Currently recruiting direct entry aircraft maintenance technicians, bypassing the traditional apprentice program. Going out on a limb to assume pay and benefits will not match industry standards as the defense forces personnel have been underpaid for years, unlike their civil service peers, the Gardai.
This is obviously an attempt to stem the outflow of personnel which again begs the question of adequate staffing to run a SAR contract. Heavy maintenance is now outsourced to the civil side with the AW139’s flown to Belgium for tear downs.
Watch this space, next it will be direct entry pilots albeit invitations to those with previous (military SAR) experience.