The modern Irish Army uniform is based on the layer principle, and is designed to provide soldiers in 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 ...
with the right degree of protection for any operational environment.
Field dress
![Defense](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/Defense.gov_photo_essay_120831-D-VO565-013.jpg)
An Irish Army
combat uniform
A combat uniform, also called field uniform, battledress or military fatigues, is a casual wear, casual type of uniform used by military, police, firefighter, fire and other public uniformed services for everyday fieldwork and combat duty purpo ...
includes a number of
disruptively patterned
Disruptive coloration (also known as disruptive camouflage or disruptive patterning) is a form of camouflage that works by breaking up the outlines of an animal, soldier or military vehicle with a strongly contrasting pattern. It is often comb ...
or camouflage patterned elements known as disruptive pattern material (DPM). It consists of the following:
;Headwear
*
Black beret
The black beret is a type of headgear. It is commonly worn by paramilitaries and militaries around the world, particularly armored forces such as the British Army's Royal Tank Regiment (RTR), the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps (RCAC), and Royal A ...
for regular branches of the army,
light green beret for reserves (the RDF light green beret has now been replaced with the black beret to emphasise the single force concept), red beret for
Póilíní Airm (military police),
commando green beret for
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 ...
, Those serving under the UN wear blue UN berets.
**
Glengarry
The Glengarry bonnet is a traditional Scots cap made of thick-milled woollen material, decorated with a toorie on top, frequently a rosette cockade on the left side, and ribbons hanging behind. It is normally worn as part of Scottish military ...
headdress for
Cavalry Corps, and
black caubeen for army pipers. The
Irish Defence Forces cap badge
The Irish Defence Forces Cap Badge (or "FF badge" as it is sometimes called) is common to all services and corps of the Irish Defence Forces. Although principally associated with the Irish Army (Defence Force regulations in fact describe it as "the ...
is usually worn with headdress.
* DPM/Desert DPM waterproof cap (for use in cold weather).
* DPM/UN blue/Desert DPM
bush hat.
;Outerwear
* DPM shirt – both temperate and desert pattern.(Barracks dress)
* DPM UBACS - (
combat shirt) worn with body armour (operational dress)
* DPM
smock – combat jacket with hood in both temperate and desert pattern.
* DPM rainsuit – breathable material, temperate and desert pattern.
* DPM trousers (tropical all-cotton and polycotton heavyweight versions).
* A velcro cloth name tape is worn on the over the right breast pocket on the outer layer, and a Defence Forces Ireland or Óglaigh na hÉireann patch is positioned over the left breast pocket.
;Midlayers
* Summer, winter, and tropical issue socks.
* DPM Driflo baselayers, short and long sleeve tops, trunks and short leggings.
* DPM Norwegian pattern combat shirt.
* DPM softshell operational fleece jacket (barracks dress)
* Hollowfibre "Snugpak" jacket (green/black reversible, operational dress)
;Footwear
* Boots barrack light operational (worn in
barracks
Barracks are usually a group of long buildings built to house military personnel or laborers. The English word originates from the 17th century via French and Italian from an old Spanish word "barraca" ("soldier's tent"), but today barracks are u ...
and in warm weather at home and abroad).
* Boots operational (
Gore-Tex
Gore-Tex is a waterproof, breathable fabric membrane and registered trademark of W. L. Gore & Associates. Invented in 1969, Gore-Tex can repel liquid water while allowing water vapor to pass through and is designed to be a lightweight, waterpr ...
lined all-leather waterproof, used in cold/wet conditions).
;Ancillary items
* DPM Scarf.
* DPM Insulated/waterproof gloves.
* DPM Headover.
* DPM waterproof Gaiters.
;Personal Equipment
* Bose crewman's helmet APC crew.
* Rabintex RBH 303IE combat helmet with DPM/UN blue covers.
* IPLCS Battlevest, Large
backpack
A backpack—also called knapsack, schoolbag, rucksack, rucksac, pack, sackpack, booksack, bookbag or backsack—is, in its simplest frameless form, a fabric sack carried on one's back and secured with two straps that go over the shoulders ...
/patrol pack, DPM
web gear.
* Combat
body armour
Body armor, also known as body armour, personal armor or armour, or a suit or coat of armor, is protective clothing designed to absorb or deflect physical attacks. Historically used to protect military personnel, today it is also used by variou ...
