[Page 1]

SUBMISSION to THE COMMISSION on the IRISH 2021.

To the Commission Board.

Firstly, thank you for affording me this unprecedented opportunity to submit these simple ideas and observations. The notion that any of our fine Military Leaders and Service Personnel being classed as second-class citizens, must be fully corrected within Government and Public spheres. Decades of polite diplomatic, well crafted spin and lip-service are nothing short of deliberate Governmental prejudices towards matters of National Defense.

These traditional Government prejudices can be explained by the old, engrained mindset and security concerns resulting from 1922 Civil War. This should not be allowed to hold back the development of our National Defense, as it deserves to be unshackled from the historic 1920s control of the Civil Service. The Permanent Defense Force is a well proven, stable, extremely loyal organization and is deserving of full parity with the other Governmental Departments. Full budgetary control should be with the COS and advisors.

EXCLUSION.

No allowance in this submission has been made in relation to the future economic impact of COVID-19, red-line international loans, future EU commitments, BREXIT or the prospect of this Island’s reunification in the distant future, that may have on a rather mediocre Defense budget.

Hence, this submission is laid out in order of weight that might address the matters of recruitment, living conditions, pay and retention of all Ranks in this modern age of parity. The section on the Rebirth of the Armed Services appears later.

Headings (1) to (8) are within range, while Headings (10) to (12) are more radically minded so propelling the expansion and future proofing of the National Defenses. [Page 2]

1. SERVICE CONTRACTS.

(a) OFFICERS.

(i) Future Cadets to have a 3rd level qualification prior to joining and a minimum of 3yrs service in the Reserve Defense Forces. (ii) To ensure a high level of commitment, life experience and maturity, a minimum enlistment age of 21yrs to be considered. (iii) All Officers to qualify for a Full Pension after 25yrs service and be offered two thirds after 20yrs service. (iv) In recognition of low salaries, all allowances payments to be tax exempt. (v) Family Housing, and Single accommodation to be offered through a proposed DOD (Department of Defense) run Armed Services Accommodation Property Body (ASA), who’s details appear later in this submission. (vi) A free 3rd level course of choice to be offered to those with over 35yrs of unbroken service, with 58yrs being the maximum age of retirement. (vii) A Health and Dental plan to be provided via a DOD run contract with multi-discipline Private Hospital.

(b) ENLISTED PERSONNEL.

(i) Must have served a minimum of 2yrs in the Reserve Defense Force. (ii) Be in possession of a Full Driving license. (iii) To ensure a high level of commitment, life experience and maturity, a minimum enlistment age of 20yrs should apply. (iv) All enlisted Personnel to qualify for a Full Pension after 25yrs service and be offered a two thirds pension after 20yrs service. (v) In recognition of low wages, all allowances and duty payments to be tax exempt. (vi) Family Housing, and Single accommodation to be offered through a proposed DOD run Armed Services Accommodation Property Body (ASA), who’s details appear later in this submission. (vii) A Health and Dental plan to be provided via a DOD run contract with a multi-discipline Private Hospital. (viii) A free 3rd level course to be offered on completion of 30yrs unbroken service, with 56yrs being the maximum age of retirement.

[Page 3]

2. FAMILY HOUSING AND SINGLE ACCOMMONDATION.

The establishment of a DOD (Department of Defense) run Armed Services Accommodation Property Body (ASA).

(i) That ASA purchase a variety of house types in both new and old housing developments at various geographical locations for rental to Service personnel of all ranks and their families. (ii) That ASA purchase Single apartment accommodation within new and old apartment developments at various geographical locations for rental to Single Service Personnel of all ranks. The running of these apartment units can be sub-contracted out to property management companies. Rental payments will be deducted at payroll source. (iii) All ASA purchased properties will be shown as assets on the DOD balance sheet. (iv) The benefits are, Service life stability, integration into the community, and most importantly retention of committed Service Personnel of all ranks. (v) Lastly, it is so mentally damaging in having a fully trained Service person share a small sleeping space with others, along with communal ablution facilities. They have zero-private space, and no room for personal effects. Its a prison within a prison, and this is what drives them to exit service life. In all honesty, once their training phase is completed, they should not live in their place of work.

