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Irish Defence Forces

Chief of Staff: Full employment in Ireland 'major stumbling block' to solving retention crisis

The ‘job for life’ outlook of his generation is gone, Lt General Seán Clancy conceded.

THE CHIEF OF STAFF of the Defence Forces has said the problem of retention of military personnel is “significant” but that current near total employment in Ireland is a major stumbling block to solving the issue. 

Last month, before the murder of Private Seán Rooney in Lebanon, The Journal sat down with Lt General Seán Clancy to discuss his first year as the head of the Irish Defence Forces. This is the first in a two part series of articles with the Chief of Staff. 

One key area he covered was the problem of retention of staff and the reasons for the crisis that has seen numbers of military personnel plummet. 

This has caused problems for the Irish Naval Service who have not been able to put ships to sea and there have been reports of issues associated with staffing levels across the services. 

Clancy characterises it as “significant” and said he believes that the ‘job for life’ outlook of his generation is gone.

He believes that the problem of retention must be looked at through the prism that many people joining the Defence Forces now view their life in five year blocks.

This then, Clancy believes, is coupled with a very competitive employment market where skills picked up in the military are sought after by recruiters in the private sector. 

“But it’s up to us to create conditions to allow people if they want to leave to ensure they know that they can come back, in terms of reentry, and of recommissioning,” he added. 

He is keen to stress that strategies have been identified to stem the flow out of the Defence Forces but that it is not “as easy as saying ‘make it happen’”. 

“I would hope that in 2023, we can start to try and close the gap between retention and recruitment, and successful recruitment, and we just at least close the gap to show that there is a change,” he said. 

He said recent comments at the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (RACO) conference around low pension payments is a matter for Government to address. He acknowledged the robust concerns of officers at the conference.  

Clancy said the military were not alone in this issue: “there are many uniformed services affected by the issue of supplementary pensions because of the age limitations that we have on our people.”

Recently The Journal reported on the problem of sergeants being forced to retire prematurely due to contract obligations around pensions; the Government found a temporary arrangement as a solution to that issue shortly after the article was published. 

Ireland is not alone in dealing with a problem of retention and recruitment with the US military confirming in October, according to CNBC, that the American army fell short of recruitment goals by 25%.

Similar problems have been reported in the UK with the British Government confirming last month that they had fallen short by 35% in projected hires of new personnel. 

Just last week the New Zealand military reported that they were struggling to put ships to sea due to poor recruitment and retention. 

A recent investigation by this website found that there was a problem of recruitment and retention in An Garda Síochána also.

Clancy believes that a societal change in how people view their lives has shifted from the job-for-life model of old to a model where people change careers repeatedly throughout their lives. 

“One of the things that people don’t dwell on too much is we’re in a full employment situation in this country. You know, we have 4.4% unemployment in the state at the moment.

“Anything between 94 or 96% fully employed is considered full employment. That’s just reality of the economic research.

“There are opportunities and gaps throughout the public, civil and private sector and the business areas, and we have a highly valuable commodity in terms of the calibre and quality of people we have in our organisation,” he explained. 

52503888791_be2acb2c7c_o Lt Gen Clancy has been in the job for just over a year. Irish Defence Forces Irish Defence Forces

Five years

Clancy believes that the change in mindset around employment and viewing employment in five year chunks of time is a key issue. 

“That is a huge challenge to try and incentivise people in a way to restore the organisation coupled that with a different mindset, and a paradigm that exists now with people entering into service or any job these days, the horizon that people look at, I firmly believe that they look to maximum three to five years down the road.

“When I left school a public sector job was a kind of job for life. This generation is different. I’m not saying that’s an excuse for not retaining people but it’s part of the totality of it and I think it’s something that we need to be conscious of as well.”

Clancy stressed that former members who are missing their military life and are contemplating coming back can return and feel welcome.

“It is up to us to sort out and to create conditions to allow people if they want to leave to ensure they know that there is work there if they want to come back,” he added. 

Clancy said that there is a broad effort now in the Defence Forces to enable the return of former members to service and make it a smooth and rapid process. 

“They might consider coming back for a few years to add value back in and to contribute back because most people that are in our organisation, serving our organisation, take great pride in the service that they have given us.

“When they actually have maybe gone out and and on the other side of the fence feel like they want to come back, I want to make sure people understand that,” he added. 

The military leader said he accepts that people are being enticed away for greater pay in the private sector but, repeatedly through out the interview, he spoke of the significant sense of purpose found in military life. 

Clancy is also keen to stress that he intends on expanding the Reserve and using that for people who wish to serve on a part-time basis. 

The Chief of Staff said that he is now working on a permanent command staff to lead the Reserves and focus on rejuvenating their place in the Defence Forces. 

