r/Irishdefenceforces

i’ll finish school about 18 (and 3/4 🤣) and i’m definitely going to college but i’d like to do my service as well.

Just had my medical, lung capacity test came up with a spirometry obstructive pattern abnormality. Got a letter to take to my GP. Im relatively fit, run half marathons without stopping and train often. Is this something I should be worried about or will I probably get signed off by the GP?

Hi there lads,

I passed my physical, done the interview, garda vetting and also my medical.

Im 31, born in the Phillipines, moved to Ireland in 2003 and also lived and worked in the UK in 2020 to 2025. I have all the correct Address for the Garda Vetting for the time i was in UK and Im sure they wouldn't really check Phillipines Criminal record as I was very young, and definitely did not commit any crime ( or do they ?).

Does anyone know how far they go back for the vetting, I am expecting mine my take longer than everyone else, but i was also thinking that Ireland and UK are very close and surely someone worked and lived there and Joined the Irish Defence Forces.

Just want to see if anyone has a similar story and kinda have the time frame for the vetting.

Thanks lads.

My boyfriend just joined the army and I'm wondering what that means for us now. We've been together almost 4 years and practically spend all of our time together.

We have a really strong and healthy relationship; we've even worked and lived together at the same time with no issues whatsoever. We lived in London for a year and worked in this place that treated both of us terribly.

I left and managed to get another job pretty quickly. Not long after he got so fed up that he quit too but struggled to find work so we had to move back to Ireland. Then he decided to join the Defence Forces.

Now I'm nervous that everything's going to change and I'll never see him.

He's thinking of joining the Air Corps after basic training, so I'm wondering :

- What's the day to day routine?

- Will he be deployed a lot, for how long and is it mandatory?

-Do people in the DF actually have a life? Like do they get to have fun and go on nights out and drink or is it just work all the time?

-Are many people in the DF in relationships or does it prove too difficult?

Anyone else get an offer for Finner 22 June

For current or ex Irish Defence Forces infantry members—what’s infantry life really like, and what civilian careers did your service help you move into afterwards?

Have my fitness test end of the month.
And was wondering for the 2.4km times run, I pace myself on my running app it tells me on my headphones how long left so I know when to let it out at the end etc. So I’m curious if they call out your laps or tell you your distance if anyone knows? If not I may get a watch to help me.
Thanks a lot.

Well lads just wondering if vaping is common in the army applying next month I’ve been vaping for a while but I’d like to think I’m fit between playing sports and being a runner. Thanks lads

I’m 32 and want to join the army but I know I’m a bit on the older side to be signing up, I’m physically quite fit, I’ve trained weights and running for the majority of my twenties, only thing I’d have concern about is my age and genetically my legs aren’t massive and sometimes my knees would give me some trouble. Is the training quite taxing on your knees? I know you have to do marches carrying quite heavy weights

Just got notification that I didn’t make it through stage 2 of pilot cadetship competition, the fitness test, passed the fitness test handy enough and got through psychometric and group activity well I felt, but apparently maybe not. Due to an admin error I was told previously I didn’t get through stage 1 but then was told that I had, so kinda just wondering if the same might have happened again, or if anyone has been told they did get through or if anyone else who felt it went well got a rejection notification.
Also if anyone who’s been through it can give general advice on passing stage 2 it would be appreciated as I’d apply again next time regardless and will request feedback in October. Also if anyone had gone to pilot cadetship from general recruit advice on that would be helpful as well as it’s something I’d consider. Thanks

First of all, I want to preface this by saying that vetting/security clearance is very personal and depends on your background, the countries you've lived in, and other factors. It can take days, months, or years (from what I heard, at least). We all know that.

I made this post to share our personal experiences with security clearance/vetting. How many months did it take for you to get your starting date?

Preferably from people who have lived abroad, but feel free to comment regardless of your situation.

I've lived in three countries (including Ireland), and my security clearance is apparently still in progress. I had my fitness test roughly ten months ago...

done the basic training in custume and have no clue what to go for when I go to baldonnel. Any recommendations greatly appreciated 👍👍

I've been given a provisional date in September to start recruit training as I deffered my first offer.
Would it be wise to stop playing sport in case of injury and stick to my own workouts(running, weightlifting, pushups etc) or should i stick at it?
Also any additional pieces of advice for the recruit training are much appreicated.

I got my fitness and interview date for custume barracks. I’d have assmed that it would be at a barracks closer to me like Cathal Brugha as I live in Dublin city centre. Just wondering if this is normal or if its because there are more people applying and you just go where there is space. Thank you.

Anyone else get a message to say the next intake is the 22nd June and they will receive an offer soon ?

I understand the title is a bit odd and vague since to my understanding there’s no lateral transfer available like there is from the British army to the Australian army for example, but does anyone know or had experience leaving the uk forces and coming across to the Defence forces ?

Genuinely curious as the more people I speak to day by day have morale issues with the way the British military involves themselves in foreign affairs after the disaster which was Afghanistan and the even more disastrous pull out thereafter, that paired with the freedom of information provided by the internet and its many sources of information has made quite a few soldiers quite disgruntled after realising some things don’t align entirely with why they’ve joined.

I recently spoke to a proud Welsh serving soldier who just threw out the idea that he’s toyed with the idea of joining the Irish army, is it this simple or do you think he’d run into complications regarding citizenship and not being part of the EU?

Thanks to anyone who can add to my question

Curious as to how they mopped the floor with the Americans at the Sullivan Cup on a platform that we don't use (one that the Americans should surely be more experienced on).

I’m gonna do my basic training soon enough and wondering if I’m allowed to be based in the same county I live in after I complete 2 and 3 star training.