RDF

Story_Bud · 10-08-2011 12:09pm #1

Im 17 and when i leave school i want to join the army so what requirements would i need to join the RDF now to use it as a stepping stone to join the defence force? Thanks in advance

Morpheus · 10-08-2011 3:37pm

if you plan on going to PDF, then just apply next time theyre recruiting.
if you plan on staying in RDF for 2 years or more (length of time to become a fully functional 3 star and get at least one decent exercise under your belt and a course) then contact your local RDF unit (having decided which corps to join, infantry, cav, artillery etc) pass a medical and a garda background check and youre in.

check military.ie reserves section for contact details of local units. recruiting is on the back foot this year until the VFM review is completed.

you will need a parent or guardians consent to join the defence forces

Mr. Tezza · 11-08-2011 7:56pm

Story_Bud wrote: »

Im 17 and when i leave school i want to join the army so what requirements would i need to join the RDF now to use it as a stepping stone to join the defence force? Thanks in advance

No point in joining the RDF just to go into the PDF a year or 2 down the line, no point in joining the RDF under false pretences, your either in or your not, we had a guy join and openly say he was only in to give him a better chance of gettin into the gardai... it didn't go down well.

Morpheus · 12-08-2011 12:19pm

weve a recruit whos into last few cadets... disappointing (well not for him!) to say the least... waste of resources and limited places.

Story_Bud · 13-08-2011 12:12am

Mr. Tezza wrote: »

No point in joining the RDF just to go into the PDF a year or 2 down the line, no point in joining the RDF under false pretences, your either in or your not, we had a guy join and openly say he was only in to give him a better chance of gettin into the gardai... it didn't go down well.

Would they take offence if i joined under the pretence of joining the PDF after i finished school ? I would like to think that most soldiers would join to advance to the PDF! i just dont want to apply later on in life with just the notion of i want to join! In 2 years i will be finished school and want to have some sort of experience in the Defence force so i would be more suitable to join!

Topper Harley · 13-08-2011 12:27am

Story_Bud wrote: »

Would they take offence if i joined under the pretence of joining the PDF after i finished school ? I would like to think that most soldiers would join to advance to the PDF! i just dont want to apply later on in life with just the notion of i want to join! In 2 years i will be finished school and want to have some sort of experience in the Defence force so i would be more suitable to join!

There's no pretence, you're interested in serving in the military and both the RDF and the PDF cater for that. And there's no reason for them be upset about you wanting to join the PDF later. There's no telling exactly when or if you'll get into the PDF. In the meantime, get experience with the RDF, it could well be a couple of years at least and you'll be better equipped for the PDF. Or you might realise that the PDF's not for you and have saved yourself a lot of hassle. There are bonus marks given to serving RDF NCOs in the Cadetship Competition so clearly it being used as a stepping stone is not that fervently frowned upon.

DipStick McSwindler · 13-08-2011 12:37am

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Story_Bud · 13-08-2011 12:03pm

is it difficult in joining RDF?

DipStick McSwindler · 13-08-2011 12:13pm

This post has been deleted.

Story_Bud · 13-08-2011 12:19pm

what else do you do in there if you dont mind me asking?

Donny5 · 13-08-2011 12:42pm

Story_Bud wrote: »

what else do you do in there if you dont mind me asking?

You start off with recruit training, which takes about a year or so, with foot drills, weapons training, field craft, tactics, and all the other little things you need to know. Then you go into your two star training, which depends on your Corps. If you're infantry, you'll be doing a lot of tactics and ground work, whereas all the other Corps, artillery, medics, etc, will do their own Corps-specific training. After that, you do annual training and courses on other specific skills, like weapons courses for heavier support weapons, skills courses like recce or radio, and after a few years, career courses to become a Corporal.

Story_Bud · 13-08-2011 7:01pm

I would definitely like to be in the infantry! Does anyone know when they recruiting i have TRIED check the website but it display the very top of the site then just a blank green page

would greatly appreciate it! Also if i got into RDF would i have to stay inside the barracks for training or show up at a specific time?

shanec1928 · 14-08-2011 8:18am

Story_Bud wrote: »

I would definitely like to be in the infantry! Does anyone know when they recruiting i have TRIED check the website but it display the very top of the site then just a blank green page would greatly appreciate it! Also if i got into RDF would i have to stay inside the barracks for training or show up at a specific time?

location?

on camp you live in barracks for the week or two weeks that your there.

DipStick McSwindler · 14-08-2011 11:00am

This post has been deleted.

Story_Bud · 14-08-2011 11:29am

The closets barracks to me is Sarsfield Barracks

ruserious · 14-08-2011 8:33pm

The Naval Service Reserve sends junior personnel on PDF patrols

62 Reserve Battalion · 15-08-2011 12:23am

Story_Bud wrote: »

I would definitely like to be in the infantry! Does anyone know when they recruiting i have TRIED check the website but it display the very top of the site then just a blank green page would greatly appreciate it! Also if i got into RDF would i have to stay inside the barracks for training or show up at a specific time?