He said that any growth in the use of Reserves would require a legislative framework to protect the employer, the reservist and the Defence Forces and he said that is something that could be worked on in the future. 

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15 Comments
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    Mute Thinck
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    May 23rd 2017, 10:51 PM

    Humans acting like humans

    933
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    Mute Paul P O'Sullivan
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    May 23rd 2017, 10:55 PM

    @Thinck: I wish it was more common. Horrific for them and everyone caught up in this act of evil.

    278
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    Mute The Magnificent Hog
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    May 23rd 2017, 11:23 PM

    @Paul P O’Sullivan: The fact that they’re homeless is irrelevant. They are human beings with human emotions and human compulsions and acted as such. Condescending of the media to highlight that they’re homeless. Clickbait.

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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    May 23rd 2017, 11:30 PM

    @The Magnificent Hog: it’s pure clickbait !

    20
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    Mute David
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    May 24th 2017, 6:30 AM

    @Thinck: like the Muslim taxi drivers that ferried people all over Manchester, for free, after the attacks? Or the Muslim doctors and nurses that rushed to work from their homes after the attack? There’s not much humanity shown on this particular site, people seem to be calling for a Hitleresque “solution”

    41
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    Mute Jamie
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    May 24th 2017, 8:03 AM

    @David: I laughed at the Muslim taxi drivers sign FREE LIFT and in small writing if needed

    6
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    Mute john Appleseed
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    May 23rd 2017, 10:54 PM

    “Just because I’m homeless, it doesn’t mean I haven’t got a heart,” he said.

    How they must think we see the homeless. Forgotten and uncared for

    689
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    Mute Veronica
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    May 23rd 2017, 11:47 PM

    @john Appleseed: terrible that we make them feel that way. These men have such good hearts.

    168
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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    May 23rd 2017, 11:49 PM

    @john Appleseed: sure aren’t they all junkies who want free stuff and don’t want to do anything? Pft!

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    Mute Mark Walsh
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    May 24th 2017, 12:07 AM

    @john Appleseed:
    That’s exactly have we treat the homeless

    20
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    Mute David
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    May 24th 2017, 6:32 AM

    @Deborah Behan: people say something similar about Muslims… they’re all the same… the hypocrisy you read on this site is frightening.

    23
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    Mute Philip Tinkler
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    May 23rd 2017, 11:21 PM

    David Sullivan the west ham co owner and his son have found this man and have paid 6 months rent on a house for him to help and say thank you

    352
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    Mute Tom Burke
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    May 24th 2017, 12:06 AM

    @Philip Tinkler: is that the same David Sullivan who made his fortune in the porn industry?

    Wouldn’t be taking moral guidance from him.

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    Mute Lord Clanricarde
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    May 24th 2017, 7:00 AM

    @Tom Burke: That’s an interesting take Tom. Considering you take your moral guidance from a money making cult that has willingly facilitated paedophiles in raping young children. People who are no better than terrorists attacking children…..

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    Mute Barry Somers
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    May 24th 2017, 7:17 AM

    @Lord Clanricarde: the porn industry that pays consenting adults to have sex.

    Versus the Catholic Church who forced children against there will to have sex and then covered up the abuse and denied it happened for decades under Vatican orders.

    Amusing when a Catholic tries to claim the porn industry is immoral

    39
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    Mute Joe O'riordan
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    May 24th 2017, 7:18 AM

    @Lord Clanricarde: still hiding behind that name ??? Show yourself demon ….

    4
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    Mute Lord Clanricarde
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    May 24th 2017, 8:47 AM

    @Joe O’riordan: I am the Lord, kneel before me.

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    Mute Philip Tinkler
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    May 24th 2017, 10:55 AM

    @Tom Burke: yes Tom its the same David that made his money legally, trying to help someone that has falling on hard times and clearly deserves a break. Maybe more of us should look at this example for moral guidance

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    Mute Slim Browne
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    May 24th 2017, 12:32 PM

    @Lord Clanricarde: ill bet thats not the first time u said that !!!!!!

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    Mute Peter Cavey
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    May 23rd 2017, 10:55 PM

    I cannot imagine the things he saw last night.

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    Mute TDV
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    May 24th 2017, 9:36 AM

    @Peter Cavey: however horrific, they were mild compared to some of the UK army bombing campaigns abroad that kill many multiples of the deathtoll in Manchester and even wipe out whole families with not one single family member left

    10
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    Mute Tony Daly
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    May 23rd 2017, 10:56 PM

    Compassion, solidarity, humanity and charity. These are the nib,e human quantities. The evil terrorists are a tiny minority and atypical of human beings and human nature.

