Garda Siochana Career Prospects

eroo

Just wondering what career prospects are like in An Garda Siochana?The reason I ask is that there doesn't tend to be much info of prospects on Garda.ie.Just like to know whether 'the world is your oyster',so to speak!:) Obviously there is options such as DDU or Sgt.'s course,but what is available to a Garda once he/she has decided they'd like to 'broaden their horizons'?Also,what is the attitude to moving elsewhere from colleagues,superiors etc?

I'd just like to see what options are available in a long term career,such as local and national units(mounted unit,organised crime unit etc),so if any Gardai here could answer any of my queries I'd really appreciate it!(It might also help anyone else wanting to find out about career prospects in AGS)

thanks,
eroo:)

Eru

There is dozens if not hundreds of options once your a qualified however they have various requirements to get them. You know promotoion obviously and the more well known areas such as detective or mounted but theres also helicopter, multiple offices, specialists such as ballistics, scenes of crime, mapping. Firearms as in ERU. UN duty or temporary transfer to the PSNI.

Then theres mountain bikes, car drivers, survelance, traffic, community or training.

Oh Jesus the list just goes on and on. Really being a Garda can lead to so many areas that qualifying is only a stepping stone. However be advised that some of the more fashionable and wanted positions are extremely hard to get.

Good post by the way

eroo

thanks for the reply Karlitosway!

bryanmurr

its almost impossible to put a number on the amount of diff jobs there are. Even at basic local level you have drugs, ddu, task force, resource unit(in some stns) neighbourhood policing, traffic. Then you can branch off into inservice training, or national units like mounted, air support, national drugs, sdu, eru, or my personal fav Regional Traffic :cool: the list goes on really. theres even office jobs like warrants officer or JLO

King Ludvig

Im particularly interested in the ERU, but would imagine its pretty hard to get into? Anyone know what the standards/requirements are like?
I know you have to be in the service at least three years before applying if there is a opening, but what else? Also, would experience in the Army Reserve be of help?

CLADA

King Ludvig wrote: »

Im particularly interested in the ERU, but would imagine its pretty hard to get into? Anyone know what the standards/requirements are like?
I know you have to be in the service at least three years before applying if there is a opening, but what else? Also, would experience in the Army Reserve be of help?

Are you a serving Garda? If so, check the circulars for last Aug/Sept when the last competition was advertised. All the requirements are contained therein.

Sorry! Just noticed on another thread that you're doing your leaving this year, can't really give you any advice, who knows what the ERU will be like in 2020 when you will be eligible to apply:D

King Ludvig

Well I was thinking more along the lines of 2016 but anyway Good point tho.

Was just wondering what its like now, its very hard to find out much about them online

Also, Ive seen "DDU" been mentioned on the forums quite a bit, what does it stand for? Something Detective Unit?

metman

District Detective Unit

CLADA

King Ludvig wrote: »

Well I was thinking more along the lines of 2016 but anyway Good point tho.

Yes my young friend, time will fly. If you get in to the GS then get stuck in. Your service record and the recommendations of your supervisors are the main considerations when they review applications for specialist units.

Have a look at whats there, as Karlito said there are dozens of various opportunities and see which appeal to you.

Actually in 2016 I'll be eligible for retirement:eek:

Eru

CLADA wrote: »

Actually in 2016 I'll be eligible for retirement:eek:

2920 days and counting.....:D

controller

How many years does a regular have to serve before being permitted to take the Sgt exams? Is propationary service reckonable?

DublinWriter

One of the main problems is the wait many talented young members have to go through in order to get any senior rank.

You'd be very lucky to make Inspector by your mid 30's and very lucky to make Superintendent by your mid 40's.

Compare and contrast with Kathleen O'Toole of the Garda Inspectorate, who at 32 held a rank equivalent to a Garda Assistant Commissioner in the Boston police.

My second point is that the Guards have an on-going civilianisation programme that aims to replace a lot of the specialist non-uniform roles with civilian staff, particular in areas such as I.T., Telecoms and Mapping. This may limit your intended career scope depending on the area you want to get into.

For example, if an officer in the PSNI goes on an uncertified sicky then they'll will be called by a civilian HR coordinator to find out when they will return back to work. The equivalent function in the Guards would usually be handled by a staff-sergeant.

Eru

DublinWriter wrote: »

One of the main problems is the wait many talented young members have to go through in order to get any senior rank.

You'd be very lucky to make Inspector by your mid 30's and very lucky to make Superintendent by your mid 40's.

Compare and contrast with Kathleen O'Toole of the Garda Inspectorate, who at 32 held a rank equivalent to a Garda Assistant Commissioner in the Boston police.

