On 15 January 2003 I approved, in principle, the report of the Reserve Defence Force review implementation board for the implementation of the recommendations of the special steering group on the reserve, which had reported to me in September 1999.
The Permanent Defence Force is now organised in a three-brigade structure and a Defence Forces training centre. The Reserve Defence Force will be similarly reorganised and restructured and it is envisaged that the implementation of these changes in the Reserve Defence Force will take place over a period of approximately six years. The White Paper on Defence recognised that a notable and important feature of the existing FCA organisation is its countrywide, geographical spread. This particular aspect will, in general terms, be retained in the future. The full organisational and establishment details of the new reserve will be determined in the course of the ongoing detailed implementation process which is being carried forward by the military authorities.