Defence Forces - Army
Today approximately 8,500 men and women serve in the Army. The country is divided into three areas for administrative and operational reasons, and in each area there is an infantry Brigade. The three brigade group structure envisages distinct operational areas of responsibility for each of the brigades.
Practical operational considerations dictate the requirement to outline operational areas of responsibility. The brigade group structure is based on strengthened combat and combat support elements and streamlined combat service support elements.
The Defence Forces Training Centre (DFTC) and Defence Forces Logistics Base at the Curragh support the training and logistics functions for the Permanent and the Reserve Defence Forces.