Corps of the Army

These "foot soldiers", are the backbone of all armies. The infantry corps are regarded as operational troops who must be prepared for tactical deployment in any location at short notice. In wartime this means that they will be among the front line troops in the defence of the State. In peacetime however they can be seen daily performing operational duties in Aid to the Civil Power such as providing escorts to cash, prisoner or explosive shipments, patrols of vital state installations and border patrols, including check points.

The Artillery Corps provides fire support as required by infantry or armoured elements. The Corps was founded in 1924 and today consists of two main branches: Field Artillery and Air Defence. Between them, the two branches of the Corps provide several vital services;

• Fire support of Infantry or Armoured troops
• Ground to low level air defence
• Light field battery support to Irish overseas battalion.
• Aid to the civil power duties.

The Cavalry Corps has a significant part to play in the conventional operations of the Army. The Corps is equipped with armour to carry out its role of reconnaissance, making first contact with an enemy and providing security to the infantry in offensive and defensive operations. The key word in the Cavalry Corps is "mobility", and it enjoys a reputation of flexibility and readiness to undertake any task. In peacetime the Cavalry carries out various duties in aid to the Civil Power, such as:

• Border operations supporting Gardai.
• Escort duties - cash, explosives, prisoner.
• Patrolling Government installations.
• Other Activities include:
• Presidential Motor Cycle Escort.

The Corps of Engineers is responsible for all combat engineering and general engineering matters within the Defence Forces. Engineering originated as a military function and in today's army an Engineer has a most demanding role. He/She must become an expert in combat engineering, and general engineering. Soldiers of the Corps of Engineers all possess a recognised trade, engineering discipline or other specialist skill.

The responsibility for the procurement and maintenance of all ordnance equipment is vested in the Ordnance Corps and encompasses a spectrum of equipment ranging from anti-aircraft missiles and naval armament to the uniforms worn by military personnel. The corps is also responsible for the procurement of food and provision of commercial catering services. These tasks are of a technical nature and the corps personnel are appropriately qualified and with the expertise to afford technical evaluation of complete weapon systems, it also includes embracing weapons, ammunition, fire control instruments and night vision equipment. The Ordnance Corps provide the only Explosive Ordnance Disposal service within the state, in support of the Garda Siochana. The Corps must keep abreast of current developments in international terrorist devices and the equipment needed to counteract these devices. Courses are conducted for its own personnel and for students from the military and police of many other nations. Ordnance Corps personnel continue to serve in overseas missions and are an essential component of missions involving troops.

The Transport Corps is responsible for the procurement, management and maintenance of all soft skinned vehicles, and the maintenance of all armoured vehicles within the Defence Forces. It is also responsible for the driver training, testing, certification, maintenance of driving standards and provision of vehicle fuels, oils and lubricants. The Transport Corps provides heavy lift capability for the Defence Forces.

The Army Medical Corps has the responsibility of maintaining health and preventing disease in the Defence Forces and providing treatment of its sick and wounded. While these functions are of prime importance in time of war they also continue in peacetime. The Corps provides Dental as well as medical care for all personnel. The service provided includes surgery, physiotherapy and nursing. Our personnel have served in all the major UN missions providing medical and dental support. They also fill an important role in the provision of humanitarian assistance to the local civilian population giving medical aid in circumstances in which local medical services are unlikely to function adequately.

The Military Police are responsible for the prevention and investigation of offences, the enforcement of discipline and the general policing of the Defence Forces. In wartime, additional tasks include the provision of a traffic control organisation to allow rapid movement of military formations to their mission areas. Other wartime rules include control of prisoners of war and refugees. Traditionally, the Military Police have also had a considerable involvement at state and ceremonial occasions. In recent years the Military Police have been deployed in many UN missions (e.g. Iran /Iraq) and later in the former Yugoslavia (SFOR). They enjoy a very close working relationship with An Garda Síochána at national and local levels. The Gardai assist in providing specialist police training to the Military Police in the field of crime investigation.

Formerly the Army Corps of signals, this corps is responsible for providing all communication and information technology services to the Defence Forces. This role includes the development and maintenance of a countrywide private Defence Forces Telecommunications Network (DFTN), which can support both voice and data services, and the provision, and maintenance of military radio equipment for use by Defence Forces personnel at home and abroad. The DFTN provides advanced telecommunications services including desk to desk dialing and networked IT services such as E mail, Internet and Intranet access, as well as fax and paging services. The CIS Corps also provides communication links to all overseas missions including a satellite link from DFTN to Irish Transport Company, Kosovo and Irish Guard, Eritea for voice and data.

Information courtesy military.ie