Officers Training Corps
Encyclopedia
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 minority of OTC members go on to further train, and subsequently, commission as officers in the Regular or Territorial Army. However, in recent years there has been a greater effort at OTC's 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
; 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" with "...some of the cheapest drink on campus.".
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.
in 1908 to remedy a critical shortage of officers during the South African War (1899–1902). Initially it had a senior division, in eight universities, and a junior division, in 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 they began to increase in strength and peaked in 1938 during the Munich Crisis, and in the Second World War they again became officer producing units for the army. In 1948, the senior 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
.
, with its own cap badge
and stable belt
.
Some OTC units do not provide specialised training, others 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 OTC.
OTC members are classed as Officer Cadet
s (OCdt) and are "Group B" members of the Territorial Army (the same group as CCF(Army)
and ACF
officers) and from October 2009 UOTC OCdts to April 2010 they were not paid for undertaking training, since April 2010 some payment has been re-started. They are neither trained nor liable for mobilised (active) service and do not receive the same annual bounty payment as members of the TA proper. OCdts can gain appointments to Junior Under Officer
(JUO) and Senior Under Officer
(SUO) and can also apply to the Army Officer Selection Board (AOSB) which, if they pass, leads to the opportunity to attempt the TA Commissioning Course (TACC) 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.
Territorial Army Sponsored Officers (TASOs) are members of Group A TA units attached to UOTCs while they study at university as such they receive the higher rates of pay and bounty of members of the mainstream TA. They wear the uniform of their parent unit while serving with a UOTC.
The officers and non-commissioned officer
s, who function as instructors and administrative and support staff, are a mixture of Regular Army and Territorial Army (including Non Regular Permanent Staff
). These members of UOTC training staff continue to be paid.
'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.
Through a subsequent motion passed through the Union Council the decisions made at the Annual General Meeting were ratified, however the ban was subsequently overturned by a large majority in following year's AGM of 27 February 2009.
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. However, this proposal failed.
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.
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
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 minority of OTC members go on to further train, and subsequently, commission as officers in the Regular or Territorial Army. However, in recent years there has been a greater effort at OTC's 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
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps
Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps
The Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps is the United States Army component of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. It is the largest ROTC program, with 20,000 ROTC cadets in 272 ROTC programs at major universities throughout the United States.The modern Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps...
; 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" with "...some of the cheapest drink on campus.".
In 2011 an MoD study recommended the downgrading of UOTCs to sub-units (commanded by a Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
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.
History
Although some UOTC can trace their origins even earlier, the modern OTC was founded during the Haldane ReformsHaldane Reforms
The Haldane Reforms were a series of far-ranging reforms of the British Army made from 1906 to 1912, and named after the Secretary of State for War, Richard Burdon Haldane...
in 1908 to remedy a critical shortage of officers during the South African War (1899–1902). Initially it had a senior division, in eight universities, and a junior division, in public schools. During the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, 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 they began to increase in strength and peaked in 1938 during the Munich Crisis, and in the Second World War they again became officer producing units for the army. In 1948, the senior divisions became part of the Territorial Army and women were accepted for the first time with the formation of Women's Royal Army Corps
Women's Royal Army Corps
The Women's Royal Army Corps was the corps to which all women in the British Army except medical, dental and veterinary officers and chaplains and nurses belonged from 1949 to 1992.-History:The...
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
Combined Cadet Force
The Combined Cadet Force is a Ministry of Defence sponsored youth organisation in the United Kingdom. Its aim is to "provide a disciplined organisation in a school so that pupils may develop powers of leadership by means of training to promote the qualities of responsibility, self reliance,...
. For the next twelve years until its abolition in 1960, the corps aim was to prepare students for National Service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
.
Present day
There are 19 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 regimentRegiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
, with its own cap badge
Cap badge
A cap badge, also known as head badge or hat badge, is a badge worn on uniform headgear and distinguishes the wearer's nationality and/or organisation. The wearing of cap badges is a convention commonly found among military and police forces, as well as uniformed civilian groups such as the Boy...
and stable belt
Stable belt
A stable belt is an item of uniform used in the armed forces of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries. Stable belts or similar derivatives are also worn by the armed forced of other nations such as Denmark....
.
Some OTC units do not provide specialised training, others 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 OTC.
OTC members are classed as Officer Cadet
Officer Cadet
Officer cadet is a rank held by military and merchant navy cadets during their training to become commissioned officers and merchant navy officers, respectively. The term officer trainee is used interchangeably in some countries...
s (OCdt) and are "Group B" members of the Territorial Army (the same group as CCF(Army)
Combined Cadet Force
The Combined Cadet Force is a Ministry of Defence sponsored youth organisation in the United Kingdom. Its aim is to "provide a disciplined organisation in a school so that pupils may develop powers of leadership by means of training to promote the qualities of responsibility, self reliance,...
and ACF
Army Cadet Force
The Army Cadet Force is a British youth organisation that offers progressive training in a multitude of the subjects from military training to adventurous training and first aid, at the same time as promoting achievement, discipline, and good citizenship, to boys and girls aged 12 to 18 and 9...
officers) and from October 2009 UOTC OCdts to April 2010 they were not paid for undertaking training, since April 2010 some payment has been re-started. They are neither trained nor liable for mobilised (active) service and do not receive the same annual bounty payment as members of the TA proper. OCdts can gain appointments to Junior Under Officer
Under Officer
Under Officer is an appointment held by senior cadets at some Commonwealth officer training establishments and in University Officers' Training Corps in the United Kingdom, and also a rank used in some Commonwealth cadet forces.-Australia:...
