1 Southern Brigade
Reserve Defence Forces, Ireland
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History of the Reserve Defence Forces
Stand-down Parade of an FCA - October 1, 2005, 4 RDF Lt.Col's, with the Chief of Staff and the Minister for Defence
In June 1940, following the outbreak
of World War II, the Volunteer Reserve that was officially established
in 1929 was renamed the Local Security Force (LSF). The "Emergency
Powers Order" gave official authority for the establishment of this
force and was described in Article 54 of this Order as the “Temporary
Special Police Force.” This Force, incorporating a Defence Force and a
Police Force with the role of securing Ireland’s 26 counties was
created from a network of volunteers in every locality who carried out
local security duties and reported any hostility to the Force’s
controlling authority, An Garda Síochána.
The LSF, based in each Garda Síochána district, were broken into a number of service groups, including Intelligence & Organisation, Communications, Transport, Engineer, Supply, First Aid and a Combat Group. Within three months of its formation, the LSF’s strength had grown to 180,000, most of who had requested to serve with the Combat Group – as members of this group were armed and tasked with defending the main installations of each district.
1941 – 1946
By January 1941 the LSF’s Combat Group had grown beyond all expected proportions. To ease this problem and ensure that full training was afforded to all, the Combat Group was placed under the control of the Defence Forces and became known as the Local Defence Forces (LDF). Organised into Rifle Battalions and commanded by Army Officers, the roles of the new force became more military focussed.
1946 – 1979
In 1946 the LDF was reorganised again, under a new title, An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil (An FCÁ – the Local Defence Forces) An FCÁ integrated with the Permanent Defence Forces (PDF) in 1959. This move revitalised An FCÁ, as the Local Defence Force was restructured to mirror the PDF. Rifle Battalions were reformed as Infantry Battalions, their training and weapons were upgraded. From 1969 onwards FCÁ personnel supported the PDF by the provision of security duties in barracks and posts throughout the country.
1979 – 1996
In 1979, An FCÁ was de-integrated and re-established as an independent Reserve Force. The structure set in place at the time has continued the same and An FCÁ has continued with its normal training. FCÁ units were the most visible part of the Defence Forces in many localities throughout the country. Regularly carrying out ceremonial duties, Presidential Guards, and guards of honour, as well as participating in local and national St. Patrick’s Day Parades, FCÁ personnel made themselves available during local emergencies providing help to the needy and assistance to the PDF for security duties, military exercises and in support for major operations.
1996 – 2004
In 1996 a military board was established under Colonel Des Travers to look at the possibilities of restructuring the FCÁ and re-integrating the organisation into the PDF. Arising from the report of this board a Steering Group was set up consisting of members of the Department of Defence, PDF and FCÁ personnel, including Brigadier General Edmund Heskin, then General Officer Commanding the 2 Eastern Brigade, and Colonel Mick Dunne, then Director of Reserve Forces. The Steering Board’s final report was used as a basis for the recommendations contained in the Government’s White Paper on Defence 2000. The White Paper stated, “Ireland provides for its core defence requirements through the Permanent Defence Forces (PDF). The availability of supplementary forces, in the form of reserves, offers a cost effective means of achieving an overall strength target through a judicious combination of standing and Reserve Forces, the Reserves should be organised and equipped on a similar basis to regular forces in order to develop the interoperability necessary to train and conduct joint operations.”
To achieve this, and arising from the Steering Board report, the Reserve Defence Forces Review Implementation Board (RDFRIB) was established. Chaired by Brigadier General Frederic Swords, the RDFRIB reported in 2002. It recommended the establishment of a Reserve containing integrated and non-integrated elements.
2004 – Present
On July 26th 2004, all of the work carried out by the RDFRIB culminated with Mr Michael Smith, TD, and then the Minister for Defence approving the RDF Review Implementation Plan, based on the RDFRIB report. The new organisation which came into effect on the 1st October 2005 will update and change the face of the Reserve, making it a more modern and integratable force. The new non-integrated reserve organisation mirrors that of the present PDF structure with three Reserve Infantry Brigades, and a RDF Training Authority (RDFTA).
The LSF, based in each Garda Síochána district, were broken into a number of service groups, including Intelligence & Organisation, Communications, Transport, Engineer, Supply, First Aid and a Combat Group. Within three months of its formation, the LSF’s strength had grown to 180,000, most of who had requested to serve with the Combat Group – as members of this group were armed and tasked with defending the main installations of each district.
1941 – 1946
By January 1941 the LSF’s Combat Group had grown beyond all expected proportions. To ease this problem and ensure that full training was afforded to all, the Combat Group was placed under the control of the Defence Forces and became known as the Local Defence Forces (LDF). Organised into Rifle Battalions and commanded by Army Officers, the roles of the new force became more military focussed.
1946 – 1979
In 1946 the LDF was reorganised again, under a new title, An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil (An FCÁ – the Local Defence Forces) An FCÁ integrated with the Permanent Defence Forces (PDF) in 1959. This move revitalised An FCÁ, as the Local Defence Force was restructured to mirror the PDF. Rifle Battalions were reformed as Infantry Battalions, their training and weapons were upgraded. From 1969 onwards FCÁ personnel supported the PDF by the provision of security duties in barracks and posts throughout the country.
1979 – 1996
In 1979, An FCÁ was de-integrated and re-established as an independent Reserve Force. The structure set in place at the time has continued the same and An FCÁ has continued with its normal training. FCÁ units were the most visible part of the Defence Forces in many localities throughout the country. Regularly carrying out ceremonial duties, Presidential Guards, and guards of honour, as well as participating in local and national St. Patrick’s Day Parades, FCÁ personnel made themselves available during local emergencies providing help to the needy and assistance to the PDF for security duties, military exercises and in support for major operations.
1996 – 2004
In 1996 a military board was established under Colonel Des Travers to look at the possibilities of restructuring the FCÁ and re-integrating the organisation into the PDF. Arising from the report of this board a Steering Group was set up consisting of members of the Department of Defence, PDF and FCÁ personnel, including Brigadier General Edmund Heskin, then General Officer Commanding the 2 Eastern Brigade, and Colonel Mick Dunne, then Director of Reserve Forces. The Steering Board’s final report was used as a basis for the recommendations contained in the Government’s White Paper on Defence 2000. The White Paper stated, “Ireland provides for its core defence requirements through the Permanent Defence Forces (PDF). The availability of supplementary forces, in the form of reserves, offers a cost effective means of achieving an overall strength target through a judicious combination of standing and Reserve Forces, the Reserves should be organised and equipped on a similar basis to regular forces in order to develop the interoperability necessary to train and conduct joint operations.”
To achieve this, and arising from the Steering Board report, the Reserve Defence Forces Review Implementation Board (RDFRIB) was established. Chaired by Brigadier General Frederic Swords, the RDFRIB reported in 2002. It recommended the establishment of a Reserve containing integrated and non-integrated elements.
2004 – Present
On July 26th 2004, all of the work carried out by the RDFRIB culminated with Mr Michael Smith, TD, and then the Minister for Defence approving the RDF Review Implementation Plan, based on the RDFRIB report. The new organisation which came into effect on the 1st October 2005 will update and change the face of the Reserve, making it a more modern and integratable force. The new non-integrated reserve organisation mirrors that of the present PDF structure with three Reserve Infantry Brigades, and a RDF Training Authority (RDFTA).