Excellent career opportunities await in Irish Defence Forces   

“Extremely challenging” are the words that Tánaiste Micheál Martin used back in October, to describe the task of meeting Defence Forces recruitment targets by 2028. 

The Tánaiste, who is also Minister for Defence and Foreign Affairs, has said that €12 million of the €1.23bn allocation for his Department under Budget 2024 will be used to recruit 400 additional members within the year. Of the 400, he has said that if the State “can go beyond that, we will”. 

In August 2023, Permanent Defence Forces here numbered 7,671 - comprising 6,221 Army, 755 Navy and 695 Air Corps. The 7671 falls short of the current establishment of the Permanent Defence Forces at close to 9,600 and of plans to increase that number to 11,500 — to include civilian staff — by 2028.

The publication in November of the Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP) for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, has been described by the Tánaiste as “a step forward for the Defence Forces.” The DIP sets out a timetable for the delivery by 2028, of recommendations on military issues published by the Commission on the Defence Forces in 2022.

Announcing his deep commitment “to the transformation of the Defence Forces into a modern, fit for purpose organisation to defend the State and meet the challenges of today and the future,” he said:

“A great deal of work still needs to be done and it will need concerted effort by all involved. A priority within this transformation is cultural change. The end goal of this cultural change is to ensure that the Defence Forces is well-resourced, reflective of contemporary Irish society, and a rewarding and attractive career path for new recruits.”

There are more than 130 recommendations in the DIP, several of which related to careers. Some of those include the removal of impediments to the promotion of women to senior ranks, a timeline for the career progression of naval divers and other specialists, and the implementation of internal morale reviews.

Others are targeting diversity and inclusion, grooming standards to better facilitate genders, a mentoring programme for women and a plan to be in place by June 2024 to allow increased direct entry recruitment for specialist positions.

The Irish Defence Forces recruit Naval Service, Army and Air Corps recruits all year round. The three entry levels for joining the Army are cadet, recruit and apprentice. Applicants for General Service Enlistment must be aged between 18 and 28. The starting salary for newly qualified military recruits being €37,000.

With soaring rents and a shortage of rental properties in the private rental market, the option of living in a barracks is one that may save members thousands of euros every year. These can be found in numerous locations across the country, including Cork, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny and Galway.

The value for money to be found there is excellent. Enlisted troops and officers living in Collins Barracks, Cork, pay just €3 per week for accommodation and €40 per week for all of their meals. Recruits, while they are undergoing training, do not pay for either. 

The fact that a draught pint of Guinness or Carlsberg costs a mere €3.50 in the troop operated barracks’ bars, is a plus for the thrifty and thirsty.