The role of the Defence Forces Physical Education School (DFPES) is to promote physical fitness, a healthy lifestyle and sport within the Defence Forces (DF) and to offer structured progressive physical education courses of training and instruction which are safe, effective and concur with modern day trends and developments within the fitness training industry for all students who attend the school.
The DFPES is the only centre for physical education in the DF and provides a myriad of courses from the Physical Training Instructors (PTI) Course to life saving courses and water based courses.
Strategic Vision
The DFPES continually strives to provide the Defence Forces with the most up to date education with regard to physical training. The DFPES has established a relationship with the University of Limerick to allow PTI course students to be accredited with the National Certificate in Exercise and Fitness at the conclusion of each PTI course. Similarly the pool qualifications such as the Life Saving and Swim Teachers Awards are accredited by their relevant national bodies.
By establishing these links the DFPES has laid a framework so as to ensure that students leaving the DFPES are educated with the most up to date of course content and that the DF are a standard bearer for fitness qualifications in to the future.
Core Activities
Whilst the DFPES primary function is to educate students on physical education courses, the facility is also provided for use by members of the DF for training purposes. With the addition of the new DF Obstacle Course in 2008 the DFPES also provides a centre for units from across the DF to travel to one training area and complete a wide range of physical sessions. The DFPES also have a number of additional roles some of which are:
- To conduct annual fitness tests for the DFTC and induction fitness tests for recruits and cadets
- Provision of technical expertise and instructors for DF Athletic Association events
- Facilitating use of pool by local schools
- Provide staff to facilitate use of pool, sports hall and fitness suite
- Bookings, staffing, supervision and maintenance of all DFTC sporting facilities
