Joining the irish defence forces

arybvtcw0eolkf · 01-02-2008 02:24PM

Sean/Telnor wrote: »

Thanks a million man, thats some great advice.

If you need any other advice feel free to PM me.

BloodSugarSex · 01-02-2008 04:53PM

Sean/Telnor wrote: »

Well done again man, we could be brothers in arms soon

thanks man i hope so, i wish you the best of luck with the medical and fitness, and thanks mairt for the advice

-aurora · 01-02-2008 08:52PM

do they check your blood?? and do you have to do a breathing test?

Flying · 01-02-2008 09:45PM

Remember your not in until you get the letter telling you to report at such and such a barracks, generally @ 0830hrs on a Mon morning.

Oh and keep your hands out of your pockets when you get there no matter how cold it is

NoQuarter · 02-02-2008 01:22AM

-aurora wrote: »

do they check your blood?? and do you have to do a breathing test?

yes and yes, brathing test is just blowing into a toilet roll type machine thing, ya know the 1!!

-aurora · 02-02-2008 07:30PM

king-stew wrote: »

yes and yes, brathing test is just blowing into a toilet roll type machine thing, ya know the 1!!

have you any idea what the requirements are in relation to the breathing one? also what are they checking for in your blood?

arybvtcw0eolkf · 02-02-2008 09:51PM

-aurora wrote: »

have you any idea what the requirements are in relation to the breathing one? also what are they checking for in your blood?

The ''I'm a killer'' gene :mad:

-aurora · 03-02-2008 02:08AM

Mairt wrote: »

The ''I'm a killer'' gene :mad:

i thought thats what they'd be looking for

NoQuarter · 03-02-2008 07:00PM

not too sure what exactly they look for but i had asthma when i was a kid and blew into it and passed! i would assume they are looking for drugs and maybe more in the blood!

-aurora · 04-02-2008 06:43PM

king-stew wrote: »

not too sure what exactly they look for but i had asthma when i was a kid and blew into it and passed! i would assume they are looking for drugs and maybe more in the blood!

thats what i was worried about because i has athsma too when i was younger.
thanks for the info, have my forms in now just waiting for an interview

NoQuarter · 04-02-2008 06:55PM

honest to god dont mention the asthma thing to them, if its gone now and you dont use an inhaler anymore like i didnt joining dont say a word.

i stupidly mentioned it during training and they made me go to brickins,run a couple of laps of the hospital, run up the stairs into the test room and take the breathing test quickly!!!! :eek::eek:

if your like me and its not physical activity that affects your breathing you will have no trouble once you keep hush about it!

arybvtcw0eolkf · 04-02-2008 07:21PM

king-stew wrote: »

honest to god dont mention the asthma thing to them, if its gone now and you dont use an inhaler anymore like i didnt joining dont say a word.

!

Lads, little white lie's.. And thats all I'll say on the matter!..

miss no stars · 04-02-2008 07:47PM

they're crazily strict on it,,, but if you know that you're fit then don't mention it, just keep a reliever in your inside smock pocket or somthing. Besides, lots of people grow out of stuff but sometimes they can't accept that people grow out of things so.. I've seen a few people fail the medical because they mentioned it.

Flying · 04-02-2008 08:24PM

miss no stars wrote: »

they're crazily strict on it,,, but if you know that you're fit then don't mention it, just keep a reliever in your inside smock pocket or somthing. Besides, lots of people grow out of stuff but sometimes they can't accept that people grow out of things so.. I've seen a few people fail the medical because they mentioned it.

My Best mate was a chronic asmathic but he took ventolin pills before his medical and PT and all was well.

he did not mention it and to boot he also smoked.

NoQuarter · 05-02-2008 12:39AM

Flying wrote: »

My Best mate was a chronic asmathic but he took ventolin pills before his medical and PT and all was well.

he did not mention it and to boot he also smoked.

ya should be careful if the asthma affects you in that way though, as we all know theres always the odd "surprise" run during training!

if affects you while doing physical training then youd be fcuked in the army to be honest...at the start anyways!

-aurora · 05-02-2008 11:20AM

i havnt taken my inhaler in years and i can run grand i just ran 5k the other day as part of my pt training and i was well able for it.

