{"id":4401,"date":"2018-03-14T21:49:34","date_gmt":"2018-03-15T01:49:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/69.167.168.176\/~phillips\/kerriansnotebook\/kerriansnotebook\/?p=4401"},"modified":"2025-06-01T19:05:19","modified_gmt":"2025-06-01T23:05:19","slug":"kn-p-194-training-for-an-garda-siochana-the-irish-national-police","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pattiphillipsbooks.com\/kerriansnotebook\/2018\/03\/kn-p-194-training-for-an-garda-siochana-the-irish-national-police\/","title":{"rendered":"KN, p. 194 “Training for An Garda Siochana, the Irish National Police”"},"content":{"rendered":"

If there are no paragraph separations in this article, please double-click on the title and they will appear.\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Thinking of moving to Ireland?<\/span><\/p>\n

And you think joining the Garda might be a good idea?<\/span><\/p>\n

And you think you\u2019re in great physical shape?<\/span><\/p>\n

Consider this<\/strong>: before any candidate can be included in the final group of applicants, he\/she must pass a test for physical endurance, known as The Physical Competence Test, in addition to the Shuttle Test. As I mentioned in the previous article, \u201cAn Garda Siochana, the Irish National Police<\/a><\/span>,\u201d there were recently over 60,000 applicants, so competition is tough. To give you an idea of the requirements, the Garda website provides this chart for the Shuttle (also called Beep test) so that you can compare your capabilities to the expected<\/span> norms:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

MINIMUM Standards for the Shuttle Test<\/strong> (running back and forth in a gym \u2013 20 meters (about 65 feet) in each direction – the levels indicating how many round trips you should make within a set time)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Age<\/span><\/td>\nMales<\/span><\/td>\nFemales<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
18-25yrs<\/span><\/td>\nLevel 8.8<\/span><\/td>\nLevel 7.6<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
26-35yrs<\/span><\/td>\nLevel 8.1<\/span><\/td>\nLevel 6.6<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

MINIMUM Standards for the \u2018Sit Up\u2019 Test (one minute)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Age<\/span><\/td>\nMales<\/span><\/td>\nFemales<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
18-25yrs<\/span><\/td>\n35<\/span><\/td>\n30<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
26-35yrs<\/span><\/td>\n32<\/span><\/td>\n27<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

MINIMUM Standards for the \u2018Push Up\u2019 Test (no time restriction)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Age<\/span><\/td>\nMales<\/span><\/td>\nFemales<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
18-25yrs<\/span><\/td>\n25<\/span><\/td>\n20<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
26-35yrs<\/span><\/td>\n22<\/span><\/td>\n18<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Physical Competence Tests –
\n<\/strong><\/span>This part of the physical test demonstrates whether the candidate is capable of chasing after a suspect, and then, once the suspect is caught, struggle with him\/her in order to make the arrest. Because, trust me, if you can\u2019t do this part of the test, you won\u2019t make it as a street cop.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Part 1 \u2013 the Obstacle Course
\n<\/strong><\/span>You have three minutes and 20 seconds to get around the course three<\/strong> times. Go!<\/span><\/p>\n

After a running start,<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Weave through cones<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Walk along a balance beam<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Lift a car wheel and carry it 3 meters (about 9 feet)<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Go underneath\u00a0a barrier<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Jump over a mat<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Drag a 45kg (about 100 pounds) mannequin 2 meters (about 6 feet)<\/span><\/li>\n
  7. Run up and down stairs<\/span><\/li>\n
  8. Climb over a gate<\/span><\/li>\n
  9. Sprint 10 meters (about 30 feet)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Slower than 3:20? You fail.<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Part 2 \u2013 the Push-Pull Machine Test<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    What\u2019s the maximum force you can muster? This test indicates how strong you are when you\u2019re battling against a suspect who doesn\u2019t want to be caught \u2013 after<\/strong> you\u2019ve chased him\/her for several minutes through the alleys.<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Stand on platform, gripping handlebars at chest height, with feet apart and one foot in front of the other<\/span><\/li>\n
    2. Push and pull the handlebars through the required stroke continuously for 20 secs using entire body to push and pull as hard as you can.<\/span><\/li>\n
    3. The force you exert is measured and recorded on the computer system<\/span><\/span>
      \n<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Assessment Process
      \n<\/strong><\/span>Get past this pre-screening stage and there are a number of tests to eliminate the possibility of the unqualified becoming a Garda<\/span> Trainee. If you pass each of the interviews, psych evaluations, personality questionnaire, language proficiency assessment, report writing tasks, written tests, medical exam, and physical tests, (and anything else the powers-that-be deem necessary) and rank high enough on the list of qualified applicants, you might become a Garda trainee. If so, you would attend the Garda college to complete the first 34 weeks of your training. After that, you will have both supervised and unsupervised field training, with periodic rigorous testing along the way. It will take about two years to finish, but at the end, you will attain a BA in Applied Policing.<\/span>
      \n<\/span>
      \nGarda College
      \n\"\"<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

      The Garda College is the national center for police training, development and education within the Irish State. The coursework is divided into two major sections, Operational Training and Crime Training.<\/span><\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Operational Training consists partly of:<\/u><\/strong>\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

      Driver Training<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

      Candidates learn to drive the official vehicles and based on operation needs, may also learn to drive vans, 4×4 vehicles, motorcycles, and H.G.V.s<\/span><\/p>\n

      \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

      Firearms Training
      \n<\/strong><\/span>After initial firearms training, if hired, the candidates permitted to carry \u00a0firearms must<\/strong> take refresher firearms training three times a year. They are checked for Range Safety, Weapon Safety and accuracy. They also receive tactical training, as well as how to use non-lethal weapons such a tasers.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Constitutional, Human Rights & Diversity Office
      \n<\/strong><\/span>Candidates become familiar with the proper way to handle incidents that may involve human rights, diversity as well as any possible constitutional violations.<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

      Communications and Information Technology Training
      \n<\/strong><\/span>Candidates study:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

      \uf0d8\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A.F.I.S. (Automated Fingerprint Identification System)<\/span><\/p>\n

      \uf0d8\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A.V.P.L.S. Automatic Vehicle Personnel Location System)<\/span><\/p>\n

      \uf0d8\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 C.A.D. (Computer Aided Dispatch)<\/span><\/p>\n

      \uf0d8\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 CCTV<\/span><\/p>\n

      \uf0d8\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I.C.C.S. (Integrated Communications Control System)<\/span><\/p>\n

      \uf0d8\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 MOS computer Program skills<\/span><\/p>\n

      Rann\u00f3g na Gaeilge<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

      If needed, candidates learn and become proficient in the Irish language.<\/span><\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Crime Training<\/u><\/strong> consists of:<\/span><\/p>\n

      Foundation Training<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

      \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

      Students learn in small groups with realistic policing re-enactments and must use the group discussions to solve the problems, just as would be done in actual policing.<\/span><\/p>\n

      During this basic training, candidates would:<\/span><\/p>\n