My second point is that the Guards have an on-going civilianisation programme that aims to replace a lot of the specialist non-uniform roles with civilian staff, particular in areas such as I.T., Telecoms and Mapping. This may limit your intended career scope depending on the area you want to get into.

For example, if an officer in the PSNI goes on an uncertified sicky then they'll will be called by a civilian HR coordinator to find out when they will return back to work. The equivalent function in the Guards would usually be handled by a staff-sergeant.

Yes but you have to wonder how beneficial it is too have someone high ranking with limited service. The national police in Spain allow a new recruit with a law degree to go straight in as Inspector. Thats crazy as far as Im concerned.

the second point, 30 years of walking the beat and wrestling with violent people, thats going to be tough at 50!

metman

DublinWriter wrote: »

For example, if an officer in the PSNI goes on an uncertified sicky then they'll will be called by a civilian HR coordinator to find out when they will return back to work. The equivalent function in the Guards would usually be handled by a staff-sergeant.

Actually this function is still performed by police officers. So while HR will maintain sickness records and handle job applications etc for officers, if you go sick it'll still be your skipper chasing you up.

DublinWriter

metman wrote: »

Actually this function is still performed by police officers. So while HR will maintain sickness records and handle job applications etc for officers, if you go sick it'll still be your skipper chasing you up.

That maybe the case in the London Met, but not in the PSNI.

As an aside, have a look at some of the civilian posts within the PSNI that would normally be handled by attested members within the guards:

http://www.thesupportteam.org/home/previouscampaigns.html

DublinWriter

Karlitosway1978 wrote: »

Yes but you have to wonder how beneficial it is too have someone high ranking with limited service. The national police in Spain allow a new recruit with a law degree to go straight in as Inspector. Thats crazy as far as Im concerned.

It is. The old RIC and early incarnation of the Civic Guards had a similar cadet-officer programme that recruited directly into the rank of Superintendent and arguably wasn't very successful.

Karlitosway1978 wrote: »

the second point, 30 years of walking the beat and wrestling with violent people, thats going to be tough at 50!

Thirty years plus now that recent and future recruits have to serve until the compulsory retirement age and not after 30 years of service.

slingerz

So new recruits are not eligible for retirement after 30 years of service?

I have a masters degree and was actively applying this february until injury made it impossible. I'm just wondering would progression up the ranks and involvement of specialist units be made easier as a result of my qualifications if i applied and was successful

shakin

CLADA wrote: »

Are you a serving Garda? If so, check the circulars for last Aug/Sept when the last competition was advertised. All the requirements are contained therein.

Sorry! Just noticed on another thread that you're doing your leaving this year, can't really give you any advice, who knows what the ERU will be like in 2020 when you will be eligible to apply:D

how often do they advertise?
are eru members detectives? and if so does one have to be a detective then eru ?

eroo

shakin wrote: »

how often do they advertise?
are eru members detectives? and if so does one have to be a detective then eru ?

Don't know.Yes.You become a detective after an 18 month probationary period AFAIK.

Btw,I'm not a Garda so I could be wrong on the last one!:)

jesus_thats_gre

ERU members are detectives afaik.

shakin

jesus_thats_gre wrote: »

ERU members are detectives afaik.

so you have to be a detective to join or do you apply to be a detective in the eru, while your uniform?

also do the eru actually do detective work or are they soley armed response?

metman

Like most specialised armed detective units ERU members are required to have a certain level of all round policing ability to enable them to perform a variety of functions. Suffice to say I doubt they spend much of their days putting together casefiles, but then neither do the likes of the Flying Squad here. That's not what specialist detective units are about; its first and foremost about recruiting proven coppers who can successfully work a uniform/detective role and be flexible as to tasking/remit.

eroo

shakin wrote: »

so you have to be a detective to join or do you apply to be a detective in the eru, while your uniform?

also do the eru actually do detective work or are they soley armed response?

Uniform can apply after a minimum of 3 years service from attestation.You become a detective after completing a 6 month assessment and subsequent 18 month probation.

Found all of this a year or so ago when reading the Barr report(have yet to finish it!:rolleyes:)
http://www.mulley.net/BarrTribunalReport/BarrTribunalReportChapter10.html

shakin

eroo wrote: »

Uniform can apply after a minimum of 3 years service from attestation.You become a detective after completing a 6 month assessment and subsequent 18 month probation.

Found all of this a year or so ago when reading the Barr report(have yet to finish it!:rolleyes:)
http://www.mulley.net/BarrTribunalReport/BarrTribunalReportChapter10.html

very good well worth a read, has anyone ever made it after the bare 3 years i wonder?