Flying · 05-02-2008 03:19PM

king-stew wrote: »

ya should be careful if the asthma affects you in that way though, as we all know theres always the odd "surprise" run during training!

if affects you while doing physical training then youd be fcuked in the army to be honest...at the start anyways!

I carried him a few times but at the end of the day I know what you are saying is correct but there is ways and means...

Like Water rationing or deprevation on selection for the wing (not sure if its still done) but I know a few people who used to sneak out at night and drink out of puddles of water with a filter straw

cheating yes but also using the auld bulb !

business monkey · 05-02-2008 03:28PM

hey everyone.
ok so I want to join the army but my partner for three years is really really worried about me joining. can any one reasure her that it is not dangers and that i will be grand, and tell me a little more about life in the irish army.
Thanks:):):):):):):)

phil_w2@hotmail · 05-02-2008 04:47PM

there is a danger that you might get really fit if you dont go to the mess and drink cheap beer all the time like 60% of the lads there.

you wont get shot.

you wont get blown up... (well... in theory)

everything that they put you through cannot for legal reasons be actually life threatening so think of that if you get scared doing anything.

it is hard. one guy in my platoon (63rd 5th bat) left after 6 hours and that included the 2 hour trip to gormanstown on the back of a truck
we started with something like 63 and finished up with 32.

if you have girls on your platoon you'll have a bit of an easier time. no insult intended but it is a FACT - as they will bring charges easier than a bloke and generally.... cry more!! so pray for girls... that and there is something about army birds... they seem to have very loose morals if any... thats just my experience and maybe its not true for every girl but from what i've seen/heard/done its about 80% true.

but as far as danger is concerned we are a neutral country so we wont be going to any wars or any cool sht like that... which is why I left

Cato · 05-02-2008 04:54PM

phil_w2@hotmail wrote: »

there is a danger that you might get really fit if you dont go to the mess and drink cheap beer all the time like 60% of the lads there.

you wont get shot.

you wont get blown up... (well... in theory)

everything that they put you through cannot for legal reasons be actually life threatening so think of that if you get scared doing anything.

it is hard. one guy in my platoon (63rd 5th bat) left after 6 hours and that included the 2 hour trip to gormanstown on the back of a truck
we started with something like 63 and finished up with 32.

if you have girls on your platoon you'll have a bit of an easier time. no insult intended but it is a FACT - as they will bring charges easier than a bloke and generally.... cry more!! so pray for girls... that and there is something about army birds... they seem to have very loose morals if any... thats just my experience and maybe its not true for every girl but from what i've seen/heard/done its about 80% true.

but as far as danger is concerned we are a neutral country so we wont be going to any wars or any cool sht like that... which is why I left

could you go into detail why people feel the need to leave after only a few hours? surely it cant get that hard after a few hours? what are peoples reaqsons for leaving so soon?

zig · 05-02-2008 05:18PM

correct me if Im wrong(im not in the army), from what I heard from my Dad and other mates alot of its due to being shouted and roared at and the bull**** involved rather than the physical requirements. From what I gather some people dont expect this. An example I was given was that one lad was being given stick about his hair being too long so he left that day.

Cato · 05-02-2008 05:28PM

i thought as much, those corporals/Sergent's can get a bit abusive i supose,but about your example... surely the army cuts your hair to regulation length... or have i been watching to many films?

Flying · 05-02-2008 05:45PM

Recruits dont get their hair cut they should have it done before they go in

Flying · 05-02-2008 05:49PM

phil_w2@hotmail wrote: »

there is a danger that you might get really fit if you dont go to the mess and drink cheap beer all the time like 60% of the lads there.

you wont get shot.

you wont get blown up... (well... in theory)

everything that they put you through cannot for legal reasons be actually life threatening so think of that if you get scared doing anything.

it is hard. one guy in my platoon (63rd 5th bat) left after 6 hours and that included the 2 hour trip to gormanstown on the back of a truck
we started with something like 63 and finished up with 32.

if you have girls on your platoon you'll have a bit of an easier time. no insult intended but it is a FACT - as they will bring charges easier than a bloke and generally.... cry more!! so pray for girls... that and there is something about army birds... they seem to have very loose morals if any... thats just my experience and maybe its not true for every girl but from what i've seen/heard/done its about 80% true.

but as far as danger is concerned we are a neutral country so we wont be going to any wars or any cool sht like that... which is why I left

You cant goto the mess to drink alcohol as a recruit in the PDF this is not the RDF.

