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SUBMISSION to the COMMISSION on the DEFENCE FORCES by Robert Troy T.D. • Rupturing of Military Traditions in the Midlands •

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SUBMISSION to the COMMISSION on the DEFENCE FORCES by Robert Troy T.D. • Rupturing of Military Traditions in the Midlands • SUBMISSION TO THE COMMISSION ON THE DEFENCE FORCES BY Athlone is the geographical centre of the island of Ireland, it is Robert Troy T.D. equidistant from the East and West Coasts, at a confluence of road and rail networks, on a major river crossing, and a mere 52 miles Rupturing of Military Traditions in the Midlands from the nearest point of the border with Northern Ireland. Any Strategic Importance of Athlone in National Defence amateur student of Irish military strategy would position a DF The imperative of restoring 4th Western Brigade regional headquarters and an associated array of organic units in Athlone based on sound military reasoning. Fundamental military Past/Current Defence Forces (DF) Linkages/Presence with prudence was dispensed with in 2012; this needs to be reversed. Counties Longford, Westmeath and Roscommon The military service traditions of Counties Longford, Westmeath Ireland’s spatial strategy ambition enshrined in “Project Ireland and Roscommon are long established, pre, and post-independence. 2040; Balanced Regional Development” divides the country into It brought economic benefit to the region. From the Connaught three regions: Northern and Western, Southern, and Eastern and Rangers in Boyle; Longford’s “Blacksmith of Ballinalee” General Midland Regional Assembly Areas for administration and planning Sean Mac Eoin’s War of Independence role; his February 1922 purposes. National growth/development until 2040 is planned and appointment as first General Officer Commanding 4th Brigade in financed on this basis. Due to its strategic proximity location to Custume Barracks; the connections until 2012 of Connolly Barracks, these three regions, its expanding scale of population, employment Longford and Columb Barracks, Mullingar to the communities, and services, Athlone has an influence that extends to all three urban and rural, societal and economic, of our region. Custume Regional Assembly areas and is recognised as one the key regional Barracks, Athlone, remains a DF barracks but its soul was damaged centres outside of Dublin. The operational Command and Control by Reorganisation in 2012; it is now but a shadow of its former self. disposition of the DF should reflect this future planning guidance. Its spirit is faltering and fast fading. A DF of the People for the People which we Must Protect Military families continue traditions in intergenerational service; it Uniquely in developed democracies our Garda Siochána (GS) are exists by service in/connection to certain military units/military double hatted, the police service and intelligence service of the barracks. The drivers of DF Reorganisation in 2012 knew little of the State. Uniquely also, the DF is double hatted; state defence, and negative recruitment/retention consequences it had when that 30+ specialist bespoke security services in Ireland. No other state unique military ecosystem was unwisely ruptured. In lean Irish service has capability to deliver them. Some are “contingent economic times from 1945 to1969. successive governments kept capabilities”; all responsible democracies retain them as sovereign the three-formation army brigade structure, though at times thinly insurance. These are listed in the Annex. Escalating insecurity is populated. This wisdom in maintaining these formations is what now a world norm; Ireland is not immune to new hybrid attacks. more than anything else allowed the DF to exponentially expand rapidly when the crisis in Northern Ireland visited on us in 1969. The Irish Defence and security are interwoven; they are not linked with folly of the disbandment of the 4th Western Brigade, and five of its international militarism. It concerns the safety of our citizens at constituent units, was a major strategic mistake which manifests home in Ireland, on land, at sea, in the air, our cybersecurity, itself now in a reduction of the required DF surge capacity supporting continuous business confidence underpinning Foreign requirement to the HSE in the Covid pandemic. The 4th Brigade Direct Investment (FDI), on call to secure our Critical National must be re-established for strategic military operational reasoning. Infrastructure (CNI) facilities, in Aid to the Civil Power security operations with the GS, supporting first responders and Local Strategic Importance of Athlone for Ireland and the DF Authorities in Aid to the Civil Authorities operations during floods, fires, storms, pandemics, withdrawal of essential services disputes. Brexit, the Northern Protocol, Covid 19 pandemic, are now realities needing a resourced/focused DF. A potential Border Poll, Federal Ireland, Agreed