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Army

The Army is organised on conventional military lines providing a sufficiently flexible structure to carry out all the roles assigned by Government. The Army is a standing force and provides the primary capabilities for joint military operations at home and combined military Peace Support Operations abroad.

Organisation of the Army

The Army is organised on conventional military lines providing a sufficiently flexible structure to carry out all the roles assigned by Government.  The Army is a standing force and provides the primary capabilities for joint military operations at home and combined military Peace Support Operations abroad. The Army continues to retain all-arms conventional military capabilities, within the existing two infantry Brigades and the Defence Forces’ Training Centre, including SOF.

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 and is supported in their responsibilities by the Naval Service and Air Corps. Each of the Brigade formations and the Air Corps are commanded by a Brigadier General while the Naval Service is commanded by a Commodore.

The Army Brigades

  • Defence Forces Headquarters
  • 1 Brigade
  • 2 Brigade
  • Defence Forces Training Centre

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JTF 'FORTITUDE'

The JTF provides, within means and capabilities, Aid to the Civil Authorities (ATCA) support to government departments and agencies (with priority to the Dept of Health and HSE), by providing personnel and equipment to a range of requests for suppor...

1 Brigade

The 1st Brigade is responsible for military operations in the south of the country. Its area of responsibility includes the counties of Carlow, Laois, Offaly, Kilkenny, Wexford, Waterford, Cork, Kerry, Limerick Clare, Tipperary and Galway. The Briga...

2 Brigade

The 2nd Brigade is responsible for military operations in the northern area of the country. Its area of responsibility includes the counties of Wicklow, Dublin, Louth, Kildare, Longford, , Meath, Westmeath, Roscommon, Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Sligo...

Defence Forces Training Centre

The Defence Forces Training Centre is the centre of excellence for all Defence Forces training, education and logistical units.

Army Corps

Within the Army structure there are different Corps. The Army Corps support the seven combat functions - Manoeuvre, Fire Support, Air Defence, ISTAR, Mobility, Combat Service Support and Command & Control.

ARW

The Army Ranger Wing (ARW) is the special operations force of the Irish Defence Forces. The ARW roles are divided between wartime special operations ("Green Role") and anti-terrorism ("Black Role").

Equitation School

The Equitation School was founded in 1926 to promote Ireland and the Irish horse. Since then Equitation School riders have been the backbone of Irish show-jumping and event teams.

Defence Forces School of Music

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 1 Brigade and Band of the 2 Brigade.

Weapons

Platoon, Company and Battalion level weaponry.