The Irish Naval Service: "A life less ordinary, where no two days are ever the same"

The Irish Naval Service is the State’s principal seagoing agency with a general responsibility to meet contingent and maritime defence requirements. The Irish Naval Service conducts Maritime Defence and security Operations in the Irish Area of Operations and the North Atlantic, these critical operations ensure a presence, develop and maintain Maritime Domain Awareness and protect Irelands interest at and from sea. The Irish Naval Service defence roles include defending territorial seas, deterring intrusive or aggressive acts, conducting maritime surveillance, maintaining an armed naval presence, ensuring right of passage, protecting marine assets and contributing to a blockade if required.

WHO DO WE WANT?

The Irish Naval Service is currently recruiting across a range of disciplines and are looking for motivated, physically fit and team orientated individuals who are a minimum of 18 years of age and under 27 years of age on the date deemed as closing date for applications for Naval Service Recruits or under the age limit as per the terms and conditions for the technical careers within the organisation that are currently being recruited for.

WHAT DOES A CAREER IN THE NAVAL SERVICE OFFER?

A life less ordinary, where no two days are ever the same. A challenging and unique working environment, where you learn skills that are transferable across the spectrum. The Naval Service offer a wide range of courses for continual professional development with pathways to technical training schemes, third level education and other roles.

Life at sea is at all times varied. Naval Service personnel regardless of rank and branch are much valued members of the ship’s crew. If you are interested in a career at sea, as part of a dynamic, professional and highly motivated team, then the Naval Service is for you. Our personnel are our most important asset and the Naval Service is committed to providing you with an interesting, rewarding and challenging career.

THE NAVAL SERVICE IS CURRENTLY RECRUITING IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS:

Naval Service Recruit:

Recruits are trained in basic military training, foot and arms drill, weapons and tactical training aswell as in a variety of maritime specific courses including personal survival techniques and damage control and firefighting. Naval Service Recruits go on to form the backbone of the Irish Naval Service. Recruit training is 22 weeks in duration and is designed to develop physically fit, disciplined and motivated individuals using basic military and naval skills in order to prepare them for their future in the Service. On successful completion of Recruit training, the Recruit advances to Able Rate where they proceed into one of the Naval Services four Branches which consist of Seaman’s, Communications, Mechanicians and Supplies. Branch Training provides specialised skills required to fulfil their roles at sea and ashore. After this initial specialisation training, the Able Rate proceeds to sea and takes up an appointment on board one of our ships. There are no formal education qualifications required to join the Defence Forces as a recruit.

Opportunities arise for personnel who enlist in the Naval Service as a Recruit, have successfully completed branch training and have embarked on their seagoing career to apply for Technical Training Schemes to train and qualify as technicians in the below disciplines.

Naval Service Direct Entry Technicians:

Technical appointments in the Naval Service offer a wide range of opportunities to all successful candidates, the operation in a dynamic and challenging environment onboard a ship while also expanding your knowledge base with education opportunities and developing your leadership skills.

Candidates for the below vacancies must be a minimum of 18 years of age and less than 29 years of age on the date of their application and must meet the minimum education qualifications as laid down in the terms and conditions for each of the respective vacancies.

• Electronics Technicians
As an electronic technician or a RRT (radio and radar technician) you will be responsible for the Installation, Operation, Maintenance and Repair of all satellite communication systems including, internal communication systems, broadband and television systems, and navigation equipment on board a ship. A electronics technician will supervise the training and supervision of apprentices and will be a lead member of the fisheries inspection and maritime interdiction teams.

• Carpenter–Joiner /Shipwright
The role of a shipwright is crucial in supporting a ship to go to sea safely. A shipwright assists with the maintenance of the accommodation blocks, watertight openings, RHIBs or small boats onboard, A shipwright is a central member of the emergency response team and must maintain water and smoke boundaries of the ship during a fire or hull breech scenario and is key in training of damage control and fire-fighting onboard. A shipwright must assist with training of mechanical technicians and apprentice shipwrights and will be a member of the fisheries inspection and maritime interdiction teams.

• Mechanical Maintenance Engineer
A Mechanical Maintenance Engineer works with the engineering team onboard to maintain and operate the following equipment; main engines and auxiliary machinery and supporting systems, electrical generation equipment, hydraulic deck machinery and hotel systems (water, sanitary, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration, heating). A mechanical maintenance engineer will also assist with the training and supervision of apprentices and mechanical technicians. They are emergency response team members and key lead members of the maritime interdiction teams.

• Electrician
An Electrician is responsible for the maintenance and operation of all electrical machinery and equipment as well as electronic control systems and electrical supply and operation of e.g. lighting, catering, and navigation equipment. An electrician will supervise and train apprentice electricians onboard is a key member of the emergency response team and carries out all electrical isolations for operational requirements.

• Direct Entry Chef
A Chef in the Naval Service is an essential part of the Logistic Team providing nourishment to a ships company through the buying, preparing and serving food which is key is assisting with morale onboard especially in challenging sea conditions. A chef will assist with the training and supervision of trainee chefs and is a member of the emergency response team onboard.

Naval Service Officers:

Candidates for the below vacancies must be a minimum of 18 years of age and be less than 32 years of age on 31 December in the year of application. Candidates for the below vacancies must meet the minimum education qualifications as laid down in the terms and conditions for each of the respective vacancies.

Direct Entry Operations Branch Officers
Operations Branch Officers of the Naval Service have a wide range of responsibilities which include:
• The efficient running of the ship.
• Bridge Watchkeeping, where they are responsible for the safe navigation of the ship.
• Ensuring the efficiency of weapons and communications systems onboard. along with the weapons and communications systems on-board.
• Leading the boarding teams in fishery protection and armed boarding operations.

Direct entry Marine Engineering Officer
A Marine Engineering Officer in the Naval Service is a key person and essential member of a ships company onboard any vessel with the following responsibilities:
• Maintenance and operation of equipment onboard inclusive of the hull and structure of the ship, its main engines and auxiliary machinery with associated fuel and water requirements, electrical supply systems, deck machinery and hotel systems (showers, sanitary, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration, heating).
• Health and Safety Officer.
• Engineering branch personnel (approx. 15 personnel) training and welfare.
• Role of Damage Control Officer – responsible for all fire and hull breech scenarios onboard including the training of the Ships Company and maintenance of equipment.