Company/Organisation Profile
The Defence Forces’ mission is: “To contribute to the security of the State by providing for the military defence of its territorial integrity and to fulfill all roles assigned by Government, through the deployment of well-motivated and effective Defence Forces.” When not actually engaged in operations, the object is to train in order to achieve the degree of operational effectiveness, which our ethos and our assigned roles demand.
The Defence Forces consist of a Permanent Defence Force (PDF) and a Reserve Defence Force (RDF). The former is a standing force and provides the primary capabilities for joint military operations at home and combined military Peace Support Operations abroad. Members of the PDF serve overseas with the United Nations on peace keeping missions. Some of the missions where personnel are serving are Kosovo, Lebanon, Afghanistan and the Congo.
The RDF provides the necessary contingent conventional military capability to augment and assist the PDF, when necessary. The Permanent Defence Force consists of an Army, an Air Corps and a Naval Service.
The Permanent Defence Forces (PDF) has strength of approximately 9,500 personnel. These personnel are based throughout the State. The Government has assigned roles to the Defence Forces, which include the defence of the State from armed aggression.
Placement Details
The Defence Forces conducts work experience for transition year students normally twice a year; once in spring and once in autumn. Due to operational and training commitments, transition year work experience is only conducted during these periods.
Transition year work experience is co-ordinated through Manpower Offices at Brigade Headquarters for the Army, and through Manpower Offices at The Air Corps and Naval Service Headquarters.
How to Apply
Due to the high number of transition year applications, it is important that applicants follow the application procedure and submit the required documentation on time. The following are the steps in the application process:1. Interested students should inform their TY co-ordinator / work experience co-ordinator that they wish apply for a placement with the Defence Forces.
2. The TY co-ordinator / work experience co-ordinator should email the nearest Defence Forces Manpower Office stating that they have students interested in the Defence Forces transition year work experience programme.
3. The Manpower Office will send details of the programme to the TY co-ordinator including: application forms, and instructions that the school and student must complete and return to the Manpower Office.
4. The local Manpower Office will inform applicants if they have been successful or not