Overview
The Irish Defence Forces recruit General Service Recruits into the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps through a standard application process run on military.ie. General Service Recruitment is generally open year-round, with recruit intakes normally taken in around March and September.
Who can apply
Army applicants must be at least 18 years old and under 39 years of age on the closing date for applications, meet nationality/residency requirements, and pass medical and fitness standards set for the branch applied to; exact requirements can vary slightly by branch (Army, Naval Service, Air Corps).
Exam pattern
The General Service Recruit application process has five stages: online psychometric testing, a fitness test, an interview, a medical examination, and attestation (formal enlistment).
After the exam
Recruits who are attested complete an initial 12-week period of Recruit Training covering core military skills such as discipline, teamwork, fitness and leadership, followed by a further roughly 12 weeks of 2-3 Star training to build further military knowledge and experience.
How to apply
Applications are submitted only through the online application form on military.ie, available when a recruitment competition is open for the branch applied to.
Preparation tips
Because the psychometric test comes before the fitness test and interview, building general cognitive-test familiarity (verbal, numerical and reasoning style questions) alongside early fitness training for the physical stage covers the two filtering stages candidates face before the interview.
How often does Irish Defence Forces General Service recruitment run?
Recruitment is generally open year-round, with recruit intakes normally taken around March and September.
What are the five stages of the General Service Recruit application process?
Online psychometric testing, a fitness test, an interview, a medical examination, and attestation.