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Irish Paratroopers

The Army run parachute training courses for selected personnel from all units of the Irish Army, Army Air Corp and Naval Service. Because Ireland is a small neutral country there has never been a need for an airborne regiment, therefore there is no such regiment or battalion in the Irish Defence Forces.

However the army has recognised the advantage of parachute training for it’s members and invites suitably qualified personnel to submit their names for acceptance. After an initial selection period the volunteers are sent through the usual physical rigours under the watchful eye of the Army Ranger Wing. After completing 5 basic static line jumps the newly qualified paratrooper earns his wings. The metal Silver wings are complimented by a cloth version for combat dress.

After the wings have been formerly presented the ‘paratrooper’ returns to his parent unit and resumes ‘normal’ duties.

Part of the Irish contingent with KFOR recently earned their wings when with 15 other contributing nations to KFOR they performed a multi-national solidarity jump at Bondsteel, Kosova. The jump was organised to celebrate the anniversary of the formation of the 82nd Airborne Division US – August 16th 1949.

Ireland and the UN

The Irish Army involvement with the United Nations goes back to UN Observer Group in Lebanon (UNOGIL) in 1958 and they have had troops and observers in almost every hotspot in the world. They have been major contributors for the UN in the Congo, Cyprus and Lebanon, they also have a Non UN presence in East Timor, Kosova, Bosnia, Croatia & Yugoslavia.

Ranger Training

In the late 1960s and early 1970s a small number of Defence Forces personnel attended American Army Ranger Courses at Fort Benning, Georgia in the United States. On their return, these personnel were responsible for organising similar type courses which were aimed at bringing standards of training throughout the Defence Forces into line with accepted international standards. Students on these courses were selected from among all ranks and all Units of the Army, the Air Corps and the Naval Service. These courses proved to be very beneficial in improving standards of physical endurance, marksmanship, individual military skills and small unit tactics.

Army Ranger Wing

The evolution of the Army Ranger Wing resulted from an increase in international terrorism in the late 1970s and 1980s. The kidnapping of politicians and businessmen as well as the hijacking of air and seagoing craft was of considerable concern to democratic governments. European and other countries realised that conventional police and military tactics were not suited to dealing with this escalating threat.

The Defence Forces was in a position to respond with a competent and highly trained Unit. The increased skills and endurance training of 'Ranger'-trained personnel provided the perfect basis for the new specialist unit. The Army Ranger Wing (ARW) was formally established. As part of the ongoing training the Unit conducts interchanges with Special Forces and Intervention Groups among which are The Royal Dutch Marines, the French GIGN, the Italian CIS, the German GSG9 and the Swedish SSG. Exchanges lead to international co-operation through mutual contact and evaluation of each other’s specialised skills. ARW individuals selected are of varying service within the Unit and specialise in areas such as diving, sniping, parachuting, medical or explosives.

Visits since Nov 24 1998.