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Ireland Army Corps

The Infantry “foot soldiers”, are the backbone of all armies. The Infantry Corps soldiers are the operational troops who must be prepared for deployment in any location at short notice. In wartime, as the principal combat arm, they will be among the front line troops in the defence of the State. In peacetime, however, they can be seen performing duties in support of An Garda Síochána on Cash and Prisoner Escorts, and in major security operations where they may deploy with MOWAG Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs).

The Defence Forces Infantry Brigade is a combined arms formation organised to fight battles and engagements and to conduct military activities in the Operations Other Than War environment. In war, the role of the Infantry Brigade is to close with the enemy by means of fire and manoeuvre, to destroy or capture enemy forces, or to defeat his assaults by defensive fires, obstacles, close combat and counterattack. Infantry Brigades conduct synchronised operations, primarily at night or during peiords of reduced visibility. Infantry brigades combine the co-ordinated efforts of their manoeuvre battalions with integrated combat support and combat service support to perform assigned tasks at the tactical level of military operations.

Since the introduction of the MOWAG Piranha IIIH 8x8 Armoured Personnel Carrier in to service in early 2001, infantry within the Defence Forces is categorised as both light and mechanised infantry. At present, the Army operates 65 MOWAGs in four variant types that include 54 APCs, eight Command vehicles, two armoured ambulances and one recovery vehicle. Apart from their use at home, the MOWAG has seen service overseas in Eriteria (UNMEE), Kosovo (KFOR), Liberia (UNMIL) and Chad (EUFOR/MINURCAT). B Company 3 Infantry Battalion based in the DFTC, Curragh Camp is tasked with the training of APC crews.

The essence of the Infantry Corps is its operational units, the Infantry Battalions. There are three Infantry Battalions within each of the three designated Brigades in the Defence Forces. Each battalion consists of three rifle companies, one support company and a headquarters company. Each rifle company contains three rifle platoons and one weapons platoon with anti armour, medium machine gun and mortar elements. The support company contains anti-armour, heavy machine gun, mortar, assault pioneer and reconnaissance elements. The headquarters company contains administrative, logistics, communications and transport elements. The Infantry Battalions provide the largest manoeuvre elements available to the Brigade Commander and as such the largest volume of manpower within each Brigade formation.

The Cavalry Corps is one of the ‘teeth’ Corps of the Irish Defence Forces. The Cavalry Corps has a long, proud tradition of service to the State and the current incumbents of the Corps are reflective of the best values and qualities the Corps has maintained. Originally, the Cavalry Corps was called the Armoured Car Corps, with a fleet of light armoured vehicles. Over the decades, the fleet evolved with the introduction of light Landsverk tanks and later in the 1950s the introduction of Main Battle Tanks in the Comet and Churchill. During the 1960s the Panhard AML was first introduced to the Cavalry Corps. This fleet was the backbone of the Corps and it gave considerable service, especially in overseas deployments, such as UNIFIL in the Lebanon and with UNMIL in Liberia. In the 1980s the Corps received the CVR(T) or Scorpion. The latest AFV investment into the Corps is that of MOWAG Piranha III, with two variants the Close Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV) and Medium Reconnaissance Vehicle (MRV) entering service in 2008.

The Cavalry Corps has become one of the primary assets in Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) operations (both symmetric and asymmetric) in the Defence Forces. A comprehensive ISTAR capability is now fundamental to the Defence Forces approach to operations. ISTAR links surveillance, reconnaissance and target acquisition systems and sensors. It encompasses the collection and management of information and intelligence to provide situational awareness for commanders and their staff. Reconnaissance is undertaken to obtain, by visual observation or other detection methods, information about the activities and resources of an enemy or potential enemy, or to secure data concerning the meteorological, hydrographic or geographic characteristics of a particular area.

The essence of the Cavalry Corps is its operational units, the Cavalry Squadrons and 1 Armoured Cavalry Squadron. Fundamental to the Corps organisation are these independent operational units which provide the light armoured Combat Support capability to the Infantry Brigades and in the case of 1 Armoured Cavalry Squadron an armoured combat resource to the Defence Forces.

The Artillery Corps provides fire support for infantry or armoured elements. The Corps was founded in 1924 and today consists of two main branches: Field Artillery and Air Defence. Between them the two branches of the Corps provide several vital services: Fire support of Infantry or Armoured troops; Ground to low level air defence; Light field battery support to Irish overseas battalion; and Aid to the civil power duties. The artillery in the brigade consists of a Field Artillery Regiment (FAR) with three field batteries. Each of the field batteries is based on six light field artillery weapons, 105mm guns, and is staffed to command, co-ordinate and fire the weapons. The headquarters battery includes administrative, logistics, communications, transport, survey and locating elements. The function of the artillery regiment is to provide indirect fire, in support of the maneouvre forces. Field artillery is the brigade commanders principle and most responsive indirect fire weapons system. The brigade field artillery is organised with one 105mm light gun regiment. Gun batteries are normally afiliated to particular maneouvre battalions in training and on operations.

The Communications and Information Services Corps is responsible for the development and operation of Information Technology systems in support of Defence Forces (DF) tasks. It is also responsible for co-coordinating all communications (radio and line) and information systems, communications research and update of communications in line with modern developments and operational requirements. The CIS Corps harnesses networking and information technologies in order to dramatically increase Defence Force Operational effectiveness through the provision of timely and accurate information to the commander along with the real time efficient sharing of information with Army, Air Corps and Naval Service as well as with multinational partners involved in international peacekeeping and other actors as required. CIS Corps units are dispersed throughout the DF giving Communications and IT support to each of the Brigades, Air Corps, Naval Service, DFTC and DFHQ. The CIS Corps have a Base Workshops where detailed maintenance and research and development is conducted. The CIS School runs a large number of CIS related courses including a degree program in Military Communications for CIS technicians in association with IT Carlow.

