The jump in recruitment comes following a modernised recruitment process and new ad campaigns invested in by the Defence Forces

It has published their year in review, with coverage of recruitment, overseas deployment, support given to Ukraine and details of Irish operations.

This year the Defence Forces introduced a modernised recruitment processes, enhanced branding, increased use of direct entry roles along with dedicating additional staff to recruitment and improved applicant journey experience and timelines.

There were 1,137 applications on average every month this year, 34pc above 2024 recruitment.

This year’s figures are more than 80pc higher than 2023 levels. Additionally, cadet applications increased by 21pc in 2025.

The Defence Forces spent heavily on online advertising this year in an attempt to boost recruitments, with advertising on Twitch, Facebook, TikTok and on outdoor billboards.

This year there was a 20-year high of inductions in 2025, with 788 people inducted.

This compares to 415 people in 2023 and 708 people in 2024.

In 2026, training capacity will be expanded to accommodate an annual recruitment target of circa 850 people.

Land operations in 2025 included deployment of officers to provide 365-day armed guard security at the Central Bank, a military police detachment at Government Buildings and support for the provision of security of foreign visiting aircraft landings at various airports within the State.

Also in 2025, Ireland continued its nearly 70 years of unbroken service abroad with the United Nations, the longest of any country in the world since first deploying to the United Nations’ mission in 1958.

There are approximately 430 Defence Forces personnel currently serving overseas, including solders serving with the United National Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), where approximately 360 Irish soldiers currently serve.

Earlier this month, the Lebanese army arrested six people after gunmen attacked Irish peacekeepers patrolling in the south of the country.

The battalion that came under fire were stationed at Camp Shamrock.

Earlier this year, the Israeli Defence Forces fired shots in close proximity to a joint Irish Unifil and Lebanese armed forces patrol near Camp Shamrock.

The Unifil mission is set to continue for another year, with its mandate to finish in 2027.

The Defence Forces also has staff officers and non commissioned officers deployed to the EU Military Assistance Mission Ukraine (EUMAM-UA).

These personnel are part of a planning cell co-ordinating the delivery of training to the UAF with the EU Military Staff in Brussels and also with the Special Training Command in Strasberg, Germany.

The Defence Forces has up to 30 Irish soldiers who serve with EUMAM-UA delivering specialised training in areas such as tactical combat casualty care, drill instructor training, and junior leadership training to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

This year the Defence Forces also made a several significant donations to the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) of non-lethal aid including: bomb disposal robots, fire fighting vehicle tender, vehicles such as four-wheel drives, ambulances and military trucks.

These were delivered to the UAF through the International Donor Coordination Centre in Poland.