Kildare based Senator Fiona O’Loughlin has called for a review of the cadetship age limit within the Defence Forces.
Senator O’Loughlin said, “As we all know, the Permanent Defence Forces are suffering severe recruitment and retention challenges, while being faced with missions, at home and overseas, of increasing number and complexity.”
“Increasing the age limit for cadets and the possibilities for direct graduate entry is crucially important in meeting the challenges it faces, as it will widen its selection pool. If there are high quality individuals who have life experience and can bring added value to our defence forces then we should be supporting their recruitment. A review of this age limit for graduates was recommended in the PSPC report of 2019, and an in-depth submission made to the Commission on Defence on the issue.”
Fiona concluded by saying “The commission on the defence forces must be pivotal moment in the history of our defence forces, and we need to do everything we can to attract people to a career in the defence forces. In my view issues like these are simple steps that could support recruitment.”
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