3. CAREER PROMOTIONS. The present Matrix System is working well overall.

(i) However, seniority in service should account for 15% of the final score. (ii) 25% of the final score to be allocated to those who successfully fulfilled a Higher Acting Rank for a total of 12 months over a 5year period. (iii) These two parameters should be factored into the Promotion Matrix System in order to retain valued experienced personnel. The remaining 60% of the final score to be allotted to everything else like career courses, overseas service, fitness, conduct rating etc.

[Page 4]

4. STRENGHTENING REPRESENTATION FOR ALL RANKS.

(i) The representation bodies of RACO (Officers), PDFORRA (Enlisted) the RDFRA (Reserve Forces) should be allowed to fully participate in any National Pay discussions held between the Government and the Congress of Trade Unions. (ii) There is NO right to strike, or right to withdrawn services by any Service Personnel in any case, only the right of union association as confirmed by EU ruling. This applies to the 3 representative bodies. (iii) Senior Officers ranking higher than Commandant/Lt. Commander should have a separate representative body formed on their behalf with equal rights of association. The uniformed Parity of all ranks, using their appropriate representative association, at any pay negotiations it is important in a unified front to service personnel. If personnel are being Failed during peace time, then what hope have they of being supported in times of conflict. The Government needs to pay into the Nations Insurance Policy that is Defense.

5. HEALTHY FOOD, INCREASED RATION SCALE, and MRE’S.

The standard of Military culinary skills is excellent, but even they are badly limited by the volume and quality of provided provisions.

(i) The ration scale allowance for each Service Person is far too low and needs to be increased to 20 euros per person per day. (ii) The elimination of very fatty foods from menus, and the provision of quality fruit is a dietary requirement. (iii) The addition of some ethnic dishes as more second-generation non-nationals join our ranks. (iv) MRE’s (Meal Ready to Eat) ration packs to be more varied, as to avoid ration pack fatigue in the field. (v) 2 x Modern mobile field kitchens per each Brigade which can feed 500 personnel.

[Page 5]

6. .

This has been a vastly underfunded and underdeveloped element of the Armed Services. Medics have embarked in paying for their own courses, which should not be the case.

(I) All Medical training to be fully funded.

(II) A new Combat Medical Training Hospital to be built in the Camp.

(III) Medical staff to be inducted into Combat Medicine by being trained by other foreign Military Medical Units.

(IV) At least 2 portable Modular Field Hospitals to be provided, with an additional 1 each per Army Brigade. These must be air transportable by the Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane, and the Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopters.

(V) A fleet of tracked Hagglund BV 206S and wheeled Rheinmetall Survivor R Combat Ambulances to be acquired.

(VI) Members of the HSE staff to be seconded into the Medical Corps, to facilitate the release of Service Medics for Combat medical training techniques undertaken abroad.

7. CYBER SECURITY.

(I) A special fund to be sanctioned in order to headhunt the appropriate highly skilled IT personnel from Universities, large IT companies, Garda SIS, etc., so that a strong Cyber Security presence can be maintained. The running and operation of this unit to be managed by Military Intelligence.

(II) All applicants would be highly vetted and classed as being Direct Civilian Entries (DCE) into the Cyber Security Unit (CSU).

(III) Military Intelligence, the CSU and the ARW () will be located with the COS in the Joint Services Operations Facility HQ (JSOF), which is mentioned later.

[Page 6]

8. THE .

The role of the Reserve Forces should be the training support, the security of any given Military Barracks, Naval Depots, and Aerodromes. The provision of manpower as the need arises within locations, which frees up the Regular Troops, Sailors and Airmen to carry out their specialized roles both here at home and abroad. Current military rates of pay and conditions should apply to all Reserve Personnel while in uniform, and that includes their time in training. This will result in a very well-versed Reserve Force and offer prime recruitment material for the Armed Forces. Legislation to be passed which makes employers release Reserve members when required by the Armed Forces, and without suffering any work-related consequences as a result.

(I) Reserve Officers to hold a 3rd level qualification, pass a fitness test, with a minimum induction age of 21yrs.

(II) Reserve Enlisted personnel to pass a fitness test, with a minimum enlistment age of 18yrs.

(III) Appropriate vetting procedures applies to all.

9. ONE (Organization of Ex-Service Personnel) Veterans Affairs.

This organization gives sterling service to ex-service personnel but is run by volunteers. This DOD provides truly token funding.

