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[edit] The Army Reserve
The Army Reserve (Cúltaca an Airm in Irish) is part of the Reserve Defence Forces (RDF) of the Irish Defence Forces.
The Army Reserve, and the Naval Service Reserve (Cúltaca an tSeirbhís Cabhalaigh in Irish) are both integrated parts of the Defence Forces. The RDF is a part-time, fully volunteer organisation. While the RDF is a new force established on the 1st of October 2005, all personnel in the force on that date were formerly part of An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil or An Slua Muiri, all units of the former forces were demobilised, and the new units of the RDF formed on the same day.
[edit] Formation
In the 1990's the Irish Army was re-organised to be a cost effective professional force, with reduced numbers and higher standards of training and equipment. When the Government introduced the White Paper on Defence, it was decided that the Reserve Defence Forces also needed a re-organisation and improvements in training, equipment, and facilities. The Government convened a steering group to formulate a plan for the RDF Re-Organisation with submissions from every unit concerned, the Reserve Representative Body (RDFRA) and the Permanent Defence Forces.
[edit] History of the Army Reserve
[edit] Roles
Its primary roles in line with the Permanent Defence Forces (PDF) are:
- To defend the State against armed aggression; this being a contingency, preparations for its implementation will depend on an on-going Government assessment of the security and defence environment;
- To aid the civil power (meaning in practice to assist, when requested, the Garda Síochána, who have primary responsibility for law and order, including the protection of the internal security of the State);
- To participate in multinational peace support, crisis management and humanitarian relief operations in support of the United Nations and under UN mandate, including regional security missions authorised by the UN;¹
- To provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the EU;
- To carry out such other duties as may be assigned to them from time to time, e.g. search and rescue, air ambulance service, Ministerial air transport service, assistance on the occasion of natural or other disasters, assistance in connection with the maintenance of essential services, assistance in combating oil pollution at sea.
¹This is not currently a role of the Reserve Defence Forces due to training and Legislation issues. It is believed that by the end of the RDF re-organisation this will be a role of the force.
[edit] Composition
It is organised into three Brigades:
- The 1st Reserve Brigade (South)
- The 2nd Reserve Brigade (East)
- The 4th Reserve Brigade (West)
Each Brigade Mirrors the PDF Brigade as Below:
| 1 Reserve (Southern) Brigade | 2 Reserve (Eastern) Brigade | 4 Reserve (Western) Brigade |
| RDF HQ 1 Southern Brigade | RDF HQ 2 Eastern Brigade | RD FHQ 4 Western Brigade |
| 32 Reserve Infantry Battalion | 62 Reserve Infantry Battalion | 51 Reserve Infantry Battalion |
| 33 Reserve Infantry Battalion | 65 Reserve Infantry Battalion | 56 Reserve Infantry Battalion |
| 34 Reserve Infantry Battalion | 67 Reserve Infantry Battalion | 58 Reserve Infantry Battalion |
| 31 Reserve Cavalry Squadron | 62 Reserve Cavalry Squadron | 54 Reserve Cavalry Squadron |
| 31 Reserve Artillery Regiment | 62 Reserve Artillery Regiment | 54 Reserve Artillery Regiment |
| 31 Reserve Engineer Company | 62 Reserve Engineer Company | 54 Reserve Engineer Company |
| 31 Logistic Support Battalion | 62 Logistic Support Battalion | 54 Logistic Support Battalion |
| 31 Reserve Communications Information Service Company | 62 Reserve Communications Information Service Company | 54 Reserve Communications Information Service Company |
| 31 Reserve Brigade Military Police Company | 62 Reserve Brigade Military Police Company | 54 Reserve Brigade Military Police Company |
| (Reserve) Southern Brigade Training Centre | (Eastern) Reserve Brigade Training Centre | (Western) Reserve Brigade Training Centre |
| Army Troops(Part of 1 Air Defence Regiment) | ||
| 2 Air Defence Battery (Dublin) | 3 Air Defence Battery (Limerick) | 4 Air Defence Battery (Cork) |
There is also a Reserve Defence Forces Training Authority (RDFTA) based in the Defence Forces Training Centre in the Curragh. In addition there are 3 Air Defence Batteries which are not part of the brigade structure but report directly to the 1 Air Defence Regiment (PDF) in the Curragh. They are territorially located, 2 Air Defence battery in the Eastern Brigade. 3 and 4 Air Defence Batteries in the Southern Brigade.
[edit] Rank Structure
The Irish Army Reserve is organised along the same rank and command structures as the Permanent Forces, however there are some differences.
All Ranks within the RDF are enlisted as recruits and must rise through the ranks, there is no direct entry as an officer and there is no Cadetship process. Potential officers are chosen for a Potential Officer Course from the enlisted ranks, normally only Corporal and Sergeant ranks will be selected. The course is run over 2 years.
In the PDF a Battalion level unit would be commanded by a Lieutenant-Colonel, however in the RDF this would be a PDF Commandant. Before the Re-Org of the RDF in 2005, Commandant was the highest rank in the RDF, however there are now 4 reserve Lieutenant Colonels appointed one to each Brigade Headquarters and the Reserve Headquarters.
[edit] Source
Historical information taken from the Irish Defence Forces website, www.military.ie, and reproduced under the terms of their licence.
[edit] External links
Irish Defence Forces (Public information/ official page)
