| Reserve Defence Forces | |
|---|---|
Reserve Defence Forces Cap Badge |
|
| Active | 1 October 2005 |
| Country | Ireland |
| Size | 9,692 (9,292 AR. 400 NSR)[1] |
| Website | Reserve Defence Forces |
The Reserve Defence Forces (Irish: Óglaigh Cúltaca) is the title given to the reserve components of the Irish Defence Forces.[2] It comprises the Army Reserve (AR) and the Naval Service Reserve (NSR).
It was established on October 1, 2005 and replaced the second line reserve, previously named An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil (FCA) in the case of the AR, and An Slua Muirí in the case of the NSR.
Contents |
In 1997 a steering group was convened by the Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces to conduct a special study on the restructuring of the Reserve Defence Forces. The report was completed in May 1999. The Reserve Defence Forces was established in 2005 in line with the recommendations of this report, and as part of a wider restructure of the defence forces from 2000.
The Army Reserve has an establishment of 9,292[1] and consists of a three Brigade Reserve. These three Brigades are organised on a standard Infantry Brigade model and mirror the organisation of the Permanent Defence Forces (PDF). Each unit within each Brigade has an affiliated PDF unit with which it has a direct working and support relationship.
The Naval Service Reserve has an establishment of 400 and is organised into two groups, each consisting of two companies.
An RDF Training Authority was also established in the Defence Forces Training Centre (DFTC) which co-ordinates and conducts reserve training.
During the Emergency, the civilian reserve was known as the Local Security Force, then as the Local Defence Force, which subsequently became translated into Irish as An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúl (or FCA). The FCA persisted as such until 2005 until reorganised and renamed as above. For a more detailed history, see main article.
The Reserve Defence Forces (and previously the FCÁ) composed the majority of extras used in the filming of the D-Day landing battle scenes in Saving Private Ryan - as well as battle scenes in Braveheart, My Boy Jack and other feature films.