(i) The ONE to be fully funded by the DOD.

(ii) Fulltime salaried appointments to be created, and the refund of expenses to volunteers to be managed through tax free travel and subsistence payments.

(iii) An annual accommodation and maintenance fund to be allocated for homeless service personnel.

(iv) Full free access to the local Medical Officer and the free provision of medicines.

[Page 7]

POSSIBLE IDEAS FOR THE REBIRTH OF THE ARMED SERVICES.

This would require major national funding, EU financial assistance, loaned military hardware through PESCO and a total mindset change within the well-established and vested organs of the State. Th Armed Services must be treated as importantly as any other Government department. Past halfhearted attitudes afforded to Military matters need to be erased, and modern ones adopted and fully funded. Old Victorian era Barracks were built to assert the presence of an occupying authority within large towns and cities and resulted in area denial to the native population in times past. Today, greenfield sites are needed for the construction of modern Military facilities.

The present PDF to be split into 3 separate Armed Services, each to have independent budgetary control from the funds allotted to them by the COS and advisors. This will result in an Army, Air Force and Navy, all answerable to the COS of the day. A new Command Structure Table is required to allow for the 3-Armed Services and associated appointments. New slimmed down modern Military Regulations are required that reflect accurately the 21st century.

[Page 8]

10. JSOF HQ (Joint Services Operations Facility).

The COS should have a purpose-built Joint Services Operations facility (JSOF) HQ building within the Athlone region, in the center of the country. The ARW (Army Ranger Wing) to be permanently located at JSOF and will be responsible for the security of this facility, and the armed escorting of the COS and advisors. The strength of the ARW to be increased to 300 personnel and led by a career ARW member of Lt. Col rank. 6 x Zodiac Hurricane Multi-Role RHIBs to be allocated to the ARW, along with all modern-day Operations equipment. Military Intelligence and the CSU (Cypher Security Unit) to also be located at JSOF HQ.

11. ARMY.

(a) The Army adopt the exact Province boundaries as per Munster, Leinster, Connaught and Ulster, which gives 4 distinct Army Brigade Groups (ABGs).

(i) The Southern Brigade Group (SABG) located in totality at a new modern multipurpose built facility in Kilworth. This will accommodate all the Brigade Elements, along with Ammo Depot and Training area etc. The old Barracks to be repurposed by the State, but not sold.

(ii) The Eastern Brigade Group (EABG) located in totality at the expanded and fully modernized . The Curragh Camp to be fenced in, and public roads rerouted. The EABG will be responsible for the running of Coolmoney Camp and the firing ranges. Existing facilities like Cadet College, Main Ammo Depot etc. to be retained. The elite ARW (Army Ranger Wing) to relocate to the center of the country within the Western Army Brigade Group with the COS at JSOF HQ.

(iii) The Western Army Brigade Group (WABG) located in totality in a new modern multipurpose built facility in Athenry County Galway, on the cancelled Apple Data Center site. The Brigades Ammo Depot would also be accommodated in this large space. This site is located beside the present Oranmore Firing Ranges and Training grounds. Old Barracks to be repurposed by the State, but not sold.

(iv) The Northern Army Brigade Group (NABG) located in a new modern multipurpose built facility in County Monaghan. This would be the smallest Brigade Group for now but is needed to future proof any reunification aspirations that our Government may be working towards in the distant future with the consent of the Island. to be handed over to the Air Force and expanded. Old Barracks and outposts to be repurposed by the State, but not sold.

[Page 9]

(b) An Army Brigade Group makeup (ABG).

Brigade GHQ senior command and staff complete with the following elements:

(I) 4 x fully mechanized Infantry battalions with own armour protection in the form of 40 x Finnish made Patria wheeled AMV XP APCs (Armour Protection Vehicles) and 20 x Swedish made BAE Systems tracked CV90 Mark IV. Each Battalion to have a strength of 530 personnel of all ranks.

(II) 20 x Swedish made BAE Systems Bofors Archer FH77 L52 155mm Self-propelled howitzers.

(III) 20 x German made M270 MLRS with MARS II rocket systems.

(IV) 10 x German made Wiesel reconnaissance tracked vehicles and 10 x French made wheeled EBRC Jaguars.

(V) 10 x Wiesel Mortar Variants.