The mission of the Corps of Engineers is to provide combat engineer support as part of the Infantry Brigade to defend against armed aggression; to provide Engineer support in Aid to the Civil Power with emphasis on specialist search; to provide Engineer support in Aid to the Civil Authorities on the occasion of natural or other disasters; to provide Engineer support in European Union and United Nations missions; and to maintain and upgrade Army, Air Corps and Naval Service assets, such as buildings, lands and ranges. The range of support provided to the Infantry Brigades is very broad and includes improving friendly force's ability to move around the battlefield. Combat engineers typically support this role through reduction of enemy obstacles which include demining, clearing terrain obstacles, constructing roads and bridges and breaching in urban terrain. Counter Mobility includes building obstacles to prevent the enemy from moving around the battlefield. Combat engineers typically support this role by destroying roads and bridges, blocking roads, digging trenches and ditches and laying Anti-Tank (AT) minefields. The Irish Defence Forces School of Military Engineering, located in the Defence Forces Training Centre, Curragh Camp is responsible for the conduct of 40 different courses that span all ranks and occupations within the field and civil engineering organisations. The Irish Defence Forces School of Military Engineering is a Centre of Excellence in Engineer Training and CBRN.

The Ordnance Corps has both an operational and a logistical role within the Defence Forces. The logistical role of the Ordnance Corps is to provide technical support to the Defence Forces for the Procurement, Storage, Distribution, Inspection, Maintenance, Repair and Disposal of all items of Ordnance related equipment. The operational role of the Ordnance Corps is to train personnel for and provide the State’s EOD/IEDD capability. The seven logistical taskings of the Ordnance Corps Procurement, Storage, Distribution, Inspection, Maintenance, Repair and Disposal, encompass a spectrum of equipment ranging from anti-aircraft missiles and naval armament to the uniforms worn by military personnel. The Ordnance Corps is also responsible for the procurement of food and provision of commercial catering services. The Ordnance Corps provide the only Explosive Ordnance Disposal service within the state, in support of An Garda Síochána in an ATCP role. The Ordnance Corps also provides the Defence Forces EOD capability across its full spectrum of operations. Having a long history of IEDD, the personnel of the Ordnance Corps have been to the fore in instructing personnel in all aspects of the C-IED effort. This has included briefings and training of personnel deploying overseas and recently all personnel on career courses.

The Army Medical Corps has the responsibility of maintaining health and preventing disease in the Defence Forces and providing treatment of its sick and wounded. While these functions are of prime importance in time of war they also continue in peacetime. The Corps provides dental as well as medical care for all personnel. The service provided includes surgery, physiotherapy and nursing. Corps personnel have served in all the major UN missions providing medical and dental support. They also fill an important role in the provision of humanitarian assistance to the local civilian population giving medical aid in circumstances in which local medical services are unlikely to function adequately. The Field Medical CompanyThe medical company provides medical installations and services in support of the brigade.

The Transport Corps is responsible for the procurement, management and maintenance of all soft skinned vehicles, and the maintenance of all armoured vehicles within the Defence Forces. The Corps is also responsible for the driver training, testing, certification, maintenance of driving standards and provision of vehicle fuels, oils and lubricants. The Transport Corps provides a heavy lift transport capability for the Defence Forces. The Field Transport CompanyThe field transport company provides second line transport lift for the infantry brigade. The company also provides supplies of POL, ammunition and rations. In addition, the company providces second line transport maintenance, repair and recovery for units of the brigade.

The Military Police are responsible for the prevention and investigation of offences, the enforcement of discipline and the general policing of the Defence Forces. In wartime, additional tasks include the provision of a traffic control organisation to allow rapid movement of military formations to their mission areas. Other wartime roles include control of prisoners of war and refugees. Traditionally, the Military Police have also considerable involvement at state and ceremonial occasions. In recent years the Military Police have been deployed on many UN missions including in the former Yugoslavia (SFOR). They also enjoy a very close working relationship with An Garda Síochána at national and local levels. An Garda Síochána assist in providing specialist police training to the Military Police in the field of crime investigation. The military police company provides traffic control, security of enemy prisoners of war and assistance in rear area security in the brigade area.

The School of Music is organised as a Corps of the Army and as such it contains a Directorate, a Headquarters incorporating the Army No.1 Band and one detached military bands, namely The Band of 1st Brigade and also the Pipe Bands of the Defence Forces. Director Defence Forces School of Music has responsibility for the overall direction of music policy within the Defence Forces. In addition to overseeing all purchases of new instruments, music and band equipment, Director DFSM has responsibility for the recruitment of new instrumentalists, the ongoing training of all Defence Forces instrumentalists and the training of pipers and drummers drawn from non-musical units outside the DFSM. The idea for the establishment of an Army School of Music was first mooted in November, 1922. General Richard Mulcahy, the then Chief of Staff, said “ ... I want to have bands that will dispense music and musical understanding in the highest terms to the people...”. Under the direct supervision of General Mulcahy and Dr. J.F. Larchet, musical adviser to the Army, the project was begun.