A few questions about Cadetships

MickJB1989 · 15-08-2009 02:54PM

Just found this article from 2006,http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article688361.ece that says the standards are under review for Lasek (i.e. non-cutting surgery), which is used for pilots and contact sportsplayers. As it takes 6-12 months for recovery, and can't be done until one has a non-varying prescription, I hope they make up their mind quick so I can see about getting it if they approve.

mega man · 15-08-2009 03:04PM

MickJB1989 wrote: »

Hello All,

I'm seriously considering applying for a Cadetship, not this year, as I have one year left to go at uni, I'm aiming for 2010 entrance, hopefully they'll be running another competition this time next year!

Anyway, I figure this gives me a year to clear up any issues with my qualifications (and get the old fitness level up to scratch ), and I was wondering if some of you guys could answer some questions for me.

1. As I'll hopefully have an honours degree in law by the time I apply, this year's competition guidelines say I only need Maths and English (or Irish), plus any four other subjects to be considered for entry. The only problem is, as I've been educated in Scotland, I have 5 Scottish Highers (Maths, English, History, Chemistry, Modern Studies), rather than the 6 Highers of an Irish Leaving Cert. Will this be a problem for my application?

2. The 2009 Competition Booklet says that candidates will be subject to additional medical examinations and testing, after the fitness/ flexibility/ hearing tests, but doesn't really go into detail as to what these will entail. Any ideas what I'll be put through, so I can see about making sure I'll meet all requirements?

Cheers,

Mick

why in gods name do you need three languages to join the cadets?
I applied last year and wasnt considerd because irish wasnt cosidered a modern european language.!

Hard Larry · 15-08-2009 03:10PM

MickJB1989 wrote: »

Just found this article from 2006,http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article688361.ece that says the standards are under review for Lasek (i.e. non-cutting surgery), which is used for pilots and contact sportsplayers. As it takes 6-12 months for recovery, and can't be done until one has a non-varying prescription, I hope they make up their mind quick so I can see about getting it if they approve.

Laser Eye Surgery is a big no-no in the DF...its because of the Old Guard mentality, there are plenty of threads already on this site about it.

What I will say is so what if the Opticion told you were below standard, just go for the Medical anyway let the DF exam decide if you pass or fail.

MickJB1989 · 15-08-2009 03:12PM

Hard Larry wrote: »

What I will say is so what if the Opticion told you were below standard, just go for the Medical anyway let the DF exam decide if you pass or fail.

I will still apply next year (if the competition is running), but the optician said I was more than below standard, "off the charts" was his exact quote

Delta Kilo · 15-08-2009 03:34PM

mega man wrote: »

why in gods name do you need three languages to join the cadets?
I applied last year and wasnt considerd because irish wasnt cosidered a modern european language.!

I think it is more to do with the NUI matriculation than the DF. If you have a degree already then you should be exempt from this.

neilled · 15-08-2009 04:22PM

MickJB1989 wrote: »

Just found this article from 2006,http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article688361.ece that says the standards are under review for Lasek (i.e. non-cutting surgery), which is used for pilots and contact sportsplayers. As it takes 6-12 months for recovery, and can't be done until one has a non-varying prescription, I hope they make up their mind quick so I can see about getting it if they approve.

There was supposed to be a review of the policy carried out in 2008 and its recommendations passed to the minister for defence. The report arrived late and comments in the dail indicated that it was only completed in may or so we don't know what it contained and then the TD's went on holiday. My guess is even if recommendations were included to bring the Defence Forces inline with the stance taken by other military authorities around the world, it would be too late for this years cadet competition which seems to be rushed enough as it is.

kielmanator · 15-08-2009 04:24PM

Delta Kilo wrote: »

I received it too. 9am on the 31st August. Job simulation exercise looks kind of cool!

Looks like I'll be seeing you up there guys. I got mine for 31st Aug aswell! 0900 hrs. My computer can't read the the attatchment I got via email? Anyone got a solution?

pmg58 · 15-08-2009 04:58PM

kielmanator wrote: »

Looks like I'll be seeing you up there guys. I got mine for 31st Aug aswell! 0900 hrs. My computer can't read the the attatchment I got via email? Anyone got a solution?