(VI) 10 x Wiesel TOW Missile Variants.

(VII) 20 x Italian made Centauro B1 120mm wheeled light support tanks.

(VIII) 4 x UK made Rapier FSC small mobile missile air defense system.

(IX) A Company of 133 personnel as Combat Medics complete with 1 x air portable modular Mobile Field Hospital.

(X) A Company of 133personnel as field engineers complete with 2 x mobile workshops, 4 x French made SPRAT modular assault bridges, 4 x German made AEV (Armour Engineering Vehicles), 4 x JCB 426 wheeled loaders, 2 x Robotic Mine Clearance DOK-ING MV 4.

(XI) A Company of 133 personnel as CIS with mobile communication centers and workshops. (XII) An Ordnance Company of 133 personnel that shall cover EOD, and the supervision the Brigades Ammo Depot.

(XIII) Supply and Transport Mini- Battalion of 300 personnel complete with a fleet of a 100 x German made Rheinmetall MAN HX Tactical Military Trucks (TMT).

[Page 10]

12. AIRFORCE.

The Air Force to have two main bases, Casement Aerodrome and Finner with additional Support Airfields complete with hangars in Tralee in County Kerry in the South, and Carnmore Airport in County Galway in the West.

(i) IFF radar to be acquired, with secure links to other national radar system i.e., Shannon.

(ii) 6 x Sikorsy S-61N helicopters for National to be operated by the Air Force.

(iii) 12 x Augusta Westland AW 139 for medical emergencies.

(iv) 6 x Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane helicopters.

(v) 40 x Boeing made CH-47 HC6A Chinook troop carrying helicopters.

(vi) 40 X Airbus Eurocopter Tiger ground attack helicopters.

(vii) 24 x Swedish made SAAB JAS 39 Gripen multirole jets to make up 2 jet squadrons, based in Casement Aerodrome and Finner.

(viii) 6 x Swedish made SAAB 105 training jets.

(ix) 4 x Boeing C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft.

(x) 6 x Israeli made Rafael C-RAM Iron Dome Mobile air defense missile systems.

[Page 11]

13. NAVY.

Presently the gets some EU funding mainly under the heading of Fisheries Protection. However, while this is most welcomed, we need to look at ideas that will help the Naval Service to become a Navy. Before we talk ships, we need to talk about Base locations and Personnel.

(a) THE PEOPLE.

(i) Naval Bases to be established on the Western seaboard at Galway, the Eastern seaboard at Drogheda. This will complement the present Naval Base at Haulbowline on the Southern seaboard.

(ii) Seagoing Naval Personnel who complete a full 3-week patrol, are to be relieved of their ship for 1 full week by the Shore Support Group (SSG). The SSG will take over the security, maintenance, repair and reprovisioning of the ship and get it ready for the next 3-week patrol. The returning ship’s crew will always take over on a weekday from the SSG. Seagoing Sailors of all ranks need to have their rest time after any patrol.

(b) THE FLEET.

(iii) 6 x Swedish built VISBY-Class ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) Corvettes. We last had this capability with the Flower Class Corvettes during WW2.

(iv) 6 x Swedish built Mine Counter Measure Vessels (MCMV).

(v) 3 x Dutch built Canterbury Class MRVs (Multi- Role Vessel).

(vi) 9 x German built LURSSEN 85-meter Offshore Patrol Vessels for extended fisheries patrols.

(vii) 30 x Swedish built CB90 (Combat Boat) with shallow draft of 2ft 7 inches for assault and Inshore Patrols to protect vital harbours and estuaries.

(viii) 6 x Swedish built FMV Seagoing Tugboats.

All the above-mentioned vessels to be split evenly between the 3 Naval locations.

[Page 12]

Finally, this concludes my submission to you The Commission. Whilst I fully realize that many of the listed items (10) to (13) represent a total radical modernization plan, I would strongly encourage the board to seriously consider item 13(a) part (ii) in relation to the quality of life that could be afforded to Naval SEAGOING personnel. They give up so much in the private lives, in order to keep our ships afloat on the rough seas.

Thank you all for your valued time and attention, and hopefully something good will result from all your dedicated endeavors within this Defense Commission.

Yours Sincerely.

A Solid Citizen.

Submitted this day 14th March 2021.