Request Recruitment Information here... or download an application form here...
All enquiries in relation to enlistment in Reserve Forces as a Recruit should be made to the nearest Reserve Forces Unit HQ. If you live, work or attend college in Kildare/Offaly or North Dublin, your nearest Army Reserve Unit is 62 Reserve Artillery Regiment.
Females and Males aged over 17 and under 35 are eligible to apply for enlistment in 62 Reserve Artillery Regiment. All applicants must be a minimum height of 5'2" (155cm). Any offer on enlistment in Reserve Forces is conditional on the passing of a medical examination. Membership of the Reserve Force is open to all Irish and EU citizens. Membership is also open to Non-EU nationals who posses a valid green book or Certificate of Residence from the Dept. of Justice Equality and Law Reform .
Enlistment Process
Application Form.
Each potential Army Reserve recruit must complete and sign an application form providing basic personal details. Download Part I here. Fill this in and eithre post it to us, or call in with in any Tuesday night and we will get you to fill in Part II.
Security Clearance.
All applicants must be security cleared by An Garda Síochana. The application form contains the details required by the Gardaí. This process can take a number of weeks to complete. In the event that an applicant is deemed to be unsuitable, we are not given any details.
Medical Examination.
The medical examination consists of two parts. The first part checks eyesight, colour blindness, hearing, respiratoty function and weight and height measurements. The second part is a general health check, medical history, blood pressure etc. While there is no physical fitness test, applicants must be in good physical condition.
Attestation.
Once the security and medical checks have been completed applicants can be attested. This process involves some more form filling and then an oath or declaration of loyalty. At this stage the applicant becomes a recruit and will be issued with an army number and clothing over the next couple of weeks prior to koining a Recruit Training course.
Applying for enlistment into 62 Reserve Artillery Regiment
To apply, an application form must be filled in and two passport photographs and a copy of your birth certificate supplied (You must bring your original birth certificate, we will photocopy it and hand you back the original). As detailed above, a potential recruit undergoes a routine medical examination and security clearance review prior to being attested. Once your army number is made available to us, we can organise to issue you with your uniform and other items of kit. The process from submitting your application, to being issued with your kit can take up to 8 weeks. During this time you can attend on Tuesday nights in civilian dress and will undergo induction training which will include accompanying the unit on field exercises where appropriate. You will be asked to sign a disclaimer before you can undergo induction training.You can download part I of our application form below (as part of the recruitment brochure download). Return this to us and we will make contact to organise to get you in and have the rest of the forms completed.
Once accepted into 62 Reserve Artillery Regiment we provide you with Module 1 of your basic recruit training over a series of week nights and weekends plus one week full time training. A two week full time period of training occurs (usually in July) where recruits complete Module 2. This course may be run at Brigade where you will mix with other recruits from the greater Leinster. Once completed successfully, you are promoted to 2* Gunner, and are included in the next 3* Gunner training course. This whole process (Recruit to 3* Gunner) can take up to 12 months.
Following this you will serve with our unit and can complete courses in Gunnery, Communications, Navigation, Driving etc. Your career path from here depends on yourself. If suitable you could gain a place on a Non Commissioned Officers course, to qualify you for promotion to the rank of Corporal. From here you can be promoted to Sergeant depending on ability, commitment and when a vacancy arises, and are eligible for selection to undergo a potential Officers training course.
Members join as new entrants and are promoted, advanced and upgraded as a result of training courses, tests, ability and commitment. Normally, only non-commissioned officers of the force are eligible for nomination to be appointed as officers. A person, including a reservist, who holds a university degree or diploma or equivalent qualification in mechanical or electrical engineering or who possess special qualifications, of military value, may however, if there is a vacancy in establishments for which his or her special qualifications are suitable be nominated to be appointed to be an officer in the force subject to certain conditions such as age, medical grading etc.
English Language Proficiency
An applicant may be required to undergo a written and/or verbal examination to prove that he/she has a satisfactory level of English that will enable such a person to become an efficient soldier. This examination will be conducted under the supervision of RDF Head Quarters Staff. An applicant who fails to pass this examination will be advised accordingly and the application will be refused.
Circumstances which would make a person ineligible for enlistment.
- Discharged previously from the PDF or RDF on medical grounds.
- A person who is already serving in the PDF, An Garda Síochána, or a member of a foreign military service.
- A person convicted by a civil court of a serious offence.
62 Reserve Artillery Regiment Training Commitment
Our yearly training occurs in two blocks. From February to July and from September to November. During these periods our unit trains on Tuesday nights between 8.00 pm and 10.00 pm. We complete a two week full time training period in July, and a one week full time training period in November. Additionally we train over approximately 5 weekends during the year. Outside of this, members may have the opportunity to complete career courses at Brigade or with one of the Army schools. Commitment is voluntary and allowances are made for exams and civilian employment / college. Members are paid for all periods of full time training. In addition, once each year (in December) a 'gratuity' is paid to members who have attended a certain number of unpaid training hours during the year.
All trained soldiers must qualify every year on the Steyr AUG assault rifle. This means spending a number of weeks conducting refresher training on safety, handling, care and cleaning, and range procedures for the weapon. Then spending a day or two on the firing range in order to qualify on the weapon. But it gets better, as your training advances in 62 Reserve Artillery Regiment you will be introduced to a number of different weapons systems ranging from pistols and grenades to the general purpose machine gun, anti tank weapons and all the way up to our own artillery weapons.
 |
 |
 |
 |
| HK USP |
Steyr AUG |
FN MAG |
Carl Gustav AT4 |
You will also become skilled at operating such equipment as the Laser Range Finder, Total Station surveying equipment, Global Positioning Systems, radio equipment, night vision and thermal image intensifiers. You will learn how to operate with and deploy from helicopters. We also offer drivers courses and courses in various administration duties within the Regiment.
Your Army Reserve military training includes the following:
- Foot Drill and Arms Drill.
- Tactical (Combat) Training - fighting and reconnissance patrolling, covert observation posts, ambushes,
- Fieldcraft.
- Weapons Training and Shooting.
- Navigation and Orienteering.
- First Aid Training.
- Ceremonial Duties.
- Survival Training and personal administration in the field.
- Signals Training.
- Confidence and Leadership Training.
- Artillery training.
- Drivers course.
- Paid Full Time Training and Duties.
If you're interested in a career in the Irish Army Reserve, why not drop in to one of our centres on a training night and we'll be happy to show you around and answer your questions. Contact us and we'll tell you where and when.
.jpg)
