Interesting articles

roadmaster

Trouble again with ATC in casement over shortages. In the article below it says promotion to Officer level is needed to keep ATC personal.

I cant understand for these types of jobs that the defence forces dont have the US style rank of Warrant officer i know the navy have it but its not the US Style.It would solve a lot of problems with pay but at the same you are not adding extra officers you dont need.

Interesting that they say AGS may leave so maybe this is the air corps evil plan to get them out of casement!!!

https://www.thejournal.ie/irish-air-corps-air-traffic-controllers-baldonnel-6704788-May2025/

vswr

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123449490#Comment_123449490

They're on circa 50K less than civil counterparts, who have a better pension, leave, and career progression…

I honestly don't know how they have any controllers at all.

Larbre34

The introduction of the Lance Corporal rank and very considerable expansion of the W.O. rank (OR-9) across the DF, in roles of technical expertise and responsibility, eg ATC and helicopter pilot roles, are very important in the sustainable growth and expansion of the organisation.

Alkers

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123452011#Comment_123452011

Why is the rank important, as opposed to pay and conditions?

The NS have a warrant as top NCO of each branch currently, it would muddle things up a bit if there was a clatter of other WOs about the place.

Could the same not be achieved if the roles.in question were OR-8 rank with suitable allowances to bring pay in line with civvy street or am I missing something? As it stands the weekly pay of a WO is only slightly more than a SCPO.

Larbre34

Pay and conditions are very important. Any suggestions I make are to maximise the opportunities for progression and seniority for the ordinary ranks.

I'm suggesting expanding the W.O. cohort to take over more duties currently done by officers in all of the services, e.g., being helicopter pilots.

Lorddrakul

A look at and history of the DEFCON alert system of the US Military, from the Aviationist.

Larbre34

The Mistral-class amphibious warfare / helicopter carrier of the Marine Nationale, F.S. Tonnerre (Thunder) is down in Cobh at the moment if anyone is in the vicinity for a gander.

Photo credit: our old pal Dohvolle over on Twitter.

Larbre34

https://gov.ie/en/department-of-defence/publications/general-scheme-of-the-defence-amendment-bill-2025/

The outline of the Defence (Amendment) Bill , 2025 has been published.

It covers the abolition of the Triple Lock, the deployment terms for small discretionary contingents on an emergency basis, and in situations like drug and human trafficking interdiction, diplomatic protection (to include the Military Police) and training and competition events overseas.

It also covers the important matter of discipline and suspension of defence forces personnel, who are suspected or convicted of civilian criminal violations and the sharing of information between the civil and military authorities in that regard.

roadmaster

Id say Mr Clancy could not get out of the Country quick enoght.

https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/sean-clancy-european-union-military-35301449?int_source=amp_continue_reading&int_medium=amp&int_campaign=continue_reading_button#amp-readmore-target

Larbre34

It has certainly felt like a long engagement, but the event is at least notable for the first Irish OF-9 you'll ever have seen.

jonnybigwallet

Betcha he's on a bullet proof salary and expenses package. (Excuse corny pun about bullet proof in a military context).

Probably gets a chauffeur driven Mercedes thrown in!

banie01

Seeing an Irish General with a Marshal's baton is quite the thing isn't it!

Larbre34

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123494388#Comment_123494388

I'm told the salary is about 270k. There is an official residence and car with drivers from his personal staff, if not a Mercedes then a BMW or Audi.

The EU Military Staff of the EU External Action Service numbers about 250.

Larbre34

One of the Kinahan mob is currently being extradited from the UAE on board one of the C295s, similar to how John Gilligan was repatriated from Britain in shackles and a HMP uniform.

But, of course, being a short range maritime patrol turboprop, and not an intercontinental jet, it took 36 hours to make the journey, with two stops in Marseille and Larnaca and will take a similar time to get back, with prisoner and armed Garda escort in tow. Hardly a model of security and efficiency. 🙄

https://www.rte.ie/news/crime/2025/0528/1515523-kinahan/

Manic Moran

Why on earth not just use a commercial flight? We do it all the time in the US, they take a row in the back.

Larbre34

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123495242#Comment_123495242

Two reasons.

a) This gang is highly dangerous and negotiations to get extraditions up and running between Ireland and the Emirates have been going on for quite a few years now. I doubt either side wanted the security risks associated with scheduled commercial flight. Not to mention the Irish escort wouldn't have been able to keep their firearms.

b) The Department of Justice and AGS are not going to miss an opportunity to march this lad off an Irish flagged military plane in shackles, on a base where the perfect photo op can be achieved, to demonstrate that they are dismantling the wealthiest and most powerful drugs and organised crime group that this State has ever produced.

Grassy Knoll

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123449504#Comment_123449504

shambles that has been ‘on the radar’ for some time. The days of folks working for the honour and glory are well behind us. Wherever the blockage or inaction exists additional payments for tech roles across the DF need to be driven forward. The last few years it has been ships, now planes …