(Personal body armour with DPM/UN blue covers).
* Hatch Protective knee/elbow pads.
*
Camelbak
CamelBak is an American outdoor equipment company based in Petaluma, California, best known for its hydration products, such as hydration packs and water bottles. CamelBak is also a supplier of protective gear and other products to the U.S. milit ...
hydration systems normal 2.5 L version and 3 L
CBRN
Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defence (CBRN defence) are protective measures taken in situations in which chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear warfare (including terrorism) hazards may be present. CBRN defence consi ...
version.
* ESS profile NVG protective goggles.
Service dress
The Service Dress (SD) Uniform is used by the Army for ceremonial and administrative duties. It resembles
service dress
Service dress uniform is the informal type of uniform used by military, police, fire and other public uniformed services for everyday office, barracks and non-field duty purposes and sometimes for ceremonial occasions. It frequently consists of ...
worn in many armies, but is in a distinctive green shade. The uniform, introduced in 1961, consists of a jacket which is open to show a creamy brown shirt and green tie.
The layout of the uniform varies from corps to corps. For enlisted soldiers, the rank markings are worn on the sleeves of the issue tunic. The Unit and Brigade Flashes are worn on the right and left sleeves respectively. A lanyard depicting the corps function is worn over the left shoulder and pinned to the left chest pocket button (e.g. white lanyard for artillery, red for military police). The corps badge is pinned to the tunic lapels. A cloth belt with brass buckles is worn around the waist of the tunic.
Black leather gloves are worn by privates or NCOs below BQMS rank. When worn as SD No. 1, the cloth belt is traded for a white dress belt, and white gloves are worn by enlisted personnel below BQMS rank. Medals are worn with SD No. 1. Medal ribbons are worn with SD No. 2 and 3.
Peaked caps have been introduced and are worn by enlisted ranks on ceremonial occasions.
With SD No1 troops wear the all-leather "Linkers" ceremonial boot. The tunic button is a stay-bright material with a harp and the inscription "IV" commemorating the
Irish Volunteers
The Irish Volunteers ( ga, Óglaigh na hÉireann), sometimes called the Irish Volunteer Force or Irish Volunteer Army, was a military organisation established in 1913 by Irish nationalists and republicans. It was ostensibly formed in respons ...
.
Officers have their rank markings pinned to the shoulder straps of their tailored tunic. They also wear a
Sam Browne Belt
The Sam Browne is a leather Belt (clothing), belt with a supporting strap that passes over the right shoulder, worn by military and police officers. It is named after Sir Sam Browne, Samuel J. Browne (1824–1901), the British Indian Army General o ...
in brown leather. The Officers SD No. 1 Uniform also includes brown leather shoes and brown leather gloves. Non-cavalry officers in the Permanent Defence Force wear peaked caps, whereas cavalry and reserve officers wear Glengarry hats with black and green ribbons respectively. All officers except colonels and higher ranks (who have since 2010 worn a gilt badge backed with red cloth) wear bronze cap badges, marking them out from the enlisted ranks who have anodised aluminium brass coloured cap badges.
![Irish Army Pipe Band](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a7/Irish_Army_Pipe_Band.jpg)
Army Bands wear a black ceremonial uniform with red
facings
A facing colour is a common tailoring technique for European military uniforms where the visible inside lining of a standard military jacket, coat or tunic is of a different colour to that of the garment itself.René Chartrand, William Younghusba ...
and red stripes on the trousers and a
forage cap
Forage cap is the designation given to various types of military undress, fatigue or working headwear. These varied widely in form, according to country or period. The coloured peaked cap worn by the modern British Army for parade and other dress o ...
as headwear.
The Cavalry corps ceremonial escort of honour wears a new dress uniform since 2010.
Army Pipers and drummers wear a saffron kilt with Royal green tunics and black beret with saffron band and ribbons.
Brass type name tags are worn with Service dress No. 1, 2 and 3.
See also
*
Irish Defence Forces cap badge
The Irish Defence Forces Cap Badge (or "FF badge" as it is sometimes called) is common to all services and corps of the Irish Defence Forces. Although principally associated with the Irish Army (Defence Force regulations in fact describe it as "the ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Modern Irish Army Uniform
Irish Army
Uniforms of the Irish Army
Uniform
A uniform is a variety of clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity. Modern uniforms are most often worn by armed forces and paramilitary organizations such as police, emergency services, se ...