Commission on the Defence Forces Public Consultation Response Anthony Joseph Brogan March 2021 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. 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. I wish to address the force structures of the Defence Forces, and in particular the Air Corps, naval Service and the Reserve defence Forces. Reserve Defence Forces The Reserve Defence Forces of Oglaigh na hEireann are currently very limited in terms of structure function and numerically. This limited status represents a threat to the continued existence of a reserve unit and it is imperative that the unit is reformed. I suggest the following reforms : 1 Establish a defacto form of “national service” tailored at 18-25 yr old cohort. Service could be voluntary but incentivised in the same way as Community Employment (CE Schemes) such that payment of social welfare is conditional upon attendance at a barracks for a defined number of hours per week and the undertaking of a range of tasks therein as commanded by a supervising officer. Reservists should be offered the opportunity for training and personal development and graded based on performance, with high standards of performance eligible for progression to Third Level Education and or consideration by senior officers for acceptance onto formal Defence Forces training. 2 Duties of the Reserve Defence Forces should be broadened and formalised – under appropriate supervision to include Civil Defence, Search and Rescue, Environmental conservation, Fire & Flood Natural Disaster Response, Public Order Supervision. The United States Military has recently established a “Climate Corps” and a similar system should be considered here. Irish Navy The role of the Irish Navy as a defacto Coastguard is welcome and should be consolidated and reinforced by reference to the Norwegian Navy which has a formal military Coastguard. The navy should also be given a defined role in pelagic search and rescue. Ireland is an island nation with a sea area some 7 times larger than its land mass. The Ocean around Ireland connects the state to other regions such as the Arctic and the states application for ad hoc Observer status in the Arctic Council is very welcome. There is a clear role for Ireland as an observer nation in the Arctic Council because of our geographic position in the NE Atlantic. Research is currently underway by members of the Network of Arctic Researchers in Ireland NARI in to ocean currents and other oceanographic questions related to the Gulf Stream and meltwater from the Greenland Ice sheet. Changes in these parameters are projected to have major implications for future climatic conditions and sea level rise and the Irish Navy should be deployed as an augmented research force where possible to provide support for formal research vessels such as the Celtic Explorer and Celtic Voyager, both administered under the auspices of the Marine Institute and utilised by various academic institutions . The Navy vessels could either house researchers on a defined research mission as part of regular patrols in Irish waters or undertake specific research voyages within the Irish exclusive Economic zone ( EEZ). Further consultation would be required with the Marine Institute and Department of Defence to assess the feasibility of such collaborations but if deemed appropriate a formal research role for the Irish Navy as part of a neutral Defence forces would be of considerable value to the Arctic Council. 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. 4. Any other comments you may wish to make in relation to the Defence Forces having regard to the Commission’s Terms of Reference Ireland as a nation has often been described as the land of the Horse. There is a strong tradition of equestrian sports in Ireland and Ireland is a world leader in the breeding and training of Thoroughbred racehorses. The Irish show jumping team were crowned European Champions in 2017 and individual Irish Riders have featured among the top riders in the world at world and Olympic levels in equestrian sport. This is a considerable achievement for a country of some 5 million people. The Defence Forces itself in recognition of this strong equestrian tradition established an army equitation school at McKee barracks Dublin with army riders attaining success in both International Show jumping and Eventing. In light of this I suggest the following : Establishment of a Ceremonial Cavalry Unit within the Defence Forces A Formal ceremonial Cavalry or mounted Unit modelled on the mounted Republican Guard of France should be established within the Defence Forces and be stationed at McKee Barracks in Dublin. This large and impressive barracks is an existing equestrian Defence Forces facility located adjacent to the Phoenix Park and is ideally located for such ceremonial duties as Presidential escorts on state occasions. The potential for expansion of state ceremonial duties in Ireland is significant most especially given the geography of the Phoenix park. The park is among the largest urban parks in Europe and has a central avenue known as Chesterfield avenue which would form an impressive national ceremonial avenue like the Champs Elysée in Paris, The Mall in London or the National Mall in Washington DC. The avenue leads from the main Parkgate entrance to the Phoenix Monument and the entrance to Áras an Uachtaráin itself. State occasions such as state visits should be accompanied by ceremonial processions along Chesterfield Avenue which itself should be renamed to a more appropriate reflection of national history. I suggest a more suitable name for the avenue would be “Douglas Hyde Avenue” in memory of the first president of Ireland Dr Douglas Hyde. The considerable width of the avenue combined with proximity of McKee Barracks lends itself well to the organisation of such ceremonial occasions and would appropriately reflect the history and prestige of Ireland. The existing Army equitation school has a green livery uniform and this could be modified for state ceremonial duties with addition of helmets with suitable headdress and a ceremonial jacket. .