LAST UPDATE | 4 Mar

THE IRISH ARMY Ranger Wing (ARW) is examining the possibility of offering a chance for civilians to join its ranks directly for the first time, The Journal has learned.

It is understood that the proposal is part of a raft of changes to how the ARW engages with the public and how it recruits its elite operators. 

The unit is known by its official name Sciathán Fianóglach an Airm and has undergone major changes in recent years. Fianóglach refers to the mythology of the Irish warriors Na Fianna. 

A senior officer has been appointed to lead the unit and advocate for it with the General Staff and also with the Department of Defence.  

The ARW will also get a new base, more modern equipment in the next few years and a change of name to IRL SOF (Ireland Special Operations Force). It is also increasing the amount of support staff it has to manage communications and other tasks.

The unit is expected to launch new social media accounts to align with units such as the French GIGN, to better showcase their work.  

The biggest change, however, is contained in a proposal in which the ARW could transform how it manages its recruitment. 

At present ‘The Wing’ recruits from the permanent Defence Forces with the Irish Army, Naval Service and Irish Air Corps only. A candidate must already be in the military to apply. 

But there is a proposal being examined behind the scenes that they will advertise the positions to the public, allowing successful applicants train to become members of the elite force. 

Sources have said that this would be enabled by people coming through from civilian life.

These members would be trained to the lowest rank in the military, that of Private, and would then go directly to SOF-Q, a nine-month course that prospective ‘operators’ take. 

An Army Ranger Wing Operator prepares to board a ship during a training exercise. Irish Defence Forces Irish Defence Forces

One of the best known direct entry systems for Special Forces is the US Navy SEALs system and US Army. 

SOF-Q is not for the faint-hearted and The Journal previously accompanied recruits during the opening test of their nine-month selection. 

As Ireland’s special forces unit, the ARW is a small but elite group of Irish soldiers trained and tasked with the most challenging of operations.

The course has lengthy fast-route marches, tests of their endurance but also psychological tests including dealing with being captured by an enemy. They are also tested on their ability to fight, including inside buildings in high stakes hostages rescues. 

It is based over four modules that will ultimately lead a successful candidate to a graduation ceremony on the Hill of Allen, when they get their shoulder Fianóglach shoulder flash and green beret.

A statement has been requested from the Irish Defence Forces. 

Meanwhile this morning the Minister for Defence, Helen McEntee TD, confirmed that the Department of Defence has signed a €17.65 million contract for the construction of the new Army Ranger Wing (ARW) Headquarters at Defence Forces Training Centre, Curragh, Co. Kildare.

This contract represents phase 1 of the development of the purpose-built Special Operations Forces (Army Ranger Wing) headquarters, a three-phase project with a whole complex estimated cost of €46 million.

The funding for the project is part of the €1.7 billion the National Development Plan (NDP) Sectoral Investment Plan for Defence, which Minister McEntee announced late last year.

Work on the project will start immediately and it is scheduled to take twenty-one months to complete. The project will provide a modern, fit-for-purpose facility, which will support the Defence Forces’ operational capability of the Army Ranger Wing, in a space that meets the highest standards of quality and service.