"project infancy" would also ensure that the royal irish rangers, the last irish infantry battalion of "the line" did not lose their training facilities and presence in northern ireland. the udr, which was not regular line infantry was, in the words of one commander, "like a fish without feathers". incorporation as infantry of the line might provide udr officers with career prospects which mirrored those of the regular army and hopefully resolve the problem of recruiting junior officers. to the goc the prospect of having a larger number of catholic officers and ncos in the udr would dampen much of the political furore surrounding the regiment.