garda reserve. One year since I left.

boars wrote: »

Hi everyone.
I've been back on boards lately and i find myself always going back and reading the emergency services forum every now and again.
I thought i would leave a post a year on since i left the reserve- as an example of what i got from the garda reserve- (especially in light of the recent leaving cert results and anyone who is leaving school hoping to get a taste of policing)

I was a reserve for three years and i left the reserves one year ago to pursue a social work degree in england. (some reserves here may know me)

I did not have the points for the degree nor was i a mature student (i was young joining the reserve) but what the reserve did for me was get me into a lvl 8 degree (with requirements of over 450 leaving cert points) using my garda reserve experience as a stepping stone.

Admittedly i was a reserve for a good while but i thought i would give an example of what the reserve was able to provide me in terms of acess to higher leve education and a wealth of skills and expereinces that i will use for the rest of my life.

One year on i will be going into a second year of my uni course and hopefully employment when i finish.
If any reserves are considering moving into university i would be more than willing to give advice and feel free to pm.

just wanted to say that the reserves helped me a lot and gave me a chance i would have never had (although a year ago standing in the rain outside a pub i would have never of thought it)
A year on i do miss it- and i still feel the pull of wanting to become a guard- but i dont regret a day i volunteered as a reserve. I may join again once i finish my course in england and return to ireland (but in the current job climate i'm not in any rush to return home)

Many thanks for this. Would you mind though if I asked:
- From your own experience, is their anything you thought needed changing back then?
- Have you any advice you would offer a rookie reserve like myself?

Thanks again for this post, brought a smile to my face anyway

boars wrote: »

...
I quickly discovered that most people have no clue you are a reserve or the powers you dont have -never forgetting the incident where a guy told me his cousin was in the reserves and he thought them a waste of time and had no clue he was talking to one
...

I know that there are people out there who still don’t understand the reserve concept; why people volunteer to assist in their communities and want to gain first-hand experience with the aim of going full-time. I know people don’t know what powers an attested member has and I know for certain their will always be people out there who just don’t want to know the answers to any of the above either and that's just grand. They can try and justify that any which way they like.

boars wrote: »

...

*My advice- know your role 'sorry about the rock quote '
you are there to assist regulars- they outrank you and no amount of experience will change it.

*i always liked community policing and talking to people- i also found it took the boredom out of beat- and imo its the most beneficial type of policing. In my opinion having strong links to the community you are policing is so important and one of the things missing in england atm i believe (but thats for a different thread)

*confidentiality- i never had any problems but i know people who did. especially regarding internet forums.

*Truth is you dont have much powers- you must use your head and your carismatic skills (i can almost hear the snickering) to calm situations. I know it sounds silly but i felt that i could sell water to a sailor after certain situations had subsided. patience of a saint does not begin to describe.

*I seen a few nasty accidents, if you are stressed do talk about it to your sic or cig, i dont care what anyone says- after a few modules of trauma and therapy on my course- you should talk to someone about the things that disturb you. You may never see anything though i know reserves have

I only know of one person who was offered compol but turned it down and even after hearing varying opinions on that, I still don’t grasp why. I would love to work with the Community Policing unit where I am but that doesn’t seem to be on the cards at all.

In my job I meet people from all walks of life who don’t hesitate in telling me about their day or travels and some of what they tell me actually sends shivers down my spine – genuine, honest and decent people who only want a set of ears to hear them and I enjoy that.

I agree that links to the community is vital, that cannot be emphasised enough to recruits while in Templemore in my opinion. Using your head; charismatic and level-headed people always get the best of every situation they are in I have seen that fact first-hand with members from my unit, fantastic to see first-hand in uniform in different situations.

I do appreciate your thread here and thank you for your honesty, and of course your return to our ES forum.
Any other advice; tips; even criticism, please don't be a stranger. You would have learned a fair amount in those three years. Send me a pm if you want . Sincere best wishes also over in the UK. It sounds like you are really enjoying what you're involved in over there

TylerIE wrote: »

Would it be fair to say that you speaking to the GR was similar to how you may speak to a new or less experienced regular Garda who had a lapse in judgement, rather than the way a Sgt would speak to a Garda, as in its more "words of advice".

While reserves obviously need to watch, listen and learn from Regular Gardai there does seem to be instances where some Regular Gardai feel the Reserve is just an observer /student to be bossed, rather than a much less experienced colleague who has a separate, but potentially useful role, once they develop enough experience.

ERU also need's to know he is not a higher rank, reserve garda and garda hold the same rank, same way as a retained (reserve) firefighter and a firefighter are same. I think some not all full timers should but themselves in the place of the reserve, just like when they where students and wet behind the ear, did they like the s8it they got from the experienced garda, while at the station, so think before acting.

Might be the rank structure you also forgot student garda is under the reserves as well in the structure, so does that mean reserves are there superior ?? "NO" it dont they are also equal to both a reserve and a full-time member, only difference the student dont have any powers while been a student, full-time members cannot reprimand a reserve, or student garda, the only persons you have to answer to is your Sgt, Sig, Super, Commissioner, in that order, same as full-time garda has to.

