Vol. 568 No. 2
134 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence if he will allow military personnel who apply for transfers between various services and who are obliged to resign formally from one service before being allowed to join another branch of the Defence Forces, to maintain their military service allowance, especially if the period between resignation from one service and enlistment in another is very short; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16124/03]
Applications from Defence Forces members to transfer from one service corps to another service corps are governed by provisions in Defence Force regulations. The current position is that there is no requirement for personnel to resign formally from one service corps before being allowed to join another.
With regard to transfers from the Naval Service to the Army, the current position is that, in accordance with Defence Force regulations, personnel may transfer within the Defence Forces subject to certain conditions. In the Naval Service context, transfers are usually sought from the Naval Service to Army units, rarely the other way round. Invariably personnel seek transfer to a specific unit and-or location. It can happen that the unit to which transfer is sought has no vacancies and cannot accept transfer. Equally, it can happen that the unit to which transfer is sought has no vacancies at the applicants rank-grade and personnel can only accept transfers at a lower rank or grade. In these circumstances there is no requirement for personnel to resign formally.
However, there may be cases whereby NCOs formally resign from the Naval Service and rejoin the Army at a lower rank or grade. Provided such personnel rejoin within six months they will be re-enlisted in the Army in the rank of private, three star without the requirement to undergo initial military training and, accordingly, maintain their entitlement to military service allowance.