Story_Bud wrote: »

The closets barracks to me is Sarsfield Barracks

The Infantry unit in Sarsfield Barracks is HQ Coy, 32 Reserve Infantry Battalion. They are recruiting every wednesday from 14 September. Show up at the barracks about 8pm and ask for HQ Coy, 32 Battalion.

However, there may be a waiting list so could take a while to get in.

Mr. Tezza · 15-08-2011 10:18am

Topper Harley wrote: »

There's no pretence, you're interested in serving in the military and both the RDF and the PDF cater for that. And there's no reason for them be upset about you wanting to join the PDF later. There's no telling exactly when or if you'll get into the PDF. In the meantime, get experience with the RDF, it could well be a couple of years at least and you'll be better equipped for the PDF. Or you might realise that the PDF's not for you and have saved yourself a lot of hassle. There are bonus marks given to serving RDF NCOs in the Cadetship Competition so clearly it being used as a stepping stone is not that fervently frowned upon.

Officially there is no problem with people joining the reserve and using it as a stepping stone to join the PDF, BUT it is frowned upon in the companies, i.e. ground level. I'm in the reserve wit years and know this for a FACT lest anyone say otherwise. The RDF are cash strapped as it is and to be honest we see it as a waste of resources to issue kit, feed, train an individual when he's only going to leave in a few years anyway, put on a black beret (if he makes it through training) and shun the people he met in the RDF as most PDF do. Surely you can see my logic.

The giving of points to RDF personnel applying for cadetships is different, as you say they have to be NCOs at minimum, this ensures that they have served time in the RDF and been active beyond recruit training. This tells people they have had an interest in the reserve and want to step up and take on a new challenge, the PDF as an officer. This is normally welcomed by other in the RDF as your moving up if you know what i mean.

Story_Bud wrote: »

The closets barracks to me is Sarsfield Barracks

Theres a gud few reserve units in Sarsfield, been in there a gud few times. If you want information on what its like you should go down there and see the lads in HQ Coy 32Bn, do it as soon as you can and they'll put you on their list for recruitment and when theres a place for you you'll get a call, if they're nice they'll show you some stuff before your called too.

ruserious wrote: »

The Naval Service Reserve sends junior personnel on PDF patrols

Highly doubtful, do you mean that they send them out with Naval units? they do serve time on Naval ships and partake in Navel exercises if thats what you mean?

62 Reserve Battalion wrote: »

The Infantry unit in Sarsfield Barracks is HQ Coy, 32 Reserve Infantry Battalion. They are recruiting every wednesday from 14 September. Show up at the barracks about 8pm and ask for HQ Coy, 32 Battalion.

However, there may be a waiting list so could take a while to get in.

You'll not be first in the queue so best to go in and get your name in as soon as possible if you intend on joining, the HQ Coy 32bn are sound, they'll look after you.

ruserious · 15-08-2011 5:01pm

Mr. Tezza wrote: »

Highly doubtful, do you mean that they send them out with Naval units? they do serve time on Naval ships and partake in Navel exercises if thats what you mean?

Yes that is what I meant. Besides, a ship is a unit.

Mr. Tezza · 16-08-2011 8:03pm

ruserious wrote: »

Yes that is what I meant. Besides, a ship is a unit.

Oh ok, I don't know the unit structure in the NS being Infantry...

TommyOL187 · 18-09-2011 7:58pm

im 16 and want to join reserves next year in college, and i wanna go college in either limerick or galway. i know theres a barracks in renmore in galway, but what if i go to limerick, is there a barracks there? do they constantly except people no matter what or is it like the pdf? and what is the pay like? i would greatly appreciate some answer please

concussion · 18-09-2011 10:33pm

http://www.rdf.ie

http://www.1bderdf.com/

http://www.rdfra.ie/

Morpheus · 03-10-2011 2:52pm

Nice photos from this website:
http://www.1bderdf.com/

however, am sorry to see thought that people are still being trained to fire with peltors fitted over the headdress.

the beret / glengarry shouldnt be worn with peltors as it prevents a proper seal on your ear.

saying that, can only guess that they were firing as they had BFA's fitted etc.

Mr. Tezza · 03-10-2011 5:12pm

Morphéus wrote: »

Nice photos from this website:
http://www.1bderdf.com/

however, am sorry to see thought that people are still being trained to fire with peltors fitted over the headdress.

the beret / glengarry shouldnt be worn with peltors as it prevents a proper seal on your ear.

saying that, can only guess that they were firing as they had BFA's fitted etc.

your right peltors with headdress prevents a proper seal for adequate sound protection, what i have seen a few officers do is turn the beret to look like a paddy cap or push it up to out of the way of the peltors while still wearing it... personally when I get to the range I put away my Beret and out comes the boonie hat, which again can cause problems, but in saying that "check hearing protection" is always called by the range officer before firing so its not inconvievale that you could adjust your beret so it does not interfere with the peltors...

I didn't look at the photos, (probably shud I may be in one or two) but if they have BFAs on the weapons i presume they're doing an exercise of some sort and should be in CEFO at least, which includes a helmet, although the helmets worn by the RDF are terribly uncomfortable on their own never mind with peltors!

