Benefits of being a Garda

TravisLogan123 · 18-03-2021 10:09am #1

hi all, have been sifting through the pages of forums here as i am hoping to go for a career with the Guards, hopefully a new recruitment drive isnt to far away in the horizon.
im just wondering, what are some benefits of being a Garda? aside from the known, competitive wage and state pension, is their any other really good benefits? apart from skipping the que in coppers at the weekend

Itainire · 18-03-2021 12:33pm

TravisLogan123 wrote: »

hi all, have been sifting through the pages of forums here as i am hoping to go for a career with the Guards, hopefully a new recruitment drive isnt to far away in the horizon.
im just wondering, what are some benefits of being a Garda? aside from the known, competitive wage and state pension, is their any other really good benefits? apart from skipping the que in coppers at the weekend

I wonder when next recruitment will be.. I will apply aswell.
Personally I do think that working shifts 4 days on 4 days on is a also a bonus.. I understand most people dislike shifts working but that would be ideal for me.

banjoh_10 · 18-03-2021 1:14pm

Itainire wrote: »

I wonder when next recruitment will be.. I will apply aswell.
Personally I do think that working shifts 4 days on 4 days on is a also a bonus.. I understand most people dislike shifts working but that would be ideal for me.

That shift pattern is not necessarily going to stay in place.

TravisLogan123 · 18-03-2021 2:02pm

Thanks for the many replies , some interesting insights , is the shift pattern meant to change from 4 on 4 off ?

18-03-2021 2:05pm

TravisLogan123 wrote: »

Thanks for the many replies , some interesting insights , is the shift pattern meant to change from 4 on 4 off ?

That is an emergency pattern for the Covid situation.

I believe the standard, to which they are likely to return, is 6 (10 hour shifts) on, 4 days off.

Shield · 18-03-2021 3:00pm

Mod:

Oranage2 will not be posting in this forum again. Thanks for the reports.

Shield.

thegills · 18-03-2021 4:34pm

Not a Garda myself but know a few. Flexible hours to pursue sports; lots of GAA players are Garda. Potential to earn overtime; highest paid Garda are beat Garda. Good training; especially technology if thats your preference. Also can you get access to the pension way before a private worker employer. I've heard of Garda retiring at say 55 with a decent pension.

HalfBlues · 19-03-2021 11:03pm

Dohvolle wrote: »

Yes and no.
A person at the rank of Garda MUST retire on their 56th birthday. If you choose to remain in fulltime employment at that stage (many think 55 is a bit young to retire from the workforce) your pension is considered income, so anything you earn in your new job goes to the taxman. Some enter the civil service at this stage as current mandatory retirement age is 69. I Was on phase 1 in 1995 when a neighbour was on the pre retirement course. He's as active now as he was then.
The flexible hours to pursue sports is common during training but afterwards depends on 2 things (a) are you any good at it (b) does local supervisor like you.
Potential to earn overtime depends on your station. Also, see (b) above.
I didn't see any overtime in my station and we were in the midst of a gangland war and the murder of a garda. It was only when I went to the border that I joined the gravy train (BSE outbeak).

Retirement age is 60 now for garda rank.
Lots of perks but my favourite is watching everyone file into offices for a dull 9 to 5 while you are having the crack with your colleagues.
Overtime is mostly in the city centres.
You will see things most people won't.
Also the autonomy is fab.

Really hope a return to 6 and 4 is not on the cards.

Johnmurphy321 · 19-03-2021 11:11pm

HalfBlues wrote: »

Retirement age is 60 now for garda rank.
Lots of perks but my favourite is watching everyone file into offices for a dull 9 to 5 while you are having the crack with your colleagues.
Overtime is mostly in the city centres.
You will see things most people won't.
Also the autonomy is fab.

Really hope a return to 6 and 4 is not on the cards.

Can you request where you would like to be stationed?

HalfBlues · 19-03-2021 11:15pm

Johnmurphy321 wrote: »

Can you request where you would like to be stationed?

You can put in an expression of interest for an area you would like but not specifically a station.

Johnmurphy321 · 19-03-2021 11:20pm

HalfBlues wrote: »

You can put in an expression of interest for an area you would like but not specifically a station.

How would I go about doing that, is there someone you need to email about it? And do you know what it’s like to work in Dublin?

TravisLogan123 · 20-03-2021 11:45am

Johnmurphy321 wrote: »

How would I go about doing that, is there someone you need to email about it? And do you know what it’s like to work in Dublin?

You do it when you get to college I presume ?

endacl · 20-03-2021 1:34pm

I believe you get a free hat?

Infernal Racket · 20-03-2021 2:13pm

If you join the Guards your working life will seldom be boring amd always changing. Depending on your interests there is almost always a suitable unit that you can work towards I.e riding motorcycles, carrying weapons, working with animals etc etc.

TravisLogan123 · 20-03-2021 4:19pm

Dohvolle wrote: »

It's not free.
You get more than one.
It's a pain in the whole to wear. It's a relic of the past. Better off with a bump cap like customs wear.

When you say it’s not free , do you mean you pay for a new uniform yearly or something ? Or how does it work actually ?

AndrewJRenko · 20-03-2021 4:27pm

Dohvolle wrote: »

It's a pain in the whole to wear. .

I think you might be wearing it wrong.

20-03-2021 6:28pm

Without wishing to derail the thread at all, for those of you speaking from direct experience (we'll leave it at that). Are there any aspects of the job you wish you knew before joining, that would give you pause if doing so again?

