In This Regard, You May Wish to Consider Future Integrated Capability
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1. Capabilities – In this regard, you may wish to consider future integrated capability development and the planning and delivery requirements to support a joint force approach in terms of new equipment, professional military education and training, maintenance and development of infrastructure, developments in military doctrine, and transformative concepts, including specialist capabilities, that prepare and support the Defence Forces for future operations. In regard to future integrated capability development and the planning, I have dealt with in the next section but to me this is all about putting the capabilities of the Defence Forces on a proper footing. Previous Governments have allowed the Defence Forces to decline due to problems with finances both nationally, European and world wide but this was most out of their hands. This is not a blame game this is now trying to do what’s best for the DF going forward. • New Equipment – In my opinion going forward the Artillery Corp should only keep Field Guns for Ceremonial occasions as we are never going to uses these in any major conflict. The Cavalry Corp also needs to lose the Scorpion Tanks and concentrate on their present personal Carriers, Signals Corp need to concentrate on hand held devices and a standard radio for the Gardai, Civil Defence, Coast Guard etc should be introduced and be able to work together in crises situations. • Maintenance and development of infrastructure – As laid out in the next section on the reserve there are so many buildings belonging to the State in many instances are listed building let’s take them over for the Reserves and with Monies for the Dept of Heritage & the EU let’s use these buildings and be proud of our country and the facilities we could have. • Developments in military doctrine – Military has to change and this idea that the Reservist is a substandard human been and should be ridiculed has to stop and the PDF have to enhance the qualities and abilities that are or could be attracted to the Reserve if the will of Government & the General Staff if there. • Transformative concepts including specialist capabilities – As laid out in the next section. 1 2. Structures – In this regard, you may wish to consider the most effective high-level Command and Control (C2) structures within the Defence Forces to ensure an agile and balanced approach that can function across all domains at home and overseas. Additionally, you may wish to address appropriate future force structures for the Army (including its brigade structure), the Air Corps, and the Naval Service, individually as component services and collectively as part of an integrated joint force approach. Furthermore, you may wish to address the changing nature of reservists, which presents an opportunity for the Reserve Defence Force to further integrate and support the Permanent Defence Force through the provision of enhanced collective and specialist capability across all domains. In regard to the most effective high-level Command and Control Structures in the Defence Forces should see the Chief of Staff treated in the same manner as the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána and he holds the purse strings and delivers monies to the areas he deems need additional support and not by Civilians that are not trained in Operational roles. The Defence Forces should have a proper Command and Control Structure. A. ARMY HQ relocated back to original Army HQ & McKee Barracks in Dublin B. 1st Brigade as at present less Renmore Barracks Galway (returned to 2nd Brigade) C. 2nd Brigade Draw a line from North of the Liffey to Galway (1st Battalion could become sailors if the Naval Service re-Co-locate to Galway). D. 3rd Brigade Cathal Brugha Barracks & the Curragh Camp. E. 4th Brigade (Reserve Brigade) HQ Columb Barracks Mullingar and Reserve Location around our Country F. Air Corp should also have base’s in Shannon and Knock. G. Naval Service needs two more bases in my opinion Galway for Western Sea Board and Drogheda/Dundalk for the Irish Sea. H. 2 Brigade HQ should be relocated to Athlone . My reasons for the Command and Control Structures are as follows: The Head Quarters of all Emergency bodies are all over the Country and in case of a National Emergency it is unworkable. A. Army Head Quarters – Newbridge B. Garda Head Quarters- Dublin C. Civil Defence Head Quarters in Roscrea (with no sleeping accommodation for overnight courses) which come under the DOD but Columb Barracks could be used for these overnight and larger courses. D. Irish Red Cross Head Quarters - Dublin E. Fire Brigade Head Quarters – Dunlaoire but I am not sure ? F. Irish Coast Guard – Dublin G. Dept Environment Head Quarters – Dublin H. Dept of Marine Head Quarters – Dublin So if all these Departments or General Officers need to meet urgently there is calamity. 