Irregular warfare has and continues to be a feature of modern conflict.
Should Ireland have an Irregular Reserve as part of an Irish Resistance Operating Concept?
It's not as dramatic as it sounds.
Should Ireland have an Irregular Reserve as part of an Irish Resistance Operating Concept?
It's not as dramatic as it sounds.
https://twitter.com/_IDFOC/status/1360861338617184259?s=19
At <0.3% GDP spent on Defence, Ireland can't afford to build a mass of professional part time combat arm Reservists.
The current model of relying on individuals to be professional military standard volunteers has failed.
So if armed volunteers is the policy, how can it work?
The current model of relying on individuals to be professional military standard volunteers has failed.
So if armed volunteers is the policy, how can it work?
Conscription or National Service in Ireland?
Given the discourse around EU Armies, I sincerely doubt that either be acceptable to the public without some existential driver behind it.
Conscription is typically viewed through a 20th century lens.
Given the discourse around EU Armies, I sincerely doubt that either be acceptable to the public without some existential driver behind it.
Conscription is typically viewed through a 20th century lens.
We could professionalise the existing RDF.
I pitched this to the DoD in 2014 as part of my White Paper submission.
It would require a whole of Govt effort and a lot of funding.
But this is unlikely as resources will be more focused on PDF retention and capital projects
I pitched this to the DoD in 2014 as part of my White Paper submission.
It would require a whole of Govt effort and a lot of funding.
But this is unlikely as resources will be more focused on PDF retention and capital projects
There is the White Paper policy position of establishing a Specialist Reserve, maintaining the RDF as it is.
This would likely see a small number of part time specialists engaged and utilised at the expense of the RDF declining into non-existence.
We would have no real Reserve.
This would likely see a small number of part time specialists engaged and utilised at the expense of the RDF declining into non-existence.
We would have no real Reserve.
Then there's the idea that we roll specialists up into combat support and combat service support roles. Have the RDF focus exclusively on delivering CS and CSS and build a new class of Combat Arm Reserve that is more conducive to its training inputs.
An Irregular Reserve.
An Irregular Reserve.
RDF & PDF infantry will never be considered equal. So why invest in the charade of Reserve combat units?
If all we need the Reserve combat units for is resistance to armed aggression against the State, then why not focus their training on where they'll be most effective?
If all we need the Reserve combat units for is resistance to armed aggression against the State, then why not focus their training on where they'll be most effective?
This isn't a new idea.
Other countries have these volunteer resistance/guerrilla forces that train for resisting occupation.
The problem we have is that Ireland has expected a professional level of service from volunteer Reservists.
Its not scalable.
nytimes.com/2016/11/01/wor…
Other countries have these volunteer resistance/guerrilla forces that train for resisting occupation.
The problem we have is that Ireland has expected a professional level of service from volunteer Reservists.
Its not scalable.
nytimes.com/2016/11/01/wor…
An Irregular Reserve that is established by county would allow for groups and capabilities to form where they exist, rather than having a rigid structure where units and locations that aren't accessible to willing volunteers.
Volunteers can train where it is more suitable.
Volunteers can train where it is more suitable.
Most training doesn't need to be armed. That component can be managed by a PDF cadre.
First Aid, Land Navigation, Command Tasks, Communications etc can all be taught through open source or unrestricted material.
Training would be assessed through competitions.
First Aid, Land Navigation, Command Tasks, Communications etc can all be taught through open source or unrestricted material.
Training would be assessed through competitions.
Annual patrol competitions can be held.
Cells would compete by completing tasks along a route. Such as managing a road traffic accident, recovering equipment from a cache, military vehicle recognition, perform a reconnaissance task, execute an ambush etc
Who wouldnt enjoy that?
Cells would compete by completing tasks along a route. Such as managing a road traffic accident, recovering equipment from a cache, military vehicle recognition, perform a reconnaissance task, execute an ambush etc
Who wouldnt enjoy that?
Enjoyment is a key factor here.
Ireland isn't facing an existential threat, so the driver towards retaining people in the Irregular Reserve must be enjoyment, and engagement.
Service should feel more like a sporting endeavour. Representing your county, competing against others.
Ireland isn't facing an existential threat, so the driver towards retaining people in the Irregular Reserve must be enjoyment, and engagement.
Service should feel more like a sporting endeavour. Representing your county, competing against others.
Cells can also if they so wish train to deliver auxiliary support, as there's more to irregular warfare than paramilitary guerrillas.
Cyber experts, medical professionals, logisticians, motorcyclists, community workers all have something to bring the Defence party. Bring it on.
Cyber experts, medical professionals, logisticians, motorcyclists, community workers all have something to bring the Defence party. Bring it on.
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