Structure of the Irish Defence Forces explained

This article represents the structure of the Irish Defence Forces as of May 2020:

Chief of staff

Chief of staff is a three-star general rank, and the holder of this post has authority and responsibility in respect to all staff duties relating to the management of the Irish Defence Forces.

Army

The Army is the land warfare branch of the Irish Defence Forces and consists of two brigades, a training centre, providing training to all the defense forces, and other units, including musical units.

1st Brigade

The 1st Brigade is headquartered at Collins Barracks in Cork. The brigade is responsible for the counties of Carlow, Clare, Cork, Galway, Kerry, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick, Offaly, Tipperary, Waterford, and Wexford.[4]

2nd Brigade

The 2nd Brigade is headquartered at the Cathal Brugha Barracks in Dublin. The brigade is responsible for the counties of Cavan, Donegal, Dublin, Kildare, Leitrim, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Roscommon, Sligo, Westmeath, and Wicklow.[6]

Defence Forces Training Centre

The Defence Forces Training Centre (DFTC) based at the Curragh Camp is provides professional training to the Irish Army:

Army Reserve

The Army Reserve is a part-time, voluntary organisation established on 1 October 2005, whose members round out regular army units. The Army Reserve is present at the following locations:[10]

Infantry battalion organization

The infantry battalions of the Irish Army are organized as follows:

Air Corps

The Air Corps is the air branch of the Irish Defence Forces. Headed by a brigadier general it comprises a staff headquarters, two operational wings, two support wings, one independent squadron and the Air Corps College.

No 1 Operations Wing

No 1 Operations Wing operates the fixed-wing assets of the Air Corps.[18] The wing is divided into four flying and two non-flying squadrons:

No 3 Operations Wing

No 3 Operations Wing is operates all Air Corps helicopters,[20] and is divided into three squadrons. It provides pilots for the Emergency Aeromedical Service, the air ambulance service which is jointly operated by the Air Corps and the HSE National Ambulance Service.

No 4 Support Wing

No 4 Support Wing carries out second line maintenance and manages the procurement of spares and aviation fuel.[21] This formation has two squadrons.

No 5 Support Wing

No 5 Support Wing is responsible for the logistic support for the Air Corps and the management and security of Casement Aerodrome.[22]

Air Corps College

See main article: article and Air Corps College (Ireland).

The Air Corps College is the principal training unit of the Irish Air Corps, where all entrants into the service undertake their training. The College is divided into three distinct schools:[23]

Naval Service

The Naval Service is the sea branch of the Irish Defence Forces. Headed by a brigadier general it comprises a staff headquarters, two commands, and the Naval College.

Naval Operations Command

Naval Operations Command is the command component of the Irish Naval Service responsible for all day-to-day activities of the service, both at sea and on shore.

Naval Support Command

Naval Support Command oversees the personnel, logistical and technical resources of the Naval Service, allowing the service to meets its operational and training commitments. Ship procurement, maintenance, repair, provisions, ordnance, food, fuel, personnel and transportation are handled by Naval Support Command.[27]

Naval College

The Naval College provides training to cadets, non-commissioned officers, and recruits of the Naval Service. The Naval College trains and educates personnel for service, providing a mixture of different courses ranging from officer training right through to Naval Engineering. The Naval College is based out of the Naval Service's headquarters at Naval Base Haulbowline but also provides classes and lessons in non-military naval training at the nearby National Maritime College of Ireland in Ringaskiddy.[28]

Naval Service Reserve

The Naval Service Reserve is the reserve force of the Naval Service. Its personnel supplements the crew of vessels of the Naval Service during operations, and conducts stand-alone operations within their respective ports, such as security duties, sighting reports and intelligence gathering.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: About the General Staff . Irish Defence Forces . 18 May 2020.
  2. Web site: Defence Forces School of Music . Irish Defence Forces . 18 May 2020.
  3. Web site: The Equitation School . Irish Defence Forces . 18 May 2020.
  4. Web site: 1st Brigade . Irish Defence Forces . 17 May 2020.
  5. Web site: Artillery Corps . Irish Defence Forces . 17 May 2020.
  6. Web site: 2nd Brigade . Irish Defence Forces . 17 May 2020.
  7. Web site: The Military College . Irish Defence Forces . 18 May 2020.
  8. Web site: The Infantry School . Irish Defence Forces . 18 May 2020.
  9. Web site: Schools of the DFTC . Irish Defence Forces . 18 May 2020.
  10. Web site: Army Reserve Locations . Irish Defence Forces . 18 May 2020.
  11. Web site: Reserve Defence Forces Contacts . Irish Defence Forces . 18 May 2020.
  12. Web site: Defence Forces Permanent Barracks . Irish Defence Forces . 18 May 2020.
  13. Web site: Infantry Corps . Irish Defence Forces . 18 May 2020.
  14. Web site: Company Level Weapons . Irish Defence Forces . 18 May 2020.
  15. Web site: Battalion Level Weapons . Irish Defence Forces . 18 May 2020.
  16. Web site: Air Corps Headquarters . Irish Defence Forces . 17 May 2020.
  17. Web site: CIS Squadron . Irish Defence Forces . 17 May 2020.
  18. Web site: No 1 Operations Wing . Irish Defence Forces . 17 May 2020.
  19. Web site: Irish Air Corps to Acquire Two New Maritime Patrol Aircraft . 20 December 2019 . Flying in Ireland . 17 May 2020.
  20. Web site: No 3 Operations Wing . Irish Defence Forces . 17 May 2020.
  21. Web site: No 4 Support Wing . Irish Defence Forces . 17 May 2020.
  22. Web site: No 5 Support Wing . Irish Defence Forces . 17 May 2020.
  23. Web site: Air Corps College . Irish Defence Forces . 17 May 2020.
  24. Web site: Naval Operations Command . Irish Defence Forces . 18 May 2020.
  25. Web site: Fisheries Monitoring Centre . Irish Defence Forces . 18 May 2020.
  26. Web site: Naval Service Diving Section . Irish Defence Forces . 18 May 2020.
  27. Web site: Naval Support Command . Irish Defence Forces . 18 May 2020.
  28. Web site: Naval Service College . Irish Defence Forces . 18 May 2020.