EDIT: not in photos

wasn't involved in training 2*s this year, was selected for a cse instead

average hero · 03-10-2011 7:11pm

Hi everyone,

I would like to join the RDF too. I would love to be either in the Infantry or a Medic. Do medics get weapons training, or any training that otherwise the infantry would get?

Thanks!

mattjack · 03-10-2011 9:45pm

Mr. Tezza wrote: »

Officially there is no problem with people joining the reserve and using it as a stepping stone to join the PDF, BUT it is frowned upon in the companies, i.e. ground level. I'm in the reserve wit years and know this for a FACT lest anyone say otherwise. The RDF are cash strapped as it is and to be honest we see it as a waste of resources to issue kit, feed, train an individual when he's only going to leave in a few years anyway, put on a black beret (if he makes it through training) and shun the people he met in the RDF as most PDF do. Surely you can see my logic.

Hi,I served in the 6th fd MP in the early 90s for a couple of years,when I joined they operated a waiting list system ,once they had enough names they formed a new company .
One thing I do remember was that there was no animosity towards any body looking to join the PDF even at ground level,if anything you were encouraged one you showed any inclination towards joining.
From my own initial group of thirty about six recruits went into the PDF,all heartily encouraged by FCA NCO'S and the PDF NCO's and soldiers on attachment.
Resources were certainly scarce then,but it was viewed as a progression for some FCA men ,I can't remember ever any ill feeling toward any one joining the PDF.
Like I said we had PDF on attachment with us,we had armourers and drivers occasionally ,but other than banter nothing unsavoury ever happened.
Though it certainly was a long time and maybe things have changed a lot.

Mr. Tezza · 03-10-2011 10:45pm

mattjack wrote: »

Mr. Tezza wrote: »

Officially there is no problem with people joining the reserve and using it as a stepping stone to join the PDF, BUT it is frowned upon in the companies, i.e. ground level. I'm in the reserve wit years and know this for a FACT lest anyone say otherwise. The RDF are cash strapped as it is and to be honest we see it as a waste of resources to issue kit, feed, train an individual when he's only going to leave in a few years anyway, put on a black beret (if he makes it through training) and shun the people he met in the RDF as most PDF do. Surely you can see my logic.

Hi,I served in the 6th fd MP in the early 90s for a couple of years,when I joined they operated a waiting list system ,once they had enough names they formed a new company .
One thing I do remember was that there was no animosity towards any body looking to join the PDF even at ground level,if anything you were encouraged one you showed any inclination towards joining.
From my own initial group of thirty about six recruits went into the PDF,all heartily encouraged by FCA NCO'S and the PDF NCO's and soldiers on attachment.
Resources were certainly scarce then,but it was viewed as a progression for some FCA men ,I can't remember ever any ill feeling toward any one joining the PDF.
Like I said we had PDF on attachment with us,we had armourers and drivers occasionally ,but other than banter nothing unsavoury ever happened.
Though it certainly was a long time and maybe things have changed a lot.

I see what your saying, I'm not saying that everyone that went on to the PDF was frowned upon. The lads/ladies who put ibn the effort with the reserve and were active members while they were around we were sad to see go but we didn't resent them at all because it was seen as an advancement if anything else, its the people who joined up and did f**K all and made no effort, basically the ones who joined the reserve just to say they were in it and get a few extra points on the interview, they are the ones we disliked, especially the ones who joined just to get a few points on the Garda interview. Generally those who joined the PDF joined the reserve first and got hooked on military stuff, joining the PDF was just a way to turning your favourite hobby into a full-time job.

Morpheus · 04-10-2011 1:21pm

clarification required here:

it is now frowned upon because of the lack of recruitment.

when we lose a private to the pdf, chances are we are down a number that will not be replaced long term... its an awful situation and is frowned upon ONLY because we are all aware that it is thinning out the numbers we have left...

Mr. Tezza · 04-10-2011 1:27pm

Morphéus wrote: »

clarification required here:

it is now frowned upon because of the lack of recruitment.

when we lose a private to the pdf, chances are we are down a number that will not be replaced long term... its an awful situation and is frowned upon ONLY because we are all aware that it is thinning out the numbers we have left...

True, with all the resources that go into training a person at the start, if they do stay on pretty active say to 3* or even cpl level (I even know of RDF officers who've gone into the PDF as enlisted) its sad to see because so much time and effort went into taking them to that level, its not encouraged but I don't think its generally frowned upon either if you look at it as an advancement in that persons career...

ECY415 · 08-11-2011 2:08pm

anyone know of a unit recruiting in limerick, I was told no hope for my first choice?

Mr. Tezza · 08-11-2011 9:41pm

ECY415 wrote: »

anyone know of a unit recruiting in limerick, I was told no hope for my first choice?

You shud give it a try anyway and turn up on their next training nite best way to find out what's happening, each unit is different so best to head down to them and find out the story in person.

Worst case scenario view can't take u on but will put you in the "queue" for recruitment.

RDF

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