Thread by @RobGilbey

Cyber Reserve....
Specialist Reserve....

None of this matters if the framework upon which it is built is insufficient for purpose.

Let's unpack what is currently on offer for aspiring Reservists who meet the criteria of "specialist".

https://twitter.com/_IDFOC/status/1318955440160624641

1. You have the skills Defence needs and you want to contribute.

Let's say you are a forensic data analyst with Arabic language skills, working for a multinational.

Straight off the bat, there is not an Intelligence Corps for you to join, but you're sort of a techie, so... CIS.

2. You wait for a recruitment window.

You apply.

You wait.

You are given dates for fitness testing.

You wait.

You pass fitness and go on for medical screening.

You wait.

You pass medical and are processed for security clearance.

You wait.

You're cleared to be attested...

3. You're attested into the Reserves.

You wait

You now begin as a recruit on a path of training that will over the course of 12 to 18 months qualify you to shoot, move & communicate as an infantry soldier within a small team

On passing you are now at the bottom of the ladder

4. Not only are you at the bottom of the career ladder, you're also at the bottom of pay scales. In fact, you're 19% below the lowest payscales.

Surely, being in a technical unit, and being a professional techie, you'll be eligible for tech pay...?

You would be wrong.

5. To earn tech pay as a Reservist in CIS, you either:

Have to do the lengthy full time comms operator course, qualifying you in new skills that bare little to no resemblance to the professional skills you joined willing to contribute.

Or... you could learn to drive a minibus

6. The minibus course is a series of weekends and about 3 weeks fulltime training, inclusive of learning to drive a car with trailer.

Even if you are already qualified to drive a car with trailer, you are not qualified in the eyes of the DF and need to complete this full course

7. While you're committing all this time to the Reserve, there is no government legislation, support, guidance or financial incentive for your employer to facilitate your training commitment to the Defence Forces.

You will likely do so at your own personal risk and annual leave.

8. By this point you are probably 3-4 years in the Reserves.

If you have managed to contribute your professional skills at all, it has likely either been for free, or you've been paid about €30 (net) a day.

As for your Arabic, that would be handy overseas, but.....

9. Reservists are prohibited from travelling, let alone serving overseas.

In fact, nevermind serving overseas, the Reserves are legislatively prohibited from even serving in Ireland as part of the COVID-19 pandemic response.

10. So if you're not contributing meaningfully, you'll start to think "what's the point?"

If the PDF can't deploy you, then they think "what's the point?".

If the Government can't see positive Reservist action benefit the Defence Organisation, they think "what is the point?".

11. This is why the Reserve is sitting well below half strength.

It is not structured to succeed.

We need to ask ourselves, not just what Reservists can offer us, but what should we as a nation be offering Reservists?

The warm fuzzy feeling of volunteerism isn't enough.