You have an older version of MS Word, have a look at this link: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=941b3470-3ae9-4aee-8f43-c6bb74cd1466&displaylang=en

blondie83 · 15-08-2009 08:06PM

kielmanator wrote: »

Looks like I'll be seeing you up there guys. I got mine for 31st Aug aswell! 0900 hrs. My computer can't read the the attatchment I got via email? Anyone got a solution?

You just need to download an add-on for your Word - when you get the box saying "we do not know what program to use to open this file...ect" tick the option saying "use a webservice to find the appropriate program". That will link you through to a Microsoft page with the download, and then with that downloaded and installed it opens fine in Word.

Mick tough luck on the eyesight front - but as someone else said you should definitely go for it anyway and let the DF decide. If they say no, then you've always got the option of getting laser surgery and hoping the DF accepts it in Cadets before you turn 28. I think GB and the US both accept it, so I'm sure we will eventually too

neilled · 15-08-2009 08:26PM

The UK will accept it, but you must wait 12 months and between getting the procedure done (and being free of complications) and starting sandhurst. The yanks of course will PAY for you to have it done, I believe its perfectly acceptable in NASA these days as well.

Meanwhile, back in Ireland.................

Delta Kilo · 17-08-2009 02:02AM

What would be the best thing to wear to the RDS. Just casual or is it time for the suit?

I think casual because they are not going to remember you anyways. All you are being judged on is your performance in the psychometric tests.

Any thoughts?

kielmanator · 17-08-2009 08:29AM

Id say suit anyways lad! You'd be surprised who could be watching!:eek:

blondie83 · 17-08-2009 02:13PM

Delta Kilo wrote: »

What would be the best thing to wear to the RDS. Just casual or is it time for the suit?

I think casual because they are not going to remember you anyways. All you are being judged on is your performance in the psychometric tests.

Any thoughts?

I'm not going to pull out the suit just yet - you want to be comfortable doing those tests! That said I wouldn't turn up in jeans or anything, reckon I'm gonna go with shoes, trousers and a blouse, always a safe combo

mega man · 17-08-2009 02:17PM

Delta Kilo wrote: »

I think it is more to do with the NUI matriculation than the DF. If you have a degree already then you should be exempt from this.

In the British army you don't need three languages nor are you exempt becaue of laser surgery.

textmissing · 17-08-2009 04:19PM

hey..

i too have the test on the 31st, just wondering where i could find some more info to prepare for it?? As somebody said already, they cant all be as basic as the ones in the booklet... or can they?

cheers

pmg58 · 17-08-2009 05:13PM

The booklet mentions a few useful books somewhere near the back.

Delta Kilo · 17-08-2009 06:00PM

mega man wrote: »

In the British army you don't need three languages nor are you exempt becaue of laser surgery.

Yes, but this is the Irish Army. Your point is?

concussion · 17-08-2009 06:41PM

Delta Kilo wrote: »

RE the fitness test, how is the running part carried out? Is it on a treadmill or running around a track? So far I've only done it on a treadmill as there are a lot of hills around where I live. Running at 8mph brings you in at ~11.25. But I don't know if I would be able to judge how fast I am running on a real surface.

Is it done individually or in a group?

It's a group start for the run, if it's on in the Curragh it's done on the road, 1200 m down, 1200 m back. I highly reccommend getting off the treadmill, start using those hills to your advantage. It's too easy to run 2400 m on a treadmill but it's too easy to stop there when your knackered. Increase your distance to about 5 km and forget about times for a bit. Throw in some interval work during the run and then check your time again a fortnight later.
Also, 11.40 is a minimum time...

MickJB1989 wrote: »

@ Delta Kilo: Personally I found treadmill too easy compared to what I'm doing now (athletics track). The treadmill (at my gym in any case) seems to help provide momentum, thus increasing speed slightly. 6 times round a standard 400m track covers the required distance, so it's has handy as a treadmill for measuring, but the difference on the ankles was quite something in my opinion, the first few times my time was reduced fairly substantially on the track compared to treadmill. I'd imagine concrete would be worse again, I plan on moving onto it shortly.

As for if the run is done in a group, I'm not sure on that one, but my gut tells me it would be, as they would only need one or two supervisors to get a good number of candidates done, rather than the individual supervision I imagine would be needed for the muscular endurance tests.

