Naval reserve

Tellox

Hi all,

I'm sure I'll get enough of a slagging for joining the naval reserve already, so let's leave that out

I'm heading in on Wednesday with my birth cert and passport pictures to get things moving, but there's a few things I'm wondering if anyone here can help me with;

1) The recruitment ban - how badly is it affecting the naval reserve? Will I be waiting months to start up?

2) Hair - right now I've got hair to around half way between my cheek and chin.. how short will this have to be cut?

<edit>3) Medical test - what exactly is done? Is there drug testing? </edit>

Cheers

Morpheus

Im in infantry, but to best of my knowledge.. its number 2 back and sides, I think that sideburns will not extend below the lowest part of the exterior ear opening. i believe that the actual length should be such that when combed it does not fall over the ears or eyebrows, that actually seems a little lenient to me though. Facial hair should be shaved - some corps units allow regulation facial hair if you had it at time of joining or if you've grown it during a period of holidays such that it doesnt look half grown or unkempt.

To be honest, your best bet is to speak to the recruiting unit about their particular regulations.

Craigsy

Tellox wrote: »

Hi all,

I'm sure I'll get enough of a slagging for joining the naval reserve already, so let's leave that out

I'm heading in on Wednesday with my birth cert and passport pictures to get things moving, but there's a few things I'm wondering if anyone here can help me with;

1) The recruitment ban - how badly is it affecting the naval reserve? Will I be waiting months to start up?

2) Hair - right now I've got hair to around half way between my cheek and chin.. how short will this have to be cut?

<edit>3) Medical test - what exactly is done? Is there drug testing? </edit>

Cheers

Worried about something are we?

Donny5

There's no recruiting until the end of 2010, at the earliest.

When you're in, you'll need a military haircut. Don't bother if you're not up for it.

The medical is fairly simple. If you're healthy, you'll pass.

There is Compulsory Random Drug Testing, which if you fail or refuse, will lead to your discharge, and may affect your prospects for future employment. If you're on drugs, don't bother going down.

Tellox

Craigsy wrote: »

Worried about something are we?

No infact - I'm wondering if it's blood or urine. Hate having blood taken.

I had a word with the recruitment, they don't seem to think it'll be 2010? Seemed confident enough that 4-5 months should be more than enough time. They also told me that hair isn't much of an issue as long as it's tidy and not any mad colours.. anyone care to chime in?

Donny5

Tellox wrote: »

No infact - I'm wondering if it's blood or urine. Hate having blood taken.

I had a word with the recruitment, they don't seem to think it'll be 2010? Seemed confident enough that 4-5 months should be more than enough time. They also told me that hair isn't much of an issue as long as it's tidy and not any mad colours.. anyone care to chime in?

It's a urine test.

They may know something I don't, but it doesn't seem likely these days that recruiting will be forthcoming.

Alkers

If you're worried about hair don't bother, if you're always keeping your hair borderline to whats allowed or whatever you're going to get chowed out of it more than once.
As far as the recruitment ban goes I'm not sure but some people who had started the recruitment process before the ban came in have been sworn in etc. At least you'll be able to get your security cleanance, medical etc out of the way and then be sworn in the day the ban is lifted!

pmg58

Tellox wrote: »

I had a word with the recruitment, they don't seem to think it'll be 2010? Seemed confident enough that 4-5 months should be more than enough time.

They must know something that the rest of the RDF don't.

Tellox

pmg58 wrote: »

They must know something that the rest of the RDF don't.

Apologies for the brain during lack of sleep mode.. it didn't quite click that 2010 is less than 3 months away. So you're probably right there - apologies on that.

On the hair front - I don't mind cutting it, it's pure curiosity. I'd probably look better with it short anyway. Would I need to do this before taking the medical/physical? Would still feel a little sickened if I chopped it all off only to get told I'm not good enough for the role

Donny5

Tellox wrote: »

Apologies for the brain during lack of sleep mode.. it didn't quite click that 2010 is less than 3 months away. So you're probably right there - apologies on that.

On the hair front - I don't mind cutting it, it's pure curiosity. I'd probably look better with it short anyway. Would I need to do this before taking the medical/physical? Would still feel a little sickened if I chopped it all off only to get told I'm not good enough for the role

No, you don't. You will when you're sworn in, though.

The word everywhere else seems to be not before the end of 2010 for recruitment, as was decided last year:

I am to direct that, with effect from the date of this letter to end 2010, no public service post, however arising, may be filled by recruitment, promotion, nor payment of an allowance for the performance of duties at a higher grade. Therefore when vacancies arise Departments/agencies etc must reallocate or reorganise work or staff accordingly. Any exceptions to this principle, which will arise in very imited circumstances only, require the prior sanction of the Minister for Finance. The decision also applies to temporary appointments on a fixed-term basis and to the renewal of such contracts.

The above is from http://www.finance.gov.ie/documents/public%20expenditure/2009/stanletter.pdf. Any change in this would be great, but unlikely, to be honest. Might they be stringing you along just to get the paperwork done?

pmg58

They did say they'd allow limited recruitment to fill vacant posts though, maybe theres been a mass exodus in the NSR?

Tellox, no one has said it already- best of luck on Wednesday, hopefully they'll be able to answer any questions you have. Its normally a bit intimidating for people at first, since most people will be in uniform etc but I can guarantee that they'll be delighted to see new recruits joining. And please come back and let us know how you get on.

mikeym

Cutbacks have affected the naval reserve badly e.g. courses such as sea survival and dcff cancelled.

