannot beat the informalities.

if all goes well,on average how long does the swearing in process and issueing of a inoform take?

jill_valentine

Uniform can be a couple of weeks, swearing-in a little less, IIRC.

-boris

jill_valentine wrote: »

Uniform can be a couple of weeks, swearing-in a little less, IIRC.

righto.thanks for the info.

greenarrow

tribulus wrote: »

I'm assuming it's the same as the PDF one in which case it's a full medical, blood, urine, eyes, ears, teeth etc.

Mine took over two hours total but I was there with four other people so there was lots of waiting around.

The medical for the RDF is the same as the PDF, but with the exception of the blood. Plus there is no fitness exam either.

The reason they check your balls is to check the weight of them.
The medical doesn't take too long and its fairly straightforward enough. Probably the reason you were waiting around was because something was found in one of the guys/gals who went before you.

Eyesight and hearing are done seperate to the medical though.

tribulus

I was waiting around because all of the candidates were being brought to McKee together for the interviews. I think you may have mixed me up with a different poster.

djtechnics1210

greenarrow wrote: »

The medical for the RDF is the same as the PDF, but with the exception of the blood. Plus there is no fitness exam either.

The reason they check your balls is to check the weight of them.

What happens if their too heavy.... do they have to go on a diet
I dread to think what happens if their too small :eek:

Evd-Burner

why the bloody hell do they weigh them in the first place, i thought the cough part was so the blood rushes through and they can detect and unwanted lumps.

iceage

Holy crap guys! they're checkin for Hernia, thats all.....unless your fit and the Doc winks at ya!:D

greenarrow

Ask the doctor. But the reason they just do it is to see if the the difference between them is slight.
That's why one of them hangs lower than the other...Apart from that I don't know. But a slight difference in the weight is a healthy sign.

I know I am talking bollocks before someone else says it:D

iceage

Yeah, talking bollocks about bollocks!!:rolleyes: