Officers' Training Corps

A Saladin armoured car of the Cambridge University OTC on exercise in 1974

The Officer Training Corps (OTC) is a part of the British Army which provides military leadership training to students at UK universities. The name Officer Training Corps is misleading in that its mission is not the training of commissioned officers; only a small minority^[1] of OTC members go on to further train, and subsequently, commission as officers in the Regular or Territorial Army.^[2] However, in recent years there has been a greater effort at OTCs to raise awareness of the career opportunities within the Regular or Territorial Army (although the mission statement (see below) has not changed). It is similar in some ways to the United States Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps with which Cambridge OTC has a regular exchange.^[3] However, a fundamental difference in that ROTCs are actually Officer Training Establishments and thus have a rather different ethos and work ethic. The UK Ministry of Defence marketed the OTC as "a University/ College club with a great and varied social life ... where you'll find some of the cheapest drink on campus."^[4]

In 2011 an MoD study recommended the downgrading of UOTCs to sub-units (commanded by a Major rather than a Lt Col) and the formation of 12 Officer Training Regiments comprising one or two OTC 'companies' and a TA Officer Training Wing. The study also concluded that UOTC OCdts should not be attested or paid in their first year.^[5]

History

Although some UOTC can trace their origins even earlier, the modern OTC was founded during the Haldane Reforms in 1908 to remedy a critical shortage of officers during the South African War (1899–1902). Cambridge UOTC, then known as the Cambridge University Rifle Volunteers, won a battle honour, "South Africa".^[6] It was the only OTC to do so.

Initially the OTC had a senior division, in eight universities, and a junior division, in English public schools. During the First World War, the senior OTCs became officer producing units and some 30,000 officers passed through, but after the war reverted to their basic military training role.

During the 1930s the OTCs began to increase in strength. They peaked in 1938 during the Munich Crisis. In the Second World War they again became officer producing units for the army.

In 1948, the senior OTC divisions became part of the Territorial Army, and women were accepted for the first time with the formation of Women's Royal Army Corps sub-units. Women are now fully integrated into all sections. The junior divisions, by then renamed the Junior Training Corps, became the Army Sections of the Combined Cadet Force. For the next twelve years until its abolition in 1960, the corps aim was to prepare students for National Service.

Present day

There are 18 University Officer Training Corps (UOTCs) throughout the UK, each of which serves the universities in a distinct geographic area. Those serving larger areas may have several detachments. Each UOTC is effectively an independent regiment, with its own cap badge and stable belt. Some OTCs such as Cambridge, Northumberland and Leeds are split into a number of sub-units representing different arms and services, which cadets join when they have completed their initial training.

On 1 April 2005 there were 4,257 personnel in the UOTC. UOTC members are classed as Officer Cadets (OCdt) and can gain internal appointments to Junior Under Officer and Senior Under Officer. They are "Group B" members of the Territorial Army, the same group as CCF (Army) and ACF officers, in common with whom they are neither trained nor liable for mobilised (active) service^[7] from October 2009 to April 2010 UOTC Officer cadets were not paid for undertaking training,although since April 2010 payment has been re-started they do not receive the same annual bounty payment as members of the Territorial Army proper.

UOTC OCdts can apply to the Army Officer Selection Board on an equal basis to civilians and, if they pass, attempt the Territorial Army or Regular Commissioning Courses with the goal of a commission as a Second Lieutenant. Cadets have no obligation to join the armed forces when they leave university and can resign from the OTC at any time, indeed 90% of those serving with one UOTC do not go on to either the Regular or Territorial Army.^[8]

The officers and non-commissioned officers, who function as instructors and administrative and support staff, are a mixture of Regular Army and Territorial Army (including Non Regular Permanent Staff).

Mission statement

The Officer Training Corps is intended to develop the leadership potential of selected university students. It aims to achieve this through enjoyable and challenging training. In providing such an experience, it hopes to communicate the values, ethos and career opportunities of the British Army.^[9]

Training

Whilst training is organised by each unit separately, there is a general syllabus that is covered by all UOTCs.^{[citation needed]}

Year one

Basic military training: This year involves basic military drill, individual skills and fieldcraft in an abbreviated version of the syllabus undertaken by TA recruits. Cadets are introduced to a range of basic military techniques, including map reading, camouflage, first aid, weapons training, radio procedure and fieldcraft. Procedures such as how to establish an overnight patrol base and how to fire & manoeuvre effectively as part of a team are also covered.

