An Cosantóir

March 2018

An Cosantóir the official magazine of the Irish Defence Forces and Reserve Defence Forces.

Issue link: https://digital.jmpublishing.ie/i/946998

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www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 13 General Enlistment Reserve Defence Force (RDF) and then enlist under a General Enlistment Permanent Defence Force (PDF) or Cadetship later. So, let's look at those areas and see which ones might interest you. geNeral eNliStMeNt reServe defeNce force (rdf) aNd Naval Service reServe (NSr) The RDF and NSR are our part-time forces, as members of the DF they receive professional military training on one to two days a week and they also attend weekend and annual camps that range from three to seven days training. They also get to train alongside members of the PDF and are an integral part of our team. If you want to know more about the RDF or NSR please visit the website. Some of the areas you can work in the RDF and NSR include: In- fantry Corps, Artillery Corps, Engineer Corps, Communication and Information Services Corps and Naval Service. geNeral eNliStMeNt PerMaNeNt defeNce force (Pdf) The PDF is the main force of the DF and is a full-time job; you will conduct professional military training on enlistment to become a fully trained Private Soldier, Airman/Airwomen or Able Seaman. After your initial training that consists of Recruit Training and Three Star Course (Seamanship Course for Naval Service) you will have the opportunity to complete a number of varied and chal- lenging courses and career paths. Recruit Training is 15-weeks and Three Star Course is another 10-weeks. You can work in the following Corps/Services: Infantry, Artillery, Engineer, Ordnance, Cavalry, Transport, Communication and Infor- mation Services, Air Corps and Naval Service. Pdf cadetShiP eNliStMeNt Cadets are personnel selected for training to become officers within the DF. A Cadetship involves a 15-month period of full-time training, on successful completion of which you will be commis- sioned as an officer. You can work in the following Corps/Services: Infantry, Artillery, Engineer, Ordnance, Cavalry, Transport, Communication and Infor- mation Services, Air Corps and Naval Service. air corPS aPPreNtice aircraft techNiciaN Apprentice Aircraft Technicians complete military training up to the rank of a private soldier, while also becoming an aircraft technician. As an aircraft technician you will be taught how to look after scheduled and unscheduled maintenance of aircraft engines and systems, including avionics, electrical, hydraulics and fuels systems. The training of an Aircraft Technician is 36-months and on completion are fully SOLAS/ETB and Institutes of Technology ac- credited tradespersons and are deployed in the various technical vacancies in the Air Corps. SPecialiSt areaS aNd the traiNee techNiciaN ScheMe (ttS) There are a number of specialist areas within the DF, one of which is the Army Ranger Wing, which is a Special Operations Force (SOF) of the DF. To be able to apply for the selection process to serve with this unit you must have successfully completed the initial training in the PDF. The TTS is a competi- tion that is held each year within the DF for apprentice technicians in a wide range of skills. To be able to apply for the TTS you also must have successfully completed the initial training in the PDF and have served for a minimum of 2-years. Some of these TTS includes Engineer Corps: Electrician, Carpenter, Construction Plant Fitter, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Tech and Plumber; Ordnance Corps: Armourer, Armourer Artificer Instruments; CIS Corps: Communications Information Services Technician (CIST) in Electronic Engineering; Transport Corps: Heavy Vehicle Mechanic. curreNt Pay ScaleS, w.e.f. 1St JaNuary 2018, excludiNg all allowaNceS & tech Pay: Recruit €394.22 per week 2 Star Private €461.61 per week 3 Star Private (starting from) €478.62 per week Cadet €1,536.83 per month 2/Lt €2,502.08 per month Lt €2,849.58 per month Apprentice Aircraft Technician €286.18 per week Aircraft Tech Airman/Airwoman €519.71 per week how to aPPly for eNliStMeNt iNto the defeNce forceS Okay, you have made a decision about which part of the DF you would like to enlist into, but how and when will you be able to apply. The DF accepts applications for enlistment during competitions that it runs throughout the year. It runs separate competitions for each different area within the DF.

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