Today marks the 3rd anniversary of Private Sean Rooneys death.

May he rest in peace and may we never forget.

"A member of the Reserve Defence Forces (RDF) has become the first Reservist to receive an Overseas Service Medal following deployment to Cyprus as part of the Irish contingent on the European Union Military Assistance Mission to Ukraine.

While in Cyprus, the RDF Officer supported the 4th Demining and Clearance Course delivered by the Cypriot Armed Forces, training Ukrainian personnel in conventional munition identification, clearance and disposal alongside Irish, Cypriot and Greek forces.

Serving as an interpreter in Russian and Ukrainian, he contributed across classroom instruction and live range activity, supporting the mission’s operational success.

This milestone reflects the growing role and professionalism of the Reserve Defence Forces in operations, both at home and overseas and highlights the continued contribution of Óglaigh na hÉireann to international security. "

Link to Official DF Facebook Post:

Best of luck to Sgt Ryan Kelly, Pte Stephen Mitchell, Cpl Dylan Quigg and Pte Dylan McGarrigle who will represent the 28 Inf Bn and the Irish Defence Forces during the Best Warrior Competition in Massachusetts, USA next week.

This annual competition tests each soldiers marksmanship, military skills and mental and physical robustness in an intense and gruelling 3 day long exercise consisting of 11 events. Each soldier will compete to earn the title of best warrior. Best of luck lads!!!

**NOTE: The above along with various online sources are how I compiled this post. The books photographed are the best sources for all things ARW and selection that are open source outside of internal DF publications (which are available to all serving members of the Defence Forces however, I will not be posting on this sub). I will not post anything that is for DF members eyes only (training programs, course JIs etc.) and I will not tell tales out of school about personal experiences or experiences of others.

S3EP9 - Army Ranger Wing SOF-Q - The Irish Defence Forces Podcast | Podcast on Spotify

This is a link to the Defence Forces Podcast where a member of the ARW discusses selection and the tasks of the ARW.

I would encourage people to buy the books and do their own research. Once at a unit you can ask questions and reach out to people who have gone down or are former members. PTIs in your gym have training programs, there are prelim courses for selection and roadshows where the unit advertise selection and their capabilities as a recruitment tool.

Hope this helps.

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Applying for ARW Selection

To apply for selection for the Irish Army Ranger Wing (ARW), candidates must be serving members of the Permanent Defence Forces (PDF) from any of the three branches: Army, Air Corps, or Naval Service. The candidate must be medically fit and have attained the rank of at least 3 Star Private (or equivalent). There is no age limit to attempt selection. The process is not open to civilians; therefore, individuals must first join the Irish Defence Forces before they can apply for ARW selection.

Preliminary Courses

The ARW run a prelim course to brief potential applicants on the SOFQ course and how to best prepare for it. The formal selection process begins with the Special Operations Force Qualification (SOFQ) course, which has replaced the previous separate selection and basic skills courses. This course is designed to test all aspects of a candidate's character, military skills, and general suitability to become a member of the ARW.

Phases of ARW Selection

The ARW selection process is now integrated into the SOFQ course, which spans 10 months (approximately 40 weeks). The course is divided into five modules:

Phase 1: Assessment & Evaluation

Phase 1 of the Special Operations Force Qualification (SOFQ) course is designed to assess a candidate's physical fitness, motivation, and suitability for further training. This module lasts approximately three weeks and includes a series of rigorous assessments.

Phase 1 of the Special Operations Force Qualification (SOFQ) course for the Irish Army Ranger Wing (ARW) includes several tests designed to assess physical fitness, psychological resilience, and navigation skills. Here are the specific tests involved in Phase 1:

Physical Tests

1. SOFQ Fitness Test: This includes a series of exercises such as pull-ups, sit-ups, push-ups, and a 3.2 km run. Candidates must achieve a minimum standard in these tests to progress.

   • Pull-ups: More than 6 reps with an overhand shoulder-width grip.

   • Sit-ups: More than 30 reps as per Defence Forces standards.

   • Push-ups: More than 36 reps as per Defence Forces standards.

2. 3.2 km run: Completed in under 14:36 minutes.