Year two

Leadership: They introduced to some aspects of minor unit leadership. This involves the planning and decision making process, giving orders, ensuring they are carried out, directing a constructive debrief after an exercise and ensuring the welfare of all those under their command.

Year three and beyond

Some cadets choose to attempt officer selection and gain a commission with the UOTC, others choose to spend the remainder of their time with the UOTC as cadets. The minority who go on to join the regular army after UOTC undertake the same training as those joining from civilian life with no prior military experience.

Adventurous Training & Social Life

Concurrently with military training, many OTCs provide the opportunity to pursue sporting and adventurous hobbies. Sports such as skiing, mountain trekking, climbing and sailing are actively encouraged. With access to the Territorial Army's resources for Adventurous Training,^[10] students are enabled to pursue their other hobbies alongside their degrees. Socially, the OTCs hold hold frequent parties and informal social events throughout the year which attract local press coverage.^[11][12]

Individual units

Inter-UOTC competitions

The British Army run several competitions throughout the academic year where the 19 UOTCs and the 4 DTUS squadrons have a chance to compete against each other. One of these is the Queens Challenge Cup, a sports competition.^[13]

Others include arms specific competitions such as an Engineer Corps competition at Minley, an Artillery (Ex Brief Encounter) based competition at Larkhill, a Royal Signals competition (Ex Lightning Strike)}^{[citation needed]} at Blandford and a Royal Armoured Corps (Ex Dynamic Vagabond)competition at Bovington.^{[citation needed]}

Bans

In March 2008, a motion was passed during the University College London Union's Annual General Meeting to ban Armed Forces groups and societies such as the University Royal Naval Unit (URNU), Officer Training Corps (OTC) and University Air Squadron (UAS) from operating within University College London Union locations and events. This action made headlines in the British national press, partly due to an unrelated issue at the time where RAF personnel in Peterborough had been ordered not to wear uniform off-site for fear of aggression from members of the public.^[14]

Through a subsequent motion passed through the Union Council the decisions made at the Annual General Meeting were ratified,^[15] however the ban was subsequently overturned by a large majority in following year's AGM of 27 February 2009.^[16]

This coincides with similar actions taken at the University of Cambridge, Goldsmiths College. The University of Manchester followed with a proposal to ban military recruitment which also received press attention.^[17] However, this proposal failed.^[17]

Bans were also put in place at the University of Stirling Students Union in 1998 but were subsequently overturned in 2010 by a very large majority at a Union General Meeting, but not before controversy with the incumbent Union President.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• University Royal Naval Unit (URNU) - organisational counterpart in the Royal Navy
• University Air Squadron (UAS) - organisational counterpart in the Royal Air Force
• Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme

Notes

References

• G.J. Eltringham. Nottingham University Officers' Training Corps 1909-1964. Privately published. 1964.
• Col. F.H.L. Errington. Inns of Court Officers Training Corps During the Great War. Naval and Military Press. New edition of 1920 edition. 2001.
• Hew Strachan. History of the Cambridge University Officers Training Corps. Midas Books. 1976. ISBN 978-0-85936-059-3.
• Harold C.A. Hankins. A History of the Manchester and Salford Universities Officers Training Corps 1898-2002. DP & G Military Publishers. 2002.
• Herbert John Johnston. The Queen's University (Belfast) Contingent of the Officers Training Corps: Sixty years of the O.T.C.: diamond jubilee 1908-1968. Queen's University OTC. 1968.
• Roger Talbot Willoughby. Military History of the University of Dublin and its Officers' Training Corps 1910-22. Medal Society of Ireland. 1989. ISBN 978-0-9513869-0-3.
• University of London. University of London Officers Training Corps, Roll of War Service 1914-1919. Privately published? 2010. ISBN 978-1-177-07206-9.

See also

• Reserve Officers' Training Corps

External links

• UOTC official page on the Army website
• ULOTC - website for the University of London Officers Training Corps
• ULOTC archives - University of London Officers Training Corps archives
• COMEC - Council of Military Education Committees, who liaise between universities and the British Armed Forces