United, United Ireland, previously unlikely, are now less remote. The DF haemorrhages highly trained and experienced personnel daily. Recruitment is not keeping pace with voluntary retirements. The fact show that the DF cannot recruit its way out of this crisis. Retention of personnel is the ONLY solution. This crisis must be arrested now or the DF crisis will spiral out of control. Pay, Conditions and DF Structures In 2016, the findings of DF commissioned report by the University of Limerick examining its working conditions, ‘Workplace Climate in the Defence Forces’ make unhappy reading. It highlights serious problems brought on by poor pay and working conditions. The DF are not exempt from the “Working Time Directive”; when fully implemented significant additional troops will be across the three services to reach compliance. The DF cannot recruit its way out of this crisis. Retention is the key. The 2012 DF Reorganisation eliminated or significantly reduced the DF national footprint; this contravened long established government policies on balanced regional development and its associated economic development. It reduced DF employment and career opportunities in the regions, lessened DF economic and social benefit in those areas, and Figure 1.0 Map of Ireland’s planning regions and areas prioritised ruptured the leadership contribution of DF personnel to rural for growth (NPF, 2019) communities in voluntary, cultural, community and sporing clubs. 1 ANNEX: Representative Sample of Bespoke DF Outputs GS Surveillance Helicopters. All crews flying these Provided by the Army (including Army Ranger Wing), Aer helicopters for criminal and subversive surveillance are Corps, Naval Service and Reserve provided by the AC. Helicopter fast roping and abseiling. Essential in terrorist Aerial Search and Rescue/Aerial Search and Recovery. In attack/hostage scenarios on land and at sea. support of the Irish Coast Guard and the Departments of Transport and the Marine. VIP Close Protection. Specialised sniping surveillance assistance to the GS for visiting Heads of State. Aerial Photography for GS and DF operations. The air photography arm of the Aer Corps provides preparatory, Directorate of Intelligence (D Int) Counter Intelligence concurrent updating and look-back photographic support for Electronic Surveillance. Both the GS and DF are authorised all pre-planning, ongoing operations and post operations in law to deploy such assets subject to the rigorous legal debriefings and analysis in support of sensitive security oversight enshrined in the process. operations. D Int and Directorate of Communications and Information Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS). The Aer Systems (D CIS) Cyber Security Capability. The DF CIS Corps, accompanied by National Ambulance Service (NAS) Corps has historically been a leading state agency with advanced paramedics, bring advanced life-saving medical leading edge personnel and equipment in this space. support to the actual incident/accident scenes and patient removal to medical centres of excellence using aerial medical Air Defence (AD). During VIP/Heads of State Visits. The supervision. Artillery Corps deploy its AD and associated Target Acquisition Radar systems. Inter Hospital Air Ambulance. The Aer Corps moves patients from periphery hospitals to designated medical Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD). Commonly known as centres of excellence for time sensitive, road movement the Bomb Squad. This is delivered nationally by the Ordnance sensitive urgent patients; babies, infants, accident casualties Corps. and other vulnerable patients. Explosive Ordnance Reconnaissance (EOR). Delivered by Organ Transfer and Organ Transplant Patient. This service the Corps of Engineers when a clear and safe route needs to was provided exclusively by the AC until the lack of pilots be secured in order for the EOD Teams to begin work on the necessitated its being privatised with a new time limited main device. contract recently awarded at great cost to the State. Medical. DF provide advanced combat first aider training for Aerial Fire Control and Fire Extinguishing. Using identified personnel. In each ARW combat team, and in all underslung water buckets houses, property, forestry and combat arms units of the D there are highly trained unit and boglands have been saved from destruction. specialist medics. International Delivery of Pandemic Test Samples. The Aer State Ceremonial Services. Visiting Heads of State, Corps have continuously delivered and returned Covid 19 test Ambassadorial Credentials, State Funerals, National samples and results to/from continental laboratories since the Commenm0rations. pandemic began. Maritime Counter Terrorism. Maritime reconnaissance and Drug and Subversive interdiction at sea. This is provided interdiction to include, ships, passenger ferries, oil/gas rigs, by Aer Corps, Naval Service and ARW assets. offshore
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