What this budget means for the DF.

Capt Blackadder

What exactly does this budget mean for members of the Defence Forces? Both serving and prospective members of the PDF and RDF. How will things change for

- The Army/Navy/Air Corps

and

- AR/NSR?

goldie fish

Less take home pay. Less Child benefit, costs more to drive to and from work.

Kingdom_of _oriel

As far as I know (from a very knowledgeable source) there will be restructuring of Brigade units throughout the Army. Artillery, Cav and logs will combine to form a single unit with elements from all the above. Each brigade will have a training battalion, in the East the 2nd batt is being turned into a training unit and brigade strength will go from 3 operational infantry battalions down to 2, the 5th and the 27th. Gormanstown will become part of the 27th and remaining 2nd batt personnel transfering to the 5th. The announcement if true will come into effect early in the new year.
Morale in the Army is almost dead and buried, I shudder to think what it must be like in the reserves.

triskell

Kingdom_of _oriel wrote: »

As far as I know (from a very knowledgeable source) there will be restructuring of Brigade units throughout the Army. Artillery, Cav and logs will combine to form a single unit with elements from all the above. Each brigade will have a training battalion, in the East the 2nd batt is being turned into a training unit and brigade strength will go from 3 operational infantry battalions down to 2, the 5th and the 27th. Gormanstown will become part of the 27th and remaining 2nd batt personnel transfering to the 5th. The announcement if true will come into effect early in the new year.
Morale in the Army is almost dead and buried, I shudder to think what it must be like in the reserves.

Hmm. Sounds ominous. any info on the west?

Poccington

I'd just like to remind everyone, that the CS4 document is a restricted document.

Be careful what you say on here, it may get you in trouble in the real world.

goldie fish

Kingdom_of _oriel wrote: »

As far as I know (from a very knowledgeable source) there will be restructuring of Brigade units throughout the Army. Artillery, Cav and logs will combine to form a single unit with elements from all the above. Each brigade will have a training battalion, in the East the 2nd batt is being turned into a training unit and brigade strength will go from 3 operational infantry battalions down to 2, the 5th and the 27th. Gormanstown will become part of the 27th and remaining 2nd batt personnel transfering to the 5th. The announcement if true will come into effect early in the new year.
Morale in the Army is almost dead and buried, I shudder to think what it must be like in the reserves.

Thats probably a proposal on th ewhite paper, rather than a budget decision.

However I did see the G4 is being retired and not replaced.

dodgydes

don't forget they're going to axe the overseas allowances too. they'll have trouble getting volunteers for any future missions

punchdrunk

dodgydes wrote: »

don't forget they're going to axe the overseas allowances too. they'll have trouble getting volunteers for any future missions

there's feck all worth hanging around for here for alot of young lads,I'd say they'll jump at the chance of deployment!

SIRREX

dodgydes wrote: »

don't forget they're going to axe the overseas allowances too. they'll have trouble getting volunteers for any future missions

where on earth did you get that from?

OS119

dodgydes wrote: »

don't forget they're going to axe the overseas allowances too. they'll have trouble getting volunteers for any future missions

which will then make it very easy to get rid of them.

choosing unemployment because your employer doesn't give you extra money for doing what you are already paid to do is the embodiment of idiocy.

dodgydes

@punchdrunk. Good point, overseas is a great experience and I think its one of the requirements for signing on ( new contract). However, with the decrease in numbers, I think getting young lads to go one more than one trip would be difficult unless the mission changes frequently or there is some financial incentive.

OS119 wrote: »

choosing unemployment because your employer doesn't give you extra money for doing what you are already paid to do is the embodiment of idiocy.

The fact is they get paid whether they go overseas or not.

SIRREX

OS119 wrote: »

choosing unemployment because your employer doesn't give you extra money for doing what you are already paid to do is the embodiment of idiocy.

Interesting post even if it's completely wrong. Members of DF are not paid for service overseas unless they are actually on a mission

goldie fish

dodgydes wrote: »

don't forget they're going to axe the overseas allowances too. they'll have trouble getting volunteers for any future missions

Source?

dodgydes

http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/1124/plan.pdf page 119


"Reduction in the provision for allowances for overseas deployment by the Defence Forces. Reduction in the number of civilian employees attached to military installations. Acquisition of replacement equipment, building and maintenance projects will be deferred or cancelled."

goldie fish

dodgydes wrote: »

http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/1124/plan.pdf page 119


"Reduction in the provision for allowances for overseas deployment by the Defence Forces. Reduction in the number of civilian employees attached to military installations. Acquisition of replacement equipment, building and maintenance projects will be deferred or cancelled."

Ah right. You got it all wrong.

There is a reduction in PROVISION for allowances. That means they don't expect to have to spend as much on overseas allowances next year because at the moment, we don't have 850 troops serving overseas, we have about 100.
If people aren't going overseas, then they won't have to pay them overseas allowances.
Not the other way around.

Nicklaus

Pension question. When someone reaches Old Age Pension age - is it 65 or 66? - does an ex-serviceman still get his DF pension as well as the Old Age Pension? Or does he only get one pension from the State?

goldie fish

Nicklaus wrote: »

Pension question. When someone reaches Old Age Pension age - is it 65 or 66? - does an ex-serviceman still get his DF pension as well as the Old Age Pension? Or does he only get one pension from the State?

It depends on when he joined and how long he served.

dodgydes

goldie fish wrote: »

Ah right. You got it all wrong.

At last, some good news. Thanks goldie fish. It does mean there will be no large overseas missions before 2014 though?

goldie fish

dodgydes wrote: »

At last, some good news. Thanks goldie fish. It does mean there will be no large overseas missions before 2014 though?

Impossible to say. DoD says they are still open to offers, but realistically it will have to be one that won't cost us much more than KFOR etc. Logistically Chad was a nightmare.

OS119

goldie fish wrote: »

Impossible to say. DoD says they are still open to offers, but realistically it will have to be one that won't cost us much more than KFOR etc. Logistically Chad was a nightmare.

on the other thread Steyr says the papers are reporting the DoD hawking their wares at the UN - i'm struggling to think of any current UN missions that might get the juices flowing, so i'm assuming its just a way of bringing in some cash and sod what it does for the DF?

SIRREX

OS119 wrote: »

on the other thread Steyr says the papers are reporting the DoD hawking their wares at the UN - i'm struggling to think of any current UN missions that might get the juices flowing, so i'm assuming its just a way of bringing in some cash and sod what it does for the DF?

A UN mission brings in no cash, it just reduces what Ireland is required to pay the UN each year AFAIK. The mission being looked at is definitely The Leb, straight from the Civil Servants at DoD.

It might not get the juices flowing for older soldiers, but don't forget to a whole new generation it would be totally new, and a major step up from being stuck on the home Island, a benefit being that younger soldiers do not get bored and restless.

Who wants people staying in the DF just because it's a job and there's nothing outside to go to, you want a motivated and busy force, with the depth of experience overseas service brings to the organisation. Just because the older soldiers may be familiar with the mission does not mean it has nothing to teach us.

Poccington

OS119 wrote: »

on the other thread Steyr says the papers are reporting the DoD hawking their wares at the UN - i'm struggling to think of any current UN missions that might get the juices flowing, so i'm assuming its just a way of bringing in some cash and sod what it does for the DF?

Got it in one.

The DF will be looking for something that won't cost too much, won't be too risky and will allow lads to fulfill the terms of their contracts.

I very much doubt it'll be any kind of mission that will benefit the DF in terms of ops experience, lessons learned etc.