Air Corp Officer – Air Traffic Control (Direct Entry)
Air Corp Airman
Winchman
Winch Operator
Air Traffic Control
Transport
Medical
Photography Section
Avionics
Sea Air Radar Operator
Communications and Information Section
Flight Attendant
Ground Crew
Air Corp Apprentice – Aircraft Mechanic
What types of employment contracts are there?
The Permanent Defence Forces recruits personnel only on Full Time contracts.
What are the typical earnings of these occupations?
Start Pay Rates Defence Forces
Army
Army Officer €37,366
Army Equitation Officer €37,366
Army Medical Officer (Direct Entry) €86,269
Army Dental Officer (Direct Entry) €47,081
Army Engineer Officer (Direct Entry) €61,326
Army Ordnance Officer (Direct Entry) €61,326
Army Pharmacist Officer (Direct Entry) €66,733
Army Clinical Psychologist Officer (Direct Entry) €61,326
Army Psychiatrist Officer (Direct Entry) €61,326
Army Soldier €27,578
Army Bands Instrumentalist €29,014
Army Equitation School Groom €27,578
Army Medical Corp – Dental Surgery Attendant €29,736
Army Medical Corp – Dental Hygienist €29,376
Army Apprentice – Heavy Vehicle Mechanic €13,075
Army Apprentice – Ordnance Weapon Armourer €13,075
Naval Service
Naval Service Officer Operations Branch €37,366
Naval Service Officer Engineer Branch €37,366
Naval Service Officer Electrical (Direct Entry) €49,981
Naval Service Seaman €28,614
Air Corp
Air Corp Officer – Pilot €39,952
Air Corp Officer – Air Traffic Control (Direct Entry) €65,743
Air Corp Officer – Aeronautical Engineer €50,918
Air Corp Airman €27,578
Air Corp Apprentice – Aircraft Mechanic €13,075
*Please note all figures are approximate and are subject to change for each competition.
How do you get a job in this sector?
The Defence Force recruits in a number of ways, which can be divided as follows:
General Service – This relates to people who are interested in joining the Defence Forces as a Soldier/Sailor or Airman. Candidates who join at this level start as a recruit and when they have completed this initial training they commence their as Soldier/ Sailor or Airman.
Within this career field there is the opportunity, if found suitable, to move up the ranks to the highest Non-Commissioned Officer rank of Sergeant Major.
Apprenticeships – This relates to people who are interested in joining the Defence Forces as an apprentice. Candidates who join at this level will receive military and FAS training to qualify them in a particular field such as Heavy Vehicle Mechanic, Aircraft Mechanic etc. To find our more click here.
Within this career field there is the opportunity, if found suitable, to move up the ranks to the highest Non-Commissioned Officer rank of Sergeant Major.
Officer Cadetship – This relates to people who are interested in joining the Defence Forces as an Officer (Management Level). Candidates who join at this level start as a Cadet and when they have completed this initial training they qualify as a 2nd Lieutenant / Ensign. To find out more click here.
Within this career field there is the opportunity, if found suitable, to move up the ranks to the highest Commissioned Officer rank of Lieutenant General (Army Chief of Staff)
Direct Entry – As the term implies this entry path relates to people with certain qualifications who are inducted into the Defence Forces to carry out a specific function related to this qualification. These personnel undertake limited initial military training before being posted to the specific job. Direct Entry competitions are available for both General Service positions and Officer positions.
General Service This relates to applicants who wish to apply for a position as a Soldier / Sailor / Airman.
Soldier Recruitment - applications are only accepted only through the Defence Forces website www.military.ie and only at certain times of the year
Officer Cadetships The Officer Cadetship competition normally runs from January to March. Applications are accepted in two ways:
Tom Tooher "I am mainly employed in a leadership / management role with responsibilities for unit training, career development and operations"
Lieutenant - Pilot - Air Corp
Oisin McGrath "Each job requires the pilots to make difficult weather calls, which can lead to pressurised decisions and some very challenging flying conditions"
Sub/Lieutenant - Navy
David Fleming "a whole range of different tasks need to be undertaken depending on the plan of the day and patrol requirements"
Private (Line)
Keith Lynch "There is a great team feeling in the Defense Forces and this is seen best in the sports activities that we engage in regularly"
Private (Line)
Louise Mc Donald "I was in the scouts for a number of years which gave me an outlook on camping and survival in the outdoors"