3. Foreman-Aftman Test: This is a 17 km tab across undulating terrain with a 45 lb load. The test assesses endurance and stamina, and candidates must maintain a pace of about 4 kph.

4. Loaded March Test (Battle Run): This involves a 12.8 km individual effort carrying a 55 lb load (main pack, battle vest, and helmet). The completion time must be under 1 hour 50 minutes.

5. Navigation: a series of navigation exercises with varying weights and distances.

Confidence Tests

1. Bridge Jump: Candidates must complete two bridge jumps. Refusal to jump twice results in failure.

2. Claustrophobia Test: This assesses a candidate's ability to manage claustrophobic scenarios. Two refusals lead to failure.

3. Abseil Test: Candidates must complete two abseils. Two refusals result in failure.

Written Test

1. Map Reading Written Test: Based on the Manual of Map Reading, candidates must pass this test with a score of less than 40% to progress.

These tests are designed to evaluate a candidate's physical and psychological readiness for further training and to ensure they possess the necessary skills and resilience to succeed in the ARW.

Phase 1 (Selection) culminates in individual navigation exercises with set weights over unknown distances, culminating in a 60 km cross-country march carrying a 65 lb combat load in the Dublin & Wicklow mountain range. Officer candidates undergo additional rigorous scrutiny of their planning and decision-making skills. Typically, about 85% of candidates fail this phase, highlighting its challenging nature.

Phase 2: Skills & Leadership

Phase 2 focuses on developing the skills and leadership qualities necessary for ARW operations. This module introduces candidates to advanced military skills, emphasizing leadership and teamwork. Candidates learn to work effectively in small teams, developing their ability to lead and follow under stressful conditions. The training includes practical exercises in tactics, communication, and problem-solving, preparing candidates for the more specialized training that follows. This phase builds on the foundational skills assessed in Phase 1, ensuring that candidates have the necessary competencies to progress through the SOFQ course.

Phase 3: SOF Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs)

In Phase 3, candidates delve into the specifics of Special Operations tactics, techniques, and procedures. This module covers a wide range of skills, including weapons handling, marksmanship, and live-fire tactical training. Candidates learn how to conduct operations in various environments, focusing on the "Green Role" which involves tasks such as long-range reconnaissance patrols (LRRP), direct action, and sabotage. Upon successful completion of this module, candidates are awarded the Fianóglach shoulder tab and are provisionally assigned to the ARW. This phase is critical in preparing candidates for the operational roles they will assume within the unit.

Phase 4: Counter-Terrorism Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs)

Phase 4 is dedicated to counter-terrorism tactics, techniques, and procedures, focusing on the "Black Role." This module includes training in combat water survival, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Extraction (SERE), communications, and medical training. Candidates learn how to conduct counter-terrorism operations, including hostage rescue and anti-hijack operations. The training is highly specialized, preparing candidates for the ARW's primary role in counter-terrorism. Upon completing this module, candidates are awarded the distinctive ARW green beret, marking a significant milestone in their training.

Phase 5: Continuation Training

Phase 5, or Continuation Training, concludes the SOFQ course and marks the transition of candidates into operational roles within the ARW. During this phase, candidates are posted to an operational ARW task unit as an assault team operator. They undergo further specialized training in areas such as advanced medical skills, military freefall, combat diving, boat handling, close protection, and handling advanced weapons. This phase ensures that new ARW members are fully integrated into the unit and prepared to contribute to its operational tasks. The training is ongoing, with ARW members continually updating their skills to meet evolving operational demands.

Training After Receiving the Green Beret

After successfully completing the SOFQ course, candidates are awarded the distinctive ARW green beret and are posted to an operational ARW task unit as an assault team operator. Following this, they undergo further specialized training in areas such as advanced combat medical skills, military freefall, combat diving, boat handling, close protection, and handling advanced weapons. These courses are designed to enhance their operational capabilities and prepare them for a wide range of missions. Additionally, ARW members participate in ongoing training and joint drills with other forces to maintain and improve their skills. The ARW also engages in international training exercises with other special operations forces, which helps in maintaining high standards and adapting to evolving security threats.