    143
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    Mute Tony Daly
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    May 23rd 2017, 10:57 PM

    noble human qualities.

    73
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    Mute Veronica
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    May 23rd 2017, 11:48 PM

    @Tony Daly: absolutely. In such tragedy it’s so heartwarming to hear stories about people helping each other.

    Feel like I’ve not stopped crying since last night.

    45
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    Mute Teddyzigzagbigbag
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    May 23rd 2017, 11:25 PM

    If anyone is on a watch list they should be deported. If anyone has any ties to anyone on a watch list they should be deported. If anyone has looked sideways at someone on a watch list they should be deported. Zero tolerance towards these vermin. They have waged war and the West is too PC to do enough about it. Find an island and send them all to it with no food and water. I’m almost siding with trump on this. Almost.

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    Mute Karl
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    May 23rd 2017, 11:47 PM

    @Teddyzigzagbigbag: of there was sufficient evidence they would be arrested.

    The Irish weren’t deported in 1996.

    This guy was British, where would you like him to be deported to?

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    Mute Teddyzigzagbigbag
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    May 24th 2017, 12:01 AM

    @Karl: you’ve made no sense there. Read my comment back and then read yours again.

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    Mute Barry Somers
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    May 24th 2017, 7:19 AM

    @Teddyzigzagbigbag: ok say he was on a watch list.

    He was a UK citizen, the UK cannot deport him anywhere.

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    Mute Teddyzigzagbigbag
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    May 24th 2017, 8:12 AM

    @Barry Somers: I think I said stick these vermin on an island.

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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    May 23rd 2017, 11:02 PM

    This two men did what everyone else did last night .. fair play and all but the whole city pulled together to help each other …

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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    May 23rd 2017, 11:13 PM

    @Suzie Sunshine: * these

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    Mute DainBramage
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    May 23rd 2017, 11:30 PM

    @Suzie Sunshine: Wow, so we can add the homeless to the list of minorities you hate now, you’re a real Grade A dick.

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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    May 23rd 2017, 11:32 PM

    @DainBramage: where in my comment did I say I hate the homelessness? This is just pure clickbait. . Everybody helped each other over there last night ..

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    Mute Matty Kineven
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    May 23rd 2017, 11:37 PM

    @DainBramage: You’re a Grade A troll

    17
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    Mute DainBramage
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    May 23rd 2017, 11:38 PM

    @Suzie Sunshine: ‘This is just pure clickbait’, says the genius who has commented on the story 8 times.

    26
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    Mute DainBramage
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    May 23rd 2017, 11:39 PM

    @Matty Kineven: new account Matty / Liam Egan? How is the weather in Wexford these days?

    7
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    Mute Matty Kineven
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    May 23rd 2017, 11:40 PM

    @DainBramage: Yawn

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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    May 23rd 2017, 11:52 PM

    @DainBramage: says the genius who can’t count ..

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    Mute DainBramage
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    May 24th 2017, 12:10 AM

    @Suzie Sunshine: Glad you at least have admitted to trolling.

    12
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    Mute Tony Daly
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    May 24th 2017, 12:20 AM

    @Suzie Sunshine: yes, the two homeless men helped.

    9
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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    May 24th 2017, 2:40 AM

    @Tony Daly: as did everyone else ?

    1
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    Mute Tony Daly
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    May 23rd 2017, 10:58 PM

    Compassion, solidarity, humanity and charity. These are the noble human quantities.

    The evil terrorists are a tiny minority and atypical of human beings and human nature.

    55
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    Mute Jack Cassady
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    May 23rd 2017, 11:54 PM

    Fair play to these guys.

    32
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    Mute gregory
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    May 23rd 2017, 11:42 PM

    Humanity. Amazing guys.

    26
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    Mute Joseph Dempsey
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    May 24th 2017, 7:35 AM

    Society often treats Homeless people with disdain, whilst it might be a choice for some to be homeless (at times a way out from the society they wish to escape from) , these people rarely use their human instinct to be humane, kind and decent. Maybe the next time you come across a homeless human being, you might stop to think, that person has a story, had another life and perhaps show a little compassion and respect.

    22
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    Mute Shona Judge
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    May 24th 2017, 9:27 AM

    The government should be forced to give them homes (and therapy) for going above and beyond.

    Im sure there are a lot of people’s lives that they have touched in just one night and most wouldn’t even give them a second of their time when passing in the street

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    Mute paddy
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    May 24th 2017, 12:24 PM

    Why should this man get all the credit just cos hes homeless im sure lots of people with hones were heroes too

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    Mute Watchful Axe
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    May 24th 2017, 6:50 PM

    Very tough, would be in a delicate state of mind to begin with from living homelessly. Witnessing this could shove someone into a total breakdown.

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