Irish - Overseas Badges 

These are the National badges that Irish personnel have worn overseas.   After the two national  brassards in the Congo the shamrock flash was introduced.  In 1988 the national flag was introduced and has changed in size a number of times since.    The medium size flag was first worn in East Timor. 

                           
1964  -  1988
   

             
1988 - 1999 1999 - 2000 2000 - ongoing
   

NOTE: Nov 2006  Some overseas unit commanders are changing from the small flag back to the large IRELAND flag (1988-1999) again.  The main reason would be identification,  the colours of the Irish flag can be mistaken for the Italian flag.  Having the FLAG and IRELAND may be large but is very clear.  

 

 

BOSNIA (SFOR), 1997 to present

The SFOR badge displayed here is the "Irish" made version.  SFOR participating countries produced and issued there own version of this badge, which in some cases differed in quality.
SFOR

 

 

These badges are worn by members of the International Military Police (IMP) Unit, based in Sarajevo, Bosnia, serving with SFOR. The IMP is composed of personnel from Ireland, Italy, Spain and Holland.

Two badges exist. One badge displays the flags of the four participating countries on it, the other badge has the national flag of a particular country on it. Either badge can be worn by personnel of the IMP. The badge was only introduced in 2000.

      
IMP (Irish Version) IMP (General Version)

 

 

 

EAST TIMOR (INTERFET), 1999 

 

INTERFRET Brassard

 

 

ISAF 

These two badges are from ISAF (International Security Assistance Force). The ISAF badge is worn by all personnel in the Force (much like the SFOR or KFOR badges). The tiger is the badge of KMNB (Kabul Multinational Brigade). Irish personnel have served with ISAF since July 2002 and with KMNB since February 2003. 

       
ISAF (2002, ongoing) ISAF, Kabul Multi-National Brigade
 

 

 
Name tab worn in ISAF

 

KOSOVO (KFOR), 

 

             
KFOR (Subdued)
click on image

 

NATO HQ - Sarajevo 

 

             
NATO HQ Sarajevo
 

 

 

SOMALIA (UNOSOM), 1994 - 1995

The Irish Defence Forces contribution to UNOSOM II was a Transport Company.  The Irish initially worn a very smart desert pattern uniform (American pattern) this changed to a basic green during the period.  The reason there is a variation badge for the 1st Tpt Coy is that enough were not ordered for the troops and a second batch was made.

      
Sep 1993 - Feb 2004   Variation
 
Feb 2004 - Sep 2004

 

 

This page is in no way sponsored or endorsed by The Irish Defence Forces - Óglaigh na hÉireann. Opinions and views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Service.

 Page Updated : Friday, 26 March 2010