Irish Defence Forces
| Defence Forces Fórsaí Cosanta Óglaigh na hÉireann |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Founded | 1 October 1924 |
| Service branches | |
| Headquarters | DFHQ McKee Barracks, Dublin |
| Leadership | |
| Supreme Commander | Michael D. Higgins (President of Ireland) |
| Minister for Defence | Enda Kenny TD |
| Chief of Staff | Vice Admiral Mark Mellett DSM |
| Manpower | |
| Military age | 18–24 (27 Naval Service) |
| Available for military service |
1,179,125 males, age 15–49, 1,163,728 females, age 15–49 |
| Fit for military service |
977,631 males, age 15–49, 965,900 females, age 15–49 |
| Reaching military age annually |
55,761 |
| Active personnel | 9,137 (May 2016) |
| Reserve personnel | 2,323 (Nov 2015) |
| Deployed personnel |
493 troops, 12 missions |
| Expenditures | |
| Budget |
FY 2015 – ranked 67th €885 million (FY2015) ($1.13 billion) |
| Percent of GDP | 0.39% (FY2015) |
493 troops, 12 missions
Largest deployments:
The military of Ireland, known as the Defence Forces (Irish: Fórsaí Cosanta, officially styled Óglaigh na hÉireann), encompass the Army, Air Corps, Naval Service and Reserve Defence Forces.
The Supreme Commander of the Defence Forces is the President of Ireland. All Defence Forces officers hold their commission from the President, but in practice the Minister for Defence acts on the President's behalf and reports to the Government of Ireland. The Minister for Defence is advised by the Council of Defence on the business of the Department of Defence.
The Irish state has a long-standing policy of non-belligerence in armed conflicts, including neutrality in World War II. Ireland's military capabilities are relatively modest. However, the state has a long history of involvement in United Nations peacekeeping operations. Functions of the Defence Forces include:
The Defence Forces trace their origins to the Irish Volunteers, founded in 1913. Their official Irish-language title, Óglaigh na hÉireann, is taken from the equivalent Irish-language title of the Irish Volunteers, as are their cap badge and the buttons worn on ceremonial uniforms (the buttons are still marked with the initials "IV".
...
Wikipedia