Is there anything like a 1/2 week military camp a 16 year old could participate in?

BetterThanThou

During the summer? It's something I think would be interesting, plus, I'd like to be pushed to the limit and learn some army skills, and, while I am disciplined, I'd like to be able to become even more disciplined. Does something like this exist?

goldie fish

Scouting Ireland. Venturers.

SplitCartridge

Nope. What you're thinking of is the likes of the Army Cadet Force set up in the UK. Its basically boyscouts with firearms and a little bit of training in the basic soldiering skills, like foot drill, shooting, contact drills and cammo and concealment etc. There's nothing like that here I'm afraid.


Wait out for a year and join the Army Reserve.

puzzle factory

is the FCA still going?

goldie fish

puzzle factory wrote: »

is the FCA still going?

No. Disbanded in 2005, and even then not open to 16 year olds.

johnny_doyle

what do you currently do and what would you expect from a 1/2 week camp (it's not exactly a long time)?

enfield

There is a boot camp here and the staff are serving military and very friendly.
http://www.mykidstime.ie/component/mykidstime/?view=listing&lid=116424

Pat Dunne

puzzle factory wrote: »

is the FCA still going?

The FCA was replaced by the Reserve Defense Force (RDF) in 2005.

Recruitment is extremely limited to non existent at present due to budget cutbacks. There are some topics on this forum about recruitment for the RDF.

Also you must have proof that you are 18 years of age at time of joining.

BetterThanThou

By 1/2 week camp, I meant something in the range of 1 or 2 weeks, not a half, my bad.
If there's nothing like this in the army, is there something that would focus more on discipline in the scouts? From what I've heard, the scouts are based around a fun type of learning, whereas, I'm looking for something that will be difficult and a challenge.

discus

BetterThanThou wrote: »

By 1/2 week camp, I meant something in the range of 1 or 2 weeks, not a half, my bad.
If there's nothing like this in the army, is there something that would focus more on discipline in the scouts? From what I've heard, the scouts are based around a fun type of learning, whereas, I'm looking for something that will be difficult and a challenge.

Errr, take it from this soldier, how you learn and the stuff you do doesn't really differ all that much between a good scout unit and the armed forces.

Unless you're in the RAF Regiment, who we all know are ****.

Yitzhak Rabin

Contact the adjutant of your local barracks. Ask them if they are running any transition year weeks. Normally a week long training programme is run for people interested in joining. It generally won't be too intense as a lot of kids these days are ill-prepared for anything other than an easy PT session/hillwalk, but it would give them an introduction into army life.

You won't get it being run in the summer though.

I'd echo what the others said there, the scouts would be the best bet for what you're looking for. Or perhaps get him to do a gold An gaisce award through his school, which can be challenging.

andy_g

Sounds like he should go play airsoft :cool:

BetterThanThou

It's not even the gun aspect I'm interested in, but, from what you guys have said, scouting seems to be the best option, I guess I'll look that up, thank you.

tac foley

discus wrote: »

Errr, take it from this soldier, how you learn and the stuff you do doesn't really differ all that much between a good scout unit and the armed forces.

Unless you're in the RAF Regiment, who we all know are ****.

Cowboys?

tac

boboldpilot

goldie fish wrote: »

No. Disbanded in 2005, and even then not open to 16 year olds.

When I joined the old FCA, a week before my 18th birthday. 17 was the minimum at the time. I was old man of my platoon. The youngest was 14, most were 16.

I remember a 15 year old serving on a border camp. Those were the days!

Amnesty actually condemmed Ireland for enlisting child soldiers.

But the answer is no.