20-03-2021 7:03pm

Dohvolle wrote: »

I hate to hijack a thread, I hope others would join in too, but the biggest shock for me was realising I was a terrible judge of character when it came to the people I considered friends.
While I wore the uniform I was very popular with some recently found friends (and some long term friends too). Once I finished up, and remained in that town, almost as soon as I took the uniform off for the last time, I was no longer of any use to these people. At the same time, after leaving, I ended up working with some of the finest people I have ever met, who had I stayed, I would not have become friends with (due to their background etc).
2 things happen. It is no different in any police force.
1. Some of your older friends will put distance between you and them, because they think you will always be watching them, waiting to catch them doing something illegal.
2. Others will gravitate towards you because of the job, and the perception that when they get in trouble, they can call on you to bail them out.

I never for once saw that coming.

Thanks for the insight, much appreciated.

Trying to go into things as prepared as one possibly can be.

Joe4321 · 20-03-2021 7:13pm

Plenty of overtime if you want, early retirement

20-03-2021 7:18pm

Yea, I have to second the above, I wasn't ready for the change in people's attitude towards me. And always being introduced by your occupation. That is annoying, I'm well used to it after 23 years, but it is annoying.
Now, it wouldn't put me off joining, but something to be aware of.

20-03-2021 7:30pm

Funnily enough, everybody I care about is sick of hearing me rabbit on about joining. So of the potential downsides, that particular one doesnt bother me at all.

Are there other aspects of the job that you guys didn't enjoy? Aside from the obvious negative aspects of policing I spose.

20-03-2021 8:34pm

It's a different job now than it was 24 years ago. I believe there are different conditions now, contracts and the like? Not much help with that I'm afraid.

It's very easy to become disillusioned, particularly if it's a job that you have always wanted to do. You have great ideas when you start, but they change as time goes on.
It's also very easy to get complacent, or occasionally bitter. You will meet very lazy colleagues, but they are disillusioned too.

That makes it sound terrible, it's not, it is a good job and there are many many opportunities within for lots of different career paths.

I would always advise anyone who is thinking about joining to get a trade or some college, get a qualification first, see the world & get some life experience. Then join, you will be more of an asset and far more capable, imo.

20-03-2021 8:53pm

Thanks for the replies lads, is there specific things you think result in becoming disillusioned or complacent with the job?

I think I'd have a pretty reasoned outlook on the role at this point, would be under no illusions about the failings of the justice system etc, curious about what caused it for you, if that happened.

Infernal Racket · 21-03-2021 2:17pm

Zux wrote: »

Thanks for the replies lads, is there specific things you think result in becoming disillusioned or complacent with the job?

I think I'd have a pretty reasoned outlook on the role at this point, would be under no illusions about the failings of the justice system etc, curious about what caused it for you, if that happened.

Biggest cause for disillusion is probably senior management having absolutely no idea about what's happening on the ground yet pretending they do and also the court system. You could spend weeks, months or sometimes years working on an investigation only to see a judge hand out a paltry conviction because the defendent hired or probably got a free solicitor and barrister who told a very good sob story which, in the vast majority of times works a charm on the disconnected from reality judge.

21-03-2021 4:30pm

Infernal Racket wrote: »

Biggest cause for disillusion is probably senior management having absolutely no idea about what's happening on the ground yet pretending they do and also the court system. You could spend weeks, months or sometimes years working on an investigation only to see a judge hand out a paltry conviction because the defendent hired or probably got a free solicitor and barrister who told a very good sob story which, in the vast majority of times works a charm on the disconnected from reality judge.

Makes total sense, I have a legal background so can appreciate the realities of what goes on. I have heard the same thing from every member I spoke with, so its good to prepare myself for ahead of time.

As for higher management not understanding the realities of those on the ground, that seems to be inevitable in most industries and jobs it seems.

Thanks for the response !

Loveinapril · 21-03-2021 4:55pm

I am not a garda but often deal with them in my social care job. I know a few people who studied social care, worked in the area for a few years then became excellent Gardaí because of the compassion they had for the most vulnerable in society. If you are thinking of studying anything before joining, social care would b3 a good one. You would get a deeper knowledge into addiction, homelessness, at risk families, travelling community and other issues that you would face on a daily basis as a Garda.

lg.cardonha · 21-03-2021 10:04pm

How can a Garda join the Europol? I heard the Europol headquarters is the Phoenix Park. Does anyone know someone how has joined it?

SouthWesterly · 21-03-2021 10:37pm

I deal with guards frequently
The amount of people who tell me they are going through a divorce is scarey. Seems to be a big problem with the job

Add to that the amount of people dealing with serious personal injuries.

Not a job I'd recommend to anyone.

21-03-2021 10:46pm

SouthWesterly wrote: »

I deal with guards frequently
The amount of people who tell me they are going through a divorce is scarey. Seems to be a big problem with the job

Definitely is a common thread amongst law enforcement all over the world.

One of the many reasons people consider it a vocation I guess.

byhookorbycrook · 21-03-2021 10:53pm

Best friend is a Banner. In civil unrest , she was always targeted as being “ the weakest link.” One of her earliest assignments was to search the roadside for a baby not properly strapped into their baby seat at an RTA .
She’s been spat at, scratched , kicked and bitten ( and believe me , she’s tall and very physically fit) as have her male colleagues. Wouldn’t be my idea of fun .

22-03-2021 9:19am

Plenty of women members are still called banners, for some reason younger women don't like it, I have no idea why, they will be called much worse during their working life

The job is still full of nepotism and favouritism, that can cause disillusion. But that's probably the same in many different work environments.
Look at the post above, he probably knew some guys who joined AGS, same people but maybe now they can't do quite the same things that they used to, or maybe they advise their friends to be careful, then the above post is what their 'friend's now think of them.

Edit, actually that post disappeared!
Basically, you're damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Benefits of being a Garda

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