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The Defence Forces are currently running a competition for Cadetships in the Army, Aer Corps and Naval Service.
The competiton begins on the 15th July and runs until 28 July, 2010.
Highlights
For news and recent developments, please scroll down the page. This website is aimed at providing information to the general public as well as information targetted towards the media. Information is available on the various roles and tasks carried out by members of the Defence Forces both at home and overseas.
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28 July 2010, 6.30pm.
The Government has recommended Colonel Peter Richardson to be appointed as Military Judge for the Defence Forces.
Colonel Richardson, who is expected to be formally appointed by the President in the coming weeks, will take up the position which was vacated by Colonel Anthony McCourt, who retired earlier this month.
Born in Dublin in 1952, Colonel Richardson was educated in Colaiste Mhuire, Parnell Square, Dublin. He commenced his military service as a Cadet in October 1971, and was commissioned into the Infantry Corps in 1973. He graduated from University College Galway with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and qualified as a Barrister at Law from the Kings Inns in 1985. He was called to the Bar in the same year.
Colonel Richardson has held a variety of command and staff appointments during his career. He served in each of the three Infantry Battalions within the Second Eastern Brigade; the 2nd, 5th and 27th Infantry Battalions. He has also served as a Staff Officer within the Directorate of Administration, Defence Forces Headquarters. Colonel Richardson has extensive overseas service, having served in Lebanon, Namibia, Haiti and the Ivory Coast.
The role of a Military Judge is to preside at Courts Martial. His powers are laid down in the Defence Act.
For more information on Courts Martial and the Military Judge,
see http://www.military.ie/dfhq/dcossp/cma/index.html
Monday 26 July, 2010
The Government has announced the appointment of Brigadier General Ralph James, General Officer Commanding the Air Corps, as the new Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations) for the Defence Forces.
Brigadier General James takes up the appointment which was vacated by Lieutenant General Sean McCann, on his promotion to Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces on the 13th of June 2010.
The Minister for Defence, Mr Tony Killeen TD, accompanied by Defence Forces Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Sean McCann, were in Dublin Port on Monday, the 26th of July 2010, to observe the return of Defence Forces equipment from Chad.
The arrival of the equipment in Dublin represents the final phase of a major logistics operation which began in April, following a Government decision to commence the drawdown of Irish troops from Chad.
The operation commenced with the dismantling of Defence Forces facilities in Goz Beida, Eastern Chad. Cargo was then moved some 900km across the desert to a staging area in the capital, N’Djamena. From there, sensitive cargo was flown to the Cameroon Port of Douala. The remainder of the Defence Forces equipment was moved 900km by road to Ngaoundere in Northern Cameroon, and a further 650km by rail to the port of Douala. This movement took place under the impending threat of the onset of the rainy season (May – September) which renders transport by wheeled vehicle difficult to impossible. All equipment was then loaded onto the MV Grande Senegal, which set sail from Douala on the 13th of July 2010 on its 9,600km voyage to Dublin. Over 3,000 tonnes of equipment was shipped, including 208 TEU containers and 75 trucks, 4x4s and armoured vehicles. An assortment of trailers, fuel bowsers and other wheeled units is also included in the consignment.
The mission to Chad represented one of the most challenging logistical operations ever undertaken by the Irish Defence Forces. Chad is approximately twice the size of France, with little or no infrastructure. There are only 380km of hard-surfaced roads in the country, most of which are concentrated around the capital city of N’Djamena. The Irish Area of Operations (Sector South) was approximately the size of Munster and was situated in one of the most remote parts of the country.
The Irish camp in Goz Beida was built on a greenfield site in the desert. All of the necessary life support systems were either flown in or built on site. Wells were drilled for water, sanitation and fuel systems were installed and communication and accommodation facilities were constructed. Fuel, food and drinking water were all carefully managed as each had to be either flown into the local airstrip or transported on road convoys across the desert.
Commenting on the logistical challenges presented by the mission in Chad, Defence Forces Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sean McCann said:
“The logistical challenges faced in Chad were immense, and the contribution of Defence Forces logistics personnel to the success of the mission cannot be overstated. The successful deployment, sustainment and recovery of all necessary equipment to facilitate the conduct of operations in one of the most remote areas of the world, is testament to the expeditionary skills of the organisation. “
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Friday, 23 July 2010, 1pm.
An Taoiseach, Mr Brian Cowen TD and the Minister for Defence, Mr Tony Killeen TD, accompanied by the Defence Forces Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Sean McCann, will attend a Defence Forces commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the first deployment of Irish peacekeepers to the Congo today.
The event will take place in Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel at 12pm on Friday 23rd of July 2010.
Gallery of Images from the Day>>
Online applications for the 2010 Cadetship (Army, Air Corps and Naval Service) competition are now being accepted.
The last day for applications is 28 July 2010. Follow this link for more information and access to the online application form.
Wednesday 14th 2010
The Irish Naval Service vessel LE Niamh returns to the Naval Base,
Haulbowline in Cork Harbour on Thursday the 15th of July following a very
successful mission to Latin America.
The Minister for Defence Mr Tony Killeen TD, accompanied by the Defence
Forces Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Sean McCann, and the Flag Officer
Commanding the Naval Service, Commodore Frank Lynch, will be in Haulbowline
to welcome the ship home.
View the Map Positions of the LE Niamh
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