If you have access to a track, do your knees a favour and stay off the concrete!

As for the suit question, you're attending what could be the most important selection process of your life where, in past years. there have been 25 applicants for every position. You are going to be in direct comepetition with hundreds of others - wear a suit!! There are plenty of things you will do in No 1 uniform which will be more difficult than a written test, best get used to it.

Delta Kilo · 17-08-2009 11:46PM

I did it today on the road for the first time. I did better than I thought I would. I did it in 11.58 and I thought I was going to be WAY off the mark. I felt like I was running half the speed I was on the treadmill.

RE the distance change, I was told not to do that by someone. I used to run mid-long distances. Usually 10k. Which means that you are trying to pace yourself to go the distance as opposed to speed whereas the 1.5mile run is like a mix of both. Extending the length would put me off my rhythm I reckon. Could be wrong about that though.

Anyways, more practice and work and I hope to be able to do it on the road in 11 mins, sub 11 if I have the time in September. I will be in UL so hopefully, I will get the benefit of their track!

It is a relatively easy fitness test. I'm surprised it isn't a bleep test tbh.

Thinking about the suit, in hindsight, it was definitely a stupid question!

Thanks for the input.

concussion · 18-08-2009 12:29AM

Have a look at the 4 week training plan for PDF entrants, it details a mix of runs from shorter interval work to 30 minutes continuous runs., ie

4 x 5min runs with 2 min recovery
3 x 6 min runs with 2 min recovery
2 x 10 min runs with 2 min recovery
steady runs for durations of 15, 20, 25 and 30 mins

I myself also do 100 m and 200 m intervals with 1 min rest, along with press-ups, sit-ups, squat thrusts, dips and, if there's no-one looking, 100 m leopard crawls (the most fiendish form of movement know to mankind). Once a week I do it with a weighted daysack or boots, but I would NOT reccommend doing this until your body is well conditioned and you have been given proper training and instruction.

A person with a good level of fitness should be looking at distances of over 5 km for 25 mins.

As for it being a relatively easy fitness test, it is used to identify those who are fit enough to begin physically demanding military training - after you get in it will get a lot harder. The British Army have a 1.5 mile run as part of their entry test with the same premise

The official army standard requires applicants to complete the distance in 14 minutes. I lollop in a minute late. "That cut-off point," Maj Colclough explains as I flail about for air, "is based on research that links aerobic fitness to an individual's predisposition to musculo-skeletal overuse injuries during training. By being more aerobically fit you can significantly reduce your risk of injury. Those who complete the run in more than 14 minutes are two and a half times more at risk of injury than those that get 10 to 12 minutes. So it's really about us being a responsible employer."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2008/jan/04/healthandwellbeing.laurabarton

Delta Kilo · 18-08-2009 01:36AM

Ya Im at the 25min run stage now but once a week I give the 1.5 mile run a bash to see how progress is going.

Thats a good routine you have there. I used to do all of them bar the leopard crawls. My school had a gym, 1 of the teachers used to be a fitness instructor and she did it with us in the evenings. She tortured us. She had us doing squats, dips, dips with your feet up on a medicine ball, weights, punching, chest press, press ups, shoulder press... you name it we did it! Worth it though. I got into running over the Leaving cert as I was sort of banned from playing contact sports due to fear of injury. I wanted something to keep me fit. I did a few 10ks with an average time of around 47mins. I was happy with that because due to study, winter etc, I didn't have time/energy to do a load of training. Easter was the last run I did and then I did very little after that until the LC was finished. Got back into it again after the LC to the stage I am at now.

One of my main hobbies is Hiking. Ive been to Scotland where I did a 20k hike over mountains in sh!t weather in about 3.5 hrs. Anything to do with the outdoors and I love it. Part of the reason I would love a career in the DF.

concussion · 18-08-2009 05:37PM

Delta Kilo wrote: »

Ya Im at the 25min run stage now but once a week I give the 1.5 mile run a bash to see how progress is going.

Thats a good routine you have there. I used to do all of them bar the leopard crawls. My school had a gym, 1 of the teachers used to be a fitness instructor and she did it with us in the evenings. She tortured us. She had us doing squats, dips, dips with your feet up on a medicine ball, weights, punching, chest press, press ups, shoulder press... you name it we did it! Worth it though. I got into running over the Leaving cert as I was sort of banned from playing contact sports due to fear of injury. I wanted something to keep me fit. I did a few 10ks with an average time of around 47mins. I was happy with that because due to study, winter etc, I didn't have time/energy to do a load of training. Easter was the last run I did and then I did very little after that until the LC was finished. Got back into it again after the LC to the stage I am at now.

