The Defence Forces recently announced a major recruitment campaign for new members to the army and naval service.

Some 600 recruits will be taken on this year, with a further 850 in 2017.

The positions are open to men and women, but the Defence Forces hopes to double the number of female members over the next number of years.

They have also launched this advertising campaign:

The acting Defence Minister Simon Coveney says the new positions will "enable us to rejuvenate our Defence Forces with the induction of young, enthusiastic and committed men and women".

The campaign will specifically target increased female recruitment using social media channels, digital advertisements and the introduction information programmes for women.

Currently, just over 6% of Defence Forces personnel are women.

Newstalk.com's Andrea Gilligan has been looking at the Defence Forces as a profession for women.