Garda rank structure in descending order

• Commissioner
• Deputy Commissioner
• Assistant Commissioner
• Chief Superintendent
• Superintendent
• Inspector
• Sergeant
• Garda
• Reserve Garda
• Student Garda

A reserve Garda does not hold the same rank or authority as a full time Garda, it is nonsensical to think they do. If I'm not mistaken Reserve Gardai are not supposed to wear uniform carry id cards etc when not 'on duty'. The reserves are not the salvation of the country in the face of a crime epidemic, they are a cynical way of masking the fact that the number of fulltime Gardaí on the street so to speak is being drastically cut. The reserve were brought in a a cost saving measure designed to be free policing at weekends, major events and the like not as the last bastion of law and order. Joe Public cannot tell the difference between a full time Garda and a Reserve as they walk up the street but when the fit hits the shan ultimately any investigation etc will fall on the Garda not the reserve. One would expect that a Student Garda has more qualification/rank/authority than as a Reserve Garda as they have received more training, have a greater knowledge of law, and are more committed (ie have chosen it as their full time career not as a hobby passing/interest/fad), than a Reserve has. We're all paying for our Police Force why should we have unqualified, unpaid and an ultimately un-regulatible (to quote one Reserve "What are they going to do? Sack Me?") folly. If you were having a heart attack and went to the hospital, would you be happy with someone who wanted to see what it was like to be a doctor or a qualified doctor treating you?

ieoinu wrote: »

A reserve Garda does not hold the same rank or authority as a full time Garda, it is nonsensical to think they do. If I'm not mistaken Reserve Gardai are not supposed to wear uniform carry id cards etc when not 'on duty'.

Last I knew no regular Gardai I knew wore uniform off duty, and as for ID card I suggest you contact the Commissioner for up to date policy re same.

The reserves are not the salvation of the country in the face of a crime epidemic, they are a cynical way of masking the fact that the number of fulltime Gardaí on the street so to speak is being drastically cut.

The reserve was founded when Garda numbers were being dramatically increased as opposed to being cut.

The reserve were brought in a a cost saving measure designed to be free policing at weekends, major events and the like not as the last bastion of law and order

.
And to support the Regular Gardai in policing their communities. Nobody ever suggests they are the last bastion of law and order, but they can provide support in policing some of the mundane day-to-day stuff. Not all policing activities require a Garda with a degree. Indeed many reserves have degrees or relevant life experience which, in combination with their prescribed training and the experiences they get under the supervision of regular members, can leave them adequately prepared for working as a Reserve.

Joe Public cannot tell the difference between a full time Garda and a Reserve as they walk up the street but when the fit hits the shan ultimately any investigation etc will fall on the Garda not the reserve.

Yes of course, and thats the way it is and will be in most cases. Some reserves have investigated minor crimes. Its appropriate that those with the highest level of training and experience (Regular Gardai with the degree or pre degree Gardai with vast experience) would devote their time to the most serious incidents - rather than AGS having to devote man hours to traffic control at events and public order. Indeed the regular Gardai are supported when the "fit hits the shan" by Gardai who specialise in investigations - Detectives, Crime Units, etc.

Oddly enough many reserves bring skills that are useful on the front line. Many have experience with other voluntary groups - e.g. the GAA etc so are used to dealing with young people, some are healthcare professionals who naturally can transfer some of their skills and experience across, others are bus drivers or mechanics who can contribute greatly to road safety education and enforcement, others have extensive IT skills which are also transferable. Indeed some have the simple factor of having "maturity" and "life experience". With AGS being so young, it can be most reassuring for people, particularly older people, to feel they are dealing with someone more mature and who will have the life experience necessary to empathise.

One would expect that a Student Garda has more qualification/rank/authority than as a Reserve Garda as they have received more training, have a greater knowledge of law, and are more committed (ie have chosen it as their full time career not as a hobby passing/interest/fad), than a Reserve has.

The one thing a reserve requires is commitment. Many, if not most, reserves dont put a uniform on until at least 18 months after they first applied. Even then its only during training. Reserves are required in addition to this to train for in excess of 128 hours, involving travelling to and from Templemore on 4+ occasions and up to 14 trips to and from a Divisional Headquarters for Phase 2 training. They also must do a minimum of 26 shifts a year, which will require the reserve to commute to and from a station outside their home Garda district. While regular Gardai may not be compensated adequately for the risks they take, and may have hateful work life balance with having to work nights and late shifts. Contrast this with Reserve Gardai who know the risks and still go ahead even though they do not get paid during training or for volunteering their time.

We're all paying for our Police Force why should we have unqualified, unpaid and an ultimately un-regulatible (to quote one Reserve "What are they going to do? Sack Me?") folly.

Reserves are qualified to a standard that was agreed by the Garda Commissioner and the Minister for Justice, and only operate once they receive this training (as per the Garda Siochana Act).

We are paying for our police force, but as the Garda Inspectorate discovered a few years ago - to create one full time position requires 5.2 Gardai. At a minimum the entire Garda Reserve budget would pay salaries for perhaps 50 Gardai - meaning less than 10 extra Gardai on the geat 24/7. So it would put 10 extra Gardai on duty for a Saturday night - up to 200 Reserves who may be on duty across the country with their unit on a Saturday night.

If you were having a heart attack and went to the hospital, would you be happy with someone who wanted to see what it was like to be a doctor or a qualified doctor treating you?

If I was having a heart attack I would be perfectly happy for a Nurse Practioner, Paramedic or Advanced Paramedic to treat me within the standard ACLS protocols - ie what they are trained to do.

For the follow on care I would naturally want a specialist Consultant - just like in the Garda Scenario a regular Garda or Detective would provide the follow on investigation after an incident.