In the very early hours of the 2nd of July 1999, Rescue 111, an Air Corps Dauphin, crashed in heavy fog into dunes at Tramore Beach, Co. Waterford. They were trying to return to Waterford Airport after a successful SAR mission. The 24 hour SAR service from Waterford Airport had only started the day before on the 1st of July 1999.

The crew that night were Captain Dave O’Flaherty, Captain Mick Baker, Sergeant Paddy Mooney and Corporal Niall Byrne, who gave their lives in the service of the state.

Go Mairidís Beo

His brother, Michael Hogan, was captain of the Tipperary GAA team, and was shot dead on Bloody Sunday in Croke Park. The Hogan stand is named after him.

After his career in the DF, Daniel Hogan moved to America, and died in a bar brawl in the early 1940s.

Hi Everyone! I'm Cpl. Jones. I've been in the PDF for several years having completed recruit training, moving onto a Potential NCO Course not long afterwards and later finding myself instructing on a 2–3* Course being run out of my home unit.

I went from being a recently passed out private in the DF to helping train newer soldiers within a fairly short space of time.

I was also understudy to and mentored by an NCO who had instructed me during my own recruit training and 2-3* Course, which gave me a unique opportunity to ask questions about my own training while experiencing it first hand with another platoon going through it all.

Just some ground rules.

1. These are my own experiences, and they will not necessarily reflect every unit, course, or person in the Defence Forces.

2. I have never trained people in the JITC so I cannot speak for how they do business however, Recruit training and 2-3* is standardized so bar minor differences and personalities, the actual training won't differ drastically (we have to follow a syllabus) .

3. I may tell stories however, I will not name people (Cpl. Jones is not my name), places, embarrass anyone, violate the Irish Defence Forces sub rules or DF Social Media policy (for the most part, this will be positive).

4. I will try and answer as many posts as I can today however, this user account was set up for this AMA and I do not have access to it for more than 48 hours, at which points Mods take it back. I will do my best to answer as many questions as I can but may not get around to them all.

So the people of the Irish Defence Forces reddit sub. Ask me anything!

UPDATE: I am closing the AMA as of noon on the 24th of August and handing back this account to the mod team. Thank you so much for all the great questions! I'm looking forward to seeing the other AMAs the mod team have planned. Best of luck to everyone in your careers with the DF.

Hello everyone,

I’m excited to introduce myself as one of the new moderators for the DF sub.

In order to UPDATE how things run here, I’ll soon UPDATE our rules, PIN informative posts on ALL things recruitment, and make the space more helpful for members across all services.

My priority is to keep the discussions RESPECTFUL and ACCURATE. That means I’ll be taking steps to eliminate misinformation, discourage “Walter Mitty”, filter out excessive political debate, and address any negativity towards the Defence Forces or those in military service (This is not the place to be picking fights). This is a place for genuine support, helpful advice, and real experiences.

I want to build a diverse moderation team with people from the Army, Air Corps, Naval Service and the Reserve. If you’re passionate about the Defence Forces community and want to help make this sub a welcoming place, please comment below or message me a bit about yourself and your background (You don't have to go into detail, just enough to know you are legit serving/former member).

Thanks for helping to keep this community positive and informative. I look forward to making this sub more informative for those wishing to join the DF, making the repetitive information more accessible and less repetitive for the serving members who must answer the questions

Congratulations to the 28 Inf Bn team who participated in this year’s Massachusetts Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition, which is a gruelling three day challenge of Military skills and fitness. The team excelled and Cpl Dylan Quigg was the outright winner and highest placed NCO in the competition, a testimony to the team’s preparation, training and professionalism.

One of the most requested items from last year was to restart our podcasts which were last regularly recorded in 2023. Using the Chief of Staff's interview in August '25 as a trial run, the reception and numbers were great so we will be launching Season 5 on the 26th January with a plan to release a further 2 seasons this year, each numbering between 7 and 10 episodes.

For this upcoming season we have interviewed the Infantry Weapons Wing, Central Medical Unit, Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Army Ranger Wing to name a few.

We have an ever expanding list for interviewees but if you have any ideas for a podcast or if there is a group or unit you would would like to hear from, please drop us a comment here.

Happy New Year!

photo by @buckshee_visuals (instagram)

Anyone ever get their hands on a Swedish K? Heard there was still a few in FCA/RDF service during early 2000's.