2 In addressing the Brigade Structures, there was a mistake made in cutting the Brigade Structure to 2 Brigades and sooner or later there will be possible United Ireland and the Military Basis in the North of Ireland need to be taken into account so in my opinion that needs to be looked at seriously. The Reserve in its current status attached to the PDF in the “ONE FORCE CONCEPT” does not work and never has worked with the exception of the Artillery Corp and therefore I would suggesting separating the two and in my opinion the Reserve should have its own Brigade as follows: The Reserve Brigade Structure could be made up as follows: 1. 1st line Reservists that are trained to the same level as the PDF which may augment the role to include overseas service and a more permanent role on a part time basis ,should have to meet the full criteria as their PDF Counterparts i.e. Fitness/specialists etc 2. 2nd Line Reservists would not have the need to meet the required Fitness levels unless they want or are needed to become operational. This 2ndLine reserve could be augmented into a Humanitarian Structure that can help our country in pandemics like COVID 19. In future years this reserve might be used in Aid to the Civil Power i.e. Major Searches (assisting Garda & Civil Defence), Pandemics, COVID testing (medics), Policing COVID like Centres (Reserve Military Police), Transport in Central Locations for Flood Relief, Transporting PDF Troops if the PDF Units can’t cope thus allowing PDF Drivers to take a more active role in their Units in active situations. Reserve Mechanics on Call in a central Location with Doctors, Nurses and Trained Reservists as Wardsmen/women based in towns like Castlebar, Mullingar, Galway etc with Major Hospitals. Use this Central Barracks for Pandemics for testing ,vaccines allocation and the local transport Reserve unit could bring the testing kits to the testing centres etc. 3. Reservists that have specialist occupations could be utilised for overseas if required i.e. Doctors, Nurses, IT Specialists, Heavy Duty Mechanics, Telecom Technicians , Electricians, Cooks, Postmen/women, Firemen the list of qualifications can never be listed fully there are so many. 4. The beauty of this 2nd Line Reserves they can be located in Towns like those mentioned & Clonmel etc that have Military DNA in those towns history and the beauty been that there needs to be NO ARMED GUARD NEEDED in the Towns I have mentioned as most of the units in these locations are Class room training and there is only need to do ARP’s once or twice in the year. The win here for the State is encouraging the younger members of society to be part of an organisation that is community based and those people like me in my early days are trained to : (a) Respect Authority (b) Respect the National Flag (c) Respect the Community (d) Respect Ireland (e) Respect the people (f) Respect the Uniform (g) Be Disciplined (h) Be Honest (i) Be Helpful (j) BE PROUD 5. This Reserve both 1st Line and 2nd Line needs its own dedicated Officer in Control who has power and is graded at the same rank and standing as any Brigade Commander so he will be of Brigadier General Rank. 6. The Cost of this Reserve Brigade Structure would be a Brigade Structure but including Reserve Officers & Other Ranks but all the Reservists must be treated with Respect and 3 paid when required and not be allowing the Military Authorities give back unused monies to the exchequer ,those monies over the last twenty years should been spent on re-establishing the likes of Columb Barracks Mullingar, Clonmel Barracks and Castlebar Barracks for examples which are still in State ownership. The Army HQs in Newbridge could be handed back to other Government Departments that don’t have a forces role in the country. 7. This plan is all about thinking outside the box by using the locations I have mentioned ,this will have an impact on addressing the lack of Volunteering since the last Brigade Structure was implemented. 8. All our Different branches of Structures must and have to work together going forward or we are lost a society ,I am sure there are EU Monies that can be secured for all the projects. I have attached my idea of a Reserve Brigade Structure but there are Officers on this commission who would be more qualified than me to layout such a structure. 3. Staffing – In this regard you may wish to consider the HR policies that support the requirement for an agile and adaptive modern military force. You may wish to consider issues such as recruitment and retention, organisational culture and values, gender and diversity, career progression, and industrial relations machinery.