Hopefully things get sorted out And you might see me at sea if you choose to go to sea.

Tellox

pmg58 wrote: »

They did say they'd allow limited recruitment to fill vacant posts though, maybe theres been a mass exodus in the NSR?

Tellox, no one has said it already- best of luck on Wednesday, hopefully they'll be able to answer any questions you have. Its normally a bit intimidating for people at first, since most people will be in uniform etc but I can guarantee that they'll be delighted to see new recruits joining. And please come back and let us know how you get on.

Cheers, I really appreciate that. I was getting a bit of a doom-and-gloom-youre-probably-a-pillhead feeling for a bit

Here's hoping - worst thing would be to sign off my name and sit around for over a year waiting for a call. It's a shame the freeze is on - I've been threatening to sign up for the reserves for years (and constantly talked out of it) - now that I've properly made my mind up, I might be out of luck..

I'll let you know what I come back with on Wednesday regardless

pmg58

They wouldn't be asking you to come up on wednesday if they though that you'd have to wait around for over a year.

superref

Tellox wrote: »

Apologies for the brain during lack of sleep mode.. it didn't quite click that 2010 is less than 3 months away. So you're probably right there - apologies on that.

On the hair front - I don't mind cutting it, it's pure curiosity. I'd probably look better with it short anyway. Would I need to do this before taking the medical/physical? Would still feel a little sickened if I chopped it all off only to get told I'm not good enough for the role

dont worry you wont be told your not good enough,cause they do f*** all tie knots pull up sails !!!!!!!!!!!!:D:D:D

Tellox

Well, good news, there's currently a few open spaces in the naval reserve so all that I'll really be waiting on is the gardá clearance.

Everyone in there was well on - very small group though, only around 10 in there. Plenty of jokes about me losing my locks of course

Signed off the papers, but to be honest I'm slightly considering a move to the FCA - while the Naval reserve looks like fantastic craic, and the group seem very sound, it doesn't look very physically demanding.. which is a little more towards what I was looking to go for. My recruiter informed me that they can facilitate a switch whenever needed.

Any opinions/advice?

pmg58

Tellox wrote: »

Signed off the papers, but to be honest I'm slightly considering a move to the FCA - while the Naval reserve looks like fantastic craic, and the group seem very sound, it doesn't look very physically demanding.. which is a little more towards what I was looking to go for. My recruiter informed me that they can facilitate a switch whenever needed.

Any opinions/advice?

The FCÁ hasn't existed since 2005, its the Army Reserve now. The Army Reserve might not be as physical as you imagine, the infantry do tactics every now and then, but I'd imagine most of the corps units are no more physically demanding than the NSR, but I could be wrong, I'm in the infantry. TBH i'd say the navy might be more interesting in a way since they generally get to "do more stuff".

Alkers

Which unit did you attend? The Naval Reserve isn't physically demanding whatsover unless you're unfit. If you're looking to use it as a means of getting fit I'd pretty much forget about it. I'm in four years in Feb and I don't think I've once broken a sweat when not at sea. One thing though I've never seen anything to indicate that a switch is easy from the NSR to army reserve. Maybe it's different if you're a recruit but I've seen people trying both ways meeting resistnace from the unit they're leaving and then being grouped in with juniors in the new unit no matter what rank they were before. From what I hear you won't be allowed join the army reserve at the moment due to the recruitment ban, they're not short on numbers where as the NSR are.

pmg58

Simona1986 wrote: »

If you're looking to use it as a means of getting fit I'd pretty much forget about it.

Yeah this applies equally to the army reserve.

One thing though I've never seen anything to indicate that a switch is easy from the NSR to army reserve. Maybe it's different if you're a recruit but I've seen people trying both ways meeting resistnace from the unit they're leaving and then being grouped in with juniors in the new unit no matter what rank they were before. From what I hear you won't be allowed join the army reserve at the moment due to the recruitment ban, they're not short on numbers where as the NSR are.

Realistically, the training in both is very different so a transfer at any stage after recruit is going to require a lot of retraining. And probably a drop in rank for NCOs as well.

Tellox

pmg58 wrote: »

Yeah this applies equally to the army reserve.

Realistically, the training in both is very different so a transfer at any stage after recruit is going to require a lot of retraining. And probably a drop in rank for NCOs as well.

Sorry, yes, correct - a switchover would mean resetting my rank and going back for basic training etc. Which at this point in the road, doesn't mean a whole lot.

Thanks for the advice guys, I'll take it on board.

Craigsy

Sounds good, i just missed out on Army reserve with theis recruitment ban but if the NSR is taken people on i might consider joining them. Did you just go down to CB? That's tuesday nights isnt it?

Tellox

Craigsy wrote: »

Sounds good, i just missed out on Army reserve with theis recruitment ban but if the NSR is taken people on i might consider joining them. Did you just go down to CB? That's tuesday nights isnt it?

Went to the Waterford military barracks, wednesdays 8-10pm.. not sure for yourself mate, but you should be able to get your local regiment's number from military.ie

Alkers

CB is Tuesdays 8-10. I'm not sure what the story is with new recruits although some people are being sworn in at the moment, they may have started the whole process before the ban came into place.

pmg58

Considering how long the enlistment process takes, especially the security clearance, they probably did sign up earlier this year.

Craigsy

Sure i'll go down next wednesday and see what the craic is anyway. I take it the 2 week training course is during the summer like the armys recrut camp or am i wrong?

Alkers

They're ran a couple of times throughout the year.