, image = Defense Force Training Centre Flag (Ireland).svg , image_size = 200px , caption = Flag of the DFTC , dates = , country = , role = , size = , command_structure = Badge of the Irish Defence Forces

Defence Forces The phrase Defence Force(s) (or Defense Force(s) in US English - see spelling differences) is in the title of the armed forces of certain countries and territories. Defence forces * Ambazonia Defence Forces *Artsakh Defence Army * Australian Defen ...

, garrison = *

Curragh Camp The Curragh Camp ( ga, Campa an Churraigh) is an army base and military college in The Curragh, County Kildare, Ireland. It is the main training centre for the Defence Forces (Ireland), Irish Defence Forces and is home to 2,000 military personnel ...

County Kildare County Kildare ( ga, Contae Chill Dara) is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Leinster and is part of the Eastern and Midland Region. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county, ...

Glen of Imaal The Glen of Imaal ( or ; ga, Gleann Uí Mháil) is a remote glen in the western Wicklow Mountains in Ireland. It is ringed by the Lugnaquilla massif and its foothills, including Table Mountain and Keadeen. Much of the glen is used by the Irish ...

County Wicklow County Wicklow ( ; ga, Contae Chill Mhantáin ) is a county in Ireland. The last of the traditional 32 counties, having been formed as late as 1606, it is part of the Eastern and Midland Region and the province of Leinster. It is bordered by t ...

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Brigadier General Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

Brendan McGuinness , commanding officer = , company sergeant = , identification_symbol= Defense Forces Cadet Colours (Ireland)

, identification_symbol_label=Cadet Colours , website= The Defence Forces Training Centre (DFTC) ( ga, Airmheán Traenála Óglaigh na hÉireann, ''ATÓÉ'') is the principal training centre for the

Irish Army The Irish Army, known simply as the Army ( ga, an tArm), is the land component of the Defence Forces of Ireland.The Defence Forces are made up of the Permanent Defence Forces – the standing branches – and the Reserve Defence Forces. The Ar ...

and other branches of the

Irish Defence Forces The Defence Forces ( ga, Fórsaí Cosanta, officially styled ) derives its origins from the Irish Volunteers. Whilst the Irish for ''Defence Forces'' is , as Ó Cearúil (1999) points out, the Defence Forces are officially styled . is used in ...

, headquartered at the

that serves to provide education and training to recruits and officers. The DFTC also encompasses

which is the primary artillery and anti-tank firing range for the army. It primarily comprises the Military College, with various schools, alongside additional specialised schools. It also hosts some specialised army units. DFTC is home to 2,000 military personnel.

Training Facilities

As part of the DFTC a number of training establishments operate to train new members of the Defence Forces.

Military College

The Military College is the principal educational facility for the training of cadets, NCO's and senior officers of the Defence Forces and the main training unit of the DTFC. Founded in 1930 the college comprises a number of constituent schools: * Command and Staff School * Cadet School * Infantry School: Consisting of ''Officer Training Wing'', ''Non Commissioned Officers Training Wing'' and ''Infantry Weapons Wing''. * Artillery School * Cavalry School * Military Administration School * United Nations Training School Ireland * Defence Forces Physical Education School

Other Training Schools

Other schools within the DFTC include: * Communications and Information Services School * Transport Vehicle Maintenance School * Ordnance School * Military Police School * Engineer School * Medical School * Defence Forces School of Catering

Units

The DFTC also plays host to a number of independent army units not formally part of the two brigade structure:

1st Mechanised Infantry Company

Formally 'B Company' of the 3rd Infantry Battalion the 1st Mechanised Infantry Company was established in 2012 is today an independent unit of the DFTC based at the Curragh that provides training in use and operation of the Mowag Armoured Personnel Carrier.

1st Armoured Cavalry Squadron

The 1st Armoured Cavalry Squadron, based at the DFTC in the Curragh, was formed in 1998 through the merger of the 1st Armoured Car Squadron, founded in 1922 and as such the oldest cavalry unit in the Defence Forces, and the 1st Tank Squadron. The Squadron is made up of three tank troops of four tanks each and one administrative unit. A part of the Army's Cavalry Corps the 1st Armoured Cavalry Squadron utilises the

FV101 Scorpion The FV101 Scorpion is a British armoured reconnaissance vehicle, and also a light tank. It was the lead vehicle and the fire support type in the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked), CVR(T), family of seven armoured vehicles. Manufactured by ...

in its role of armoured reconnaissance.

Army Ranger Wing

The

Army Ranger Wing , image = , caption = Shoulder flash and insignia of the Army Ranger Wing , dates = – present , country = , branch = , command_structure = Defence Forces , garrison = DFTC, Curragh Camp, County Kildare , size = Classified , ty ...

(ARW) is the elite special forces unit of the Irish Defence Forces. Highly secretive in nature the ARW has deployed overseas as part of Irish UN peacekeeping missions. Responsibilities include

counter-terrorism Counterterrorism (also spelled counter-terrorism), also known as anti-terrorism, incorporates the practices, military tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, law enforcement, business, and intelligence agencies use to combat or el ...

intelligence gathering This is a list of intelligence gathering disciplines. HUMINT Human intelligence (HUMINT) are gathered from a person in the location in question. Sources can include the following: * Advisors or foreign internal defense (FID) personnel wor ...

hostage rescue A hostage is a person seized by an abductor in order to compel another party, one which places a high value on the liberty, well-being and safety of the person seized, such as a relative, employer, law enforcement or government to act, or refr ...

and

close protection A bodyguard (or close protection officer/operative) is a type of security guard, government law enforcement officer, or servicemember who protects a person or a group of people — usually witnesses, high-ranking public officials or officers, ...

. The Army Rangers work with the Directorate of Military Intelligence (G2), the national intelligence service, and trains with the specialist firearms and tactics service of the

Garda Síochána (; meaning "the Guardian(s) of the Peace"), more commonly referred to as the Gardaí (; "Guardians") or "the Guards", is the national police service of Ireland. The service is headed by the Garda Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Gover ...

(national police), known as the

Emergency Response Unit An Emergency Response Unit is a name for a law enforcement or other civil government entity that is trained and equipped to respond quickly to emergency situations. In some instances, such a designation is given to a Special Weapons and Tactics uni ...

(ERU).

References

{{coord missing, Ireland 1930 establishments in Ireland Military academies of Ireland Military units and formations of the Irish Army