Following 15 months of intensive and rigorous training, 91 cadets were commissioned into the Irish Defence Forces at a ceremony Dublin Castle on Thursday.
The 91 cadets, comprising of 67 new Army Officers, 18 Air Corps Officers and 6 Maltese Officers are the largest Cadet Class in the history of the state.
95th Cadet Class proceed to Dublin Castle. Photo: Defence Forces
The 91 newly commissioned officers successfully completed a 15 month cadetship, preparing them to take up appointments as junior leaders throughout the Army, Air Corps and the Armed Forces of Malta.
95th Cadet Class marching into Dublin Castle. Photo: Defence Forces
The class is comprised of 13 officers who previously served in the Defence Forces and 26 university graduates with a range of qualifications including law, international relations, history, engineering, sports management, law, archaeology, geomatics and computer science. A further 5 officers were in third level education prior to joining the Defence Forces.
Cadets taking an Oath of allegiance at commissioning ceremony. Photo: Defence Forces
In receiving this Presidential Commission, the new officers took an oath of allegiance in which they swore to be “faithful to Ireland and loyal to the Constitution”. The Maltese Cadets received a certificate of graduation.
The 95th Cadet Class were commissioned as officers into the Permanent Defence Forces, receiving their commissioning scrolls signed by the Supreme Commander of the Defence Forces, Uachtaráin na hÉireann, Michael D Higgins.
The Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces Vice Admiral Mark Mellett DSM attended the commissioning ceremony on Thursday 20th February in the Printworks, Dublin Castle.
Defence Forces Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Mark Mellett DSM. Photo: Irish Decence Forces.
The new Officers are from counties; Dublin (13), Kildare (12), Kilkenny (7), Cork (5), Tipperary (5), Wicklow (4), Offaly (3), Meath (3), Mayo (3), Donegal (3), Galway (3), Kerry (3), Waterford (3), Westmeath (3), Clare (3), Limerick (2), Wexford (2), Down (1), Monaghan (1), Roscommon (1), Cavan (1), Louth (1), Tyrone (1), Derry (1), Sligo (1) and Malta (6).
There is an excellent video of the ceremony on the Irish Defence Forces social media platforms @DefenceForces