You can get shot and blown up, I had a mate loose legs on an early bird and another shot in the face, so stop your tripe it is an army, we have had KIA's and to many IMHO.

And having women in a platoon does not make a difference unless you have an incompetent staff.

Also do not go putting what recruit platoon or unit you were in or claim to have been in here.

In a nutshell some people like it and some dont and a haircut does not make a soldier !

-aurora · 06-02-2008 01:18AM

i rang dftc manpower today and they told me the next general service intake will be in august, i have my forms in and confirmined a weeks now does anyone on the inside/ anyone with experience here know when i should expect to be called for an interview?

arybvtcw0eolkf · 06-02-2008 08:25AM

phil_w2@hotmail wrote: »

but as far as danger is concerned we are a neutral country so we wont be going to any wars or any cool sht like that... which is why I left

I'm sick of people saying we're a neutral country, WE'RE NOT!.

We have a history of neutrality, thats all. But I hear people say all the time that "neutrality is enshrined in our constitution", no where is it in the constitution.

As regards war's, well we'll never invade a country like Britain and America. But we have an exceptional reputation within the United Nations as both peace keepers & peace enforcers.

Mrmotivator007 · 06-02-2008 10:39AM

-aurora wrote: »

i rang dftc manpower today and they told me the next general service intake will be in august, i have my forms in and confirmined a weeks now does anyone on the inside/ anyone with experience here know when i should expect to be called for an interview?

i just got around to ringing the mapower office too,should of rang them earlier i suppose!IS their any point in joining the RDF for the six months?also what are the general qualifactions people have going in to them?i have average leaving cert at best,their was no point of me going for cadetship aat the time cause i knew i had no chance of getting picked!what to they base selection on,does your current job mather,im 19 and am bored out of my mind working a supermarket!

-aurora · 06-02-2008 02:10PM

Mrmotivator007 wrote: »

i just got around to ringing the mapower office too,should of rang them earlier i suppose!IS their any point in joining the RDF for the six months?also what are the general qualifactions people have going in to them?i have average leaving cert at best,their was no point of me going for cadetship aat the time cause i knew i had no chance of getting picked!what to they base selection on,does your current job mather,im 19 and am bored out of my mind working a supermarket!

well for the rdf you just hand in your forms, wait a few weeks for security clearance, a few more for a basic medical and audiogram(hearing test) and then you get sworn in and issued your kit. the whole process takes a few months. i would advice joing the rdf aswel as applying for the pdf because not only will it give you a good insight into the work and roles of the defence forces it will also teach you alot of stuff you'll have to learn anyway in the pdf like foot drills, how to dress, ranks etc. also if you dont get into the pdf first time or the next intake isnt for a good while you have the rdf.

newby.204 · 06-02-2008 04:36PM

just a warning that if your not in the rdf now and you will only be there for a few months, you will get hopped off in rec trg for being in the rdf!! not by all the instructors but at least by one or two, just letting you know for your consideration!! if you do join the rdf and get the pdf, they wont know youve been in say nothing forget everything you will be making life easier on yourself i promise that, it still wont easy

Dub13 · 06-02-2008 04:50PM

newby.204 wrote: »

just a warning that if your not in the rdf now and you will only be there for a few months, you will get hopped off in rec trg for being in the rdf!! not by all the instructors but at least by one or two, just letting you know for your consideration!! if you do join the rdf and get the pdf, they wont know youve been in say nothing forget everything you will be making life easier on yourself i promise that, it still wont easy

I agree but do not lie about it,if asked tell them but there is an old saying in the Army 'do not volunteer for anything'.Your platoon officer and Sgt will know you were in the RDF.

When I did my recruit training one guy was caught out saying he was not in the FCA (as it was then),surfactant to say he was picked out for extra attention.

Joining the irish defence forces

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