Major Mayo recruitment drive for the Army Reserve

By Tom Gillespie

THINKING of a career in the Army Reserve?

Well, a national recruitment campaign is now taking place and in Mayo there are vacancies for both male and female recruits.

Captain Mark Murphy is the officer commanding in Castlebar, of D Company of the 6th Infantry. The 6th Infantry Battalion are based in Athlone and D Company is one of the reserve units and they have responsibility for all of County Mayo.

Captain Murphy said: “Recruits are the life blood of the organisation and getting people into the organisation is key for us, especially in a rural location like this. We have a big campaign going to keep the company strong and get it even stronger.

“The recruitment campaign is going on throughout the whole country but our focus is here and getting more bodies into the unit in Mayo.

“We have plenty of vacancies and we can take any amount of recruits at the moment, both male and female, anywhere between the age of 18 to 35 years.”

Those interested can go to https://www.military.ie/en/, then go to army reserve recruitment and look for the unit in Castlebar.

Alternatively, if they have queries about anything visit their company Facebook page.

Captain Murphy, a native of Claremorris, added: “When people are joining up they have to pass a basic fitness test as part of the recruitment process. But once we get people into the recruitment process we educate them about the test and we will build them up to the standard that they need to be at for the fitness test.

“Anybody that has a moderate level fitness can join. They don’t have to be very fit, a moderate level of fitness will get them through the fitness test. Most young people will have it so it should not be a problem for anybody.

“In the short term when they come in to us as recruits, over the first six to 12 months, we will give them a basic military grounding. We will get them to do foot drill, weapons training on the Steyr assault rifle and the GPMG machine-gun.

They will get medical first responder training, map reading, navigation training as well as an element of fitness training. All of that will include a level of tactical training as well.”

Captain Murphy continued: “Throughout their career in the Army Reserve there are various routes people can follow - they can become more specialised in any of the weapons, navigation, be trained as drivers, or medics. Once they are in the door the door is open throughout all of the Defence Forces for any of the courses that are being run.

“Historically we have always had a military presence in the Army Reserve in Mayo. The unit here in Mayo is one of the few units in the country that can say we are responsible for everything within the county. Others cross the county boundaries.

“On St. Patrick’s Day we had representation at five parades in the county - Castlebar, Louisburgh, Westport, Newport and Ballina. There are not many units in the country that can do that.

“We perform a lot of ceremonial duties too throughout the county. We were heavily involved in centenaries for 1916, the War of Independence and Civil War events.

“Apart from that where ever we can or when ever we are asked we will help out within the county. We have helped out at charity events. Two years ago we had a heavy involvement in the Climb With Charlie. We coordinated all the stewards on Croagh Patrick and this time last year we were involved in the final leg of the walk with Rory Best into Cong.”