r/Irishdefenceforces • u/[deleted] • Sep 29 '25
Recruitment ALL THINGS MEDICAL
This will cover ALL THINGS regarding the entrance medical to join the Defence Forces of Ireland - "Óglaigh na hÉireann".
Below is a clear list of the medical and physical requirements for joining the Irish Defence Forces (PDF and RDF of ALL branches and services with NO EXCEPTIONS to these standards with a minor one being vision and depth for pilots (pilots must have better vision), followed by examples of actual health conditions that would prevent someone from joining.
Medical and Physical Prerequisites
- Be generally healthy in both body and mind.
- Minimum height of 157.48 cm (about 5 feet 2 inches).
- Healthy weight; Body Mass Index (BMI) must be above 20 and below 30.
- Good eyesight; best vision in each eye at least 6/36 uncorrected, and correctable with glasses to 6/12 or better, with no significant eye diseases. Color vision must be normal.
- Good hearing, with no ear diseases or hearing impairments.
- Healthy mouth and teeth, with at least 11 upper and 11 lower teeth meeting.
- Ability to complete the Defence Forces fitness test:
- Run 2.4 km (1.5 miles) in 11 minutes 40 seconds (males) or 13 minutes 10 seconds (females)
- 20 push-ups in one minute
- 20 sit-ups in one minute
- Pass basic blood and urine tests and a medical exam.
- Provide truthful health history and give permission for Defence Forces doctors to discuss medical records with your GP.
Medical Conditions That Disqualify You
People with these specific problems or illnesses cannot join the Defence Forces:
- Epilepsy or a history of seizures
- ASD
- Diabetes (Type 1 or uncontrolled Type 2)
- Asthma that requires regular medication or is severe. (Childhood asthma requires a note from a GP stating you have had no recent cases).
- Heart diseases (like congenital heart disease, arrhythmia, or heart attacks)
- High blood pressure requiring ongoing medication
- Serious or recurring mental health issues (such as depression requiring medication, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia). If you are off medication, it usually must be for a minimum of 24 months and will require notes from a GP confirming no ongoing concerns.
- Hearing loss beyond acceptable limits or chronic ear infections
- Significant eyesight problems not correctable to required standards, severe color blindness, or eye diseases like glaucoma or retinitis pigmentosa
- Past eye surgery, like recent laser eye correction, unless specified recovery time and outcomes are met
- Severe allergies (such as anaphylaxis to common triggers)
- Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or other serious bowel illnesses
- HIV/AIDS or other significant blood-borne infections
- Severe skin conditions (like severe eczema or psoriasis)
- Musculoskeletal problems, such as chronic arthritis, history of fractures with ongoing mobility issues, missing limbs
- Serious dental issues (like missing most teeth, severe jaw problems)
- Substance abuse problems, including positive drug tests
- Cancer within the last five years or ongoing cancer treatment
- Any medical condition that needs regular hospital care, medication or specialist supervision
SUMMARY
To join the Defence Forces, you must be healthy and fit, with good eyesight, hearing, teeth, and no serious medical history. Serious or ongoing illnesses and certain physical conditions will prevent entry.
ITS NOT case by case basis. That is fucking shit advise being doled out by people who DONT know what they're talking about.
CONSULT A DOCTOR and DONT take medical advise from strangers on the Internet who clearly DONT KNOW what the induction medical, pre meds or basic requirements consist of.
RULE 13 for the sub - Requesting or offering medical advice of any kind, is strictly prohibited: Requesting or offering medical advice of any kind, including advice to bypass CRDT, entrance medicals, or DFRs (such as A9 grooming standards) is strictly prohibited. Seek information only from official sources or a medical professional NOT from strangers on the internet.
CONTACT DF Recruitment directly and ask, READ ALL correspondence and CONSULT actual Doctors. YOU ARE NOT THE EXCEPTION. If I see medical posts or questions I will remove immediately.
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Sep 29 '25
[deleted]
7
Sep 29 '25 edited Sep 29 '25
Call them and ask.
I've read everything and seen no mention of cosmetic surgeries.
Again, this is not the place for Medical Advice.
EDIT: Don't get why people delete their comments and accounts 🤷♂️
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u/IrishRiou Oct 26 '25
I’ve my medical later next month part one and two on the same day, does that mean it’ll take all day? It’s not in Dublin, it’s in Aiken Barracks, also will there be any more fitness activities or is it just medical questions and filling out forms?
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u/Party-Examination808 Dec 12 '25
How’d it go?
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u/IrishRiou Dec 15 '25
Took about 2 hours. Passed everything. Very handy having the medical on rhr base
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u/liptov Mar 15 '26
A question for you. My son has wanted to join the army since he was 5. 10 years on its still all he talks about He had major surgery on his ear which resulted in a severe loss of hearing. Is there any way of checking with the recruitment section if this would disqualify him. I don't want him wasting the next 3 years with a pipe dream.
0
u/Stressed_Student2020 Sep 30 '25
ASD is a new one..
2
Sep 30 '25
When did you leave?
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u/Stressed_Student2020 Sep 30 '25
... Fair point. (2010)
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Sep 30 '25
Tricky thing. It's hard to diagnose.
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u/Stressed_Student2020 Sep 30 '25
You'd think an organisation with strict adherence to rules and direct communication style would be a perfect one for low support folk with ASD.
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u/dario_sanchez Feb 19 '26
Apologies to dog up an old thread - I'm a doctor with ASD looking to join the DF again (did a while in the reserves many moons ago).
It's terrifically overrepresented in medicine anyway, but I find it amazing that a career so suited to autism and ADHD - like a lad bollocking you for actual minutes over a loose thread on a uniform isn't autistic? Come on now - is technically blocked. I'd love to rejoin as a medical officer and my life has been far better post diagnosis. Hope there's movement on that soon.
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Oct 01 '25
I heard they have a working group looking into it.
Im sure that their are different types and severity of ASD.
There are definitely people who are capable.
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u/AgentJK44 Oct 02 '25
It most certainly isn't hard to diagnose
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Oct 02 '25
Try getting a child diagnosed.
It's not that easy. You can't just walk into a GPs office and do it.
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u/AgentJK44 Oct 02 '25
You can't diagnose most conditions by simply walking into a doctors office, but that doesn't mean it's difficult per se. Many people are diagnosed frequently. It's getting the necessary support post diagnosis that is often the issue people face.
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Oct 02 '25
I agree.
Im trying to make the point is that DF MOs might notice it (I have) but cant diagnosed. Therefore, can't turn them away.
If its in medical records, that's a different story.
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u/dario_sanchez Feb 19 '26
Multiple conditions, especially in women, can present quite similarly.
An autism assessment is 2-3 hours and requires evidence stretching back to childhood.
You can notice people with traits but a formal DX is hard to get.
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u/AgentJK44 Oct 02 '25
Some of the conditions on this list of disqualifying conditions just proves the defence forces is backwards in its mentality, unfortunately. Conditions such as hypertension and ASD being a bar to entry is ridiculous really. Hopefully, they change at some point. Otherwise they will never solve their ongoing recruitment problems
It's unfortunate that people can't seem to grasp that