Spend Force

€1.25million recruitment drive fails to halt Irish troops' retention crisis

- DANNY DE VAAL and KEN FOXE

THE Defence Forces can’t just recruit itself out of a retention crisis because “no amount of water will fill a leaky bucket”, a high-ranking officer has said. 

Lieutenant Colonel Conor King explained work will need to be done to ensure the organisation is transformed into an employer of choice.

“Once this happens it will have a positive impact on recruitment,” Lt Col King, who is also general secretary of RACO, the body that represents officers in the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps, added.

However, he said he still thinks joining the military is “undoubtedly an attractive job for many” and that the role has a lot of benefits.

Over the last two years, the Defence Forces has spent almost €1.25million on recruitment advertising trying to drum up interest among new recruits.