One of my main hobbies is Hiking. Ive been to Scotland where I did a 20k hike over mountains in sh!t weather in about 3.5 hrs. Anything to do with the outdoors and I love it. Part of the reason I would love a career in the DF.

Great stuff, you shouldn't have much problems with the fitness side of it then. Make sure you tell them how much you like carrying heavy things over mountains too, they'll love that. Just be prepared to explain how much of a team player you are too...

blondie83 · 20-08-2009 12:31PM

Brief mention of it in todays Indo (more detailed in the print version apparently though I haven't read that yet).

http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/national-news/huge-numbers-seek-defence-forces-cadet-positions-1864759.html

over 1600 at the moment for 42 places - not too bad really considering the recession and all! I'm suprised only a quarter of the applicants are graduates though.

Craigsy · 21-08-2009 05:17PM

blondie83 wrote: »

Brief mention of it in todays Indo (more detailed in the print version apparently though I haven't read that yet).

http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/national-news/huge-numbers-seek-defence-forces-cadet-positions-1864759.html

over 1600 at the moment for 42 places - not too bad really considering the recession and all! I'm suprised only a quarter of the applicants are graduates though.

I wonder what the breakdown is in that between those going for naval and those going for army cadetships

Delta Kilo · 21-08-2009 10:42PM

To be honest, I wouldn't be too excited about the rise in applicants. Many of them will be from people out of college, who never before considered a career in the DF, but are just giving it a pop to try and escape the recession. I'm sure they will be fished out as the selection process progresses.

I still think that if you are good enough, have a genuine interest in the DF, and are able to articulate that, you will get in. Having said that, if you are rejected then it is an opportunity to find out why you didn't make the cut and improve on that for future cadetships.

Delta Kilo · 21-08-2009 10:47PM

concussion wrote: »

Make sure you tell them how much you like carrying heavy things over mountains too, they'll love that.

O believe me, I learned an important lesson that day. I forgot that I was going to be carrying the bag I was packing! Its funny how it gets heavier as you proceed! When I took out all the junk that I was never going to use afterwards (extra pair of gloves, way too much food, etc) it was something like 6kgs! I just hope I make it through to the interview so I have a chance to convey my qualities!

DeCoR18 · 28-08-2009 01:01AM

MickJB1989 wrote: »

Just thought I'd post an update, went to my opticians today, and it turns out that my vision is a perfect 6/6 in both eys...when corrected. Uncorrected they're nowhere 6/18 though, so looks like my chances have been shot to hell. Does anyone know why the PDF don't allow candidates to have laser eye surgery?

Lads could somebody fill me in on what the problem is here?

"Vision must be not
less than 6/18 in
each eye, corrected
to not less than 6/6
in one eye and 6/9
in the other"

Doesn't he make the requirement with correction? Unless I missed him saying he was going for the navy rather than army?

pmg58 · 28-08-2009 01:04AM

DeCoR18 wrote: »

Lads could somebody fill me in on what the problem is here?

"Vision must be not
less than 6/18 in
each eye, corrected
to not less than 6/6
in one eye and 6/9
in the other"

Doesn't he make the requirement with correction?

He makes the requirement with correction, but he doesn't make the requirement without it. Its not a case of either, you have to fulfil both requirements.

DeCoR18 · 28-08-2009 01:09AM

pmg58 wrote: »

He makes the requirement with correction, but he doesn't make the requirement without it. Its not a case of either, you have to fulfil both requirements.

Ahhh I didn't know that, wow thats a shame doesn't that kind of defeat the point of correction? Oh well I suppose its potentially peoples lives at stake.

Thanks for the quick answer

pmg58 · 28-08-2009 01:14AM

Correction meaning glasses/ contacts and not surgery of course. I suppose the thinking is that you can't always completely rely on them, what if your glasses get broken and you can't see well enough to shoot?

No probs, just happened to be online at the time! (I am a lot!)

A few questions about Cadetships

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