(JUO) and Senior Under Officer
Under Officer
Under Officer is an appointment held by senior cadets at some Commonwealth officer training establishments and in University Officers' Training Corps in the United Kingdom, and also a rank used in some Commonwealth cadet forces.-Australia:...
(SUO) and can also apply to the Army Officer Selection Board (AOSB) which, if they pass, leads to the opportunity to attempt the TA Commissioning Course (TACC) with the goal of a commission as a Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
. Cadets have no obligation to join the armed forces when they leave university and can resign from the OTC at any time.
Territorial Army Sponsored Officers (TASOs) are members of Group A TA units attached to UOTCs while they study at university as such they receive the higher rates of pay and bounty of members of the mainstream TA. They wear the uniform of their parent unit while serving with a UOTC.
The officers and non-commissioned officer
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
s, who function as instructors and administrative and support staff, are a mixture of Regular Army and Territorial Army (including Non Regular Permanent Staff
Non Regular Permanent Staff
In the British Army, Non Regular Permanent Staff are members of the Territorial Army who are employed on a full-time basis. They usually fill vital unit administration or quartermaster roles and are most often long-service TA veterans or retired regulars. They hold military rank and wear uniform...
). These members of UOTC training staff continue to be paid.
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.Training
Whilst training is organised by each unit separately, there is a general syllabus that is covered by all UOTCs.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. Those who go on to join the regular army from UOTC undertake the same training as those with no military experience.Individual Units
| Recruits From | External Website | |
|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen UOTC | Aberdeen University, Robert Gordon University and Aberdeen College | http://www.army.mod.uk/UOTC/5481.aspx |
| Queen's UOTC | Queen's University Belfast and the University of Ulster | http://www.army.mod.uk/UOTC/5480.aspx |
| Birmingham UOTC | University of Birmingham, Birmingham City University, University College Birmingham, Warwick, Aston, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Worcester, Keele, Staffordshire University and Harper Adams University College | http://www.army.mod.uk/UOTC/5470.aspx |
| Bristol UOTC | University of Bristol, University of Bath, University of the West of England and Bath Spa University | http://www.army.mod.uk/UOTC/5471.aspx |
| Cambridge UOTC | Cambridge University, The University Of East Anglia and Anglia Ruskin University | http://www.army.mod.uk/UOTC/5472.aspx |
| City of Edinburgh UOTC | University of Edinburgh, Napier University, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh College of Art, Scottish Agricultural College and Queen Margaret's University | http://www.army.mod.uk/UOTC/5483.aspx |
| East Midlands UOTC | Nottingham University, Nottingham Trent University, Northampton University, Leicester University, Derby University, De Montfort University, Loughborough University, University of Lincoln | http://www.army.mod.uk/UOTC/13827.aspx |
| Exeter UOTC | Exeter University, Plymouth University, Marjon | http://www.army.mod.uk/UOTC/5681.aspx |
| Glasgow and Strathclyde UOTC Glasgow and Strathclyde Universities Officer Training Corps Glasgow and Strathclyde Universities Officer Training Corps is one of nineteen University Officer Training Corps in the United Kingdom and one of four in Scotland, drawing recruits from higher education institutions in and around the city of Glasgow and the wider Strathclyde region in west-central... |
Glasgow University, Strathclyde University, Glasgow Caledonian University, University of the West of Scotland | http://www.army.mod.uk/UOTC/5485.aspx |
| Leeds UOTC | Leeds Universities, Bradford University, Huddersfield University, York University and Hull University | http://www.army.mod.uk/UOTC/5473.aspx |
| Liverpool UOTC | University of Liverpool, Lancaster University, Liverpool John Moores University, Hope College, University of Central Lancashire, Edge Hill University College, St. Martins College, Chester College | http://www.army.mod.uk/UOTC/10766.aspx |
| Manchester and Salford UOTC | University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Salford | http://www.army.mod.uk/UOTC/5475.aspx |
| Northumbrian UOTC | Universities of Newcastle, Northumbria, Durham, Teesside and Sunderland | http://www.army.mod.uk/UOTC/5476.aspx |
| Oxford UOTC | Oxford University, Oxford Brookes University, Reading University, Royal Agricultural College Cirencester, The University of Gloucestershire and the Royal Military College Shrivenham | http://www.army.mod.uk/UOTC/5477.aspx |
| Sheffield UOTC | University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University | http://www.army.mod.uk/UOTC/5478.aspx |
| Southampton UOTC | University of Winchester, Solent University, Bournemouth University, Southampton University, Portsmouth University | http://www.army.mod.uk/UOTC/5479.aspx |
| Tayforth UOTC | St. Andrews University, Dundee University, Abertay University, Stirling University | http://www.army.mod.uk/UOTC/5487.aspx |
| ULOTC University of London Officer Training Corps |
Anglia, Birkbeck, Brighton, Brunel, Bucks Chiltern, Camberwell College of Arts, (University of the Arts), Canterbury, Central School of Speech & Drama, Central St Martin's School of Art & Design (University of the Arts), Chelsea College of Art & Design (University of the Arts), City Courtauld Institute of Fine Art, East London, Essex, Goldsmith's, Greenwich, Hertfordshire, Heythrop, Imperial, Kent, King's College, Kingston, London Business School, London College of Communication (University of the Arts), London College of Fashion (University of the Arts), London Metropolitan, LSE, Luton, Middlesex, Queen Mary, Roehampton, Royal Academy of Music, Royal College of Art, Royal College of Music, Royal Holloway, Royal Veterinary College, SOAS, South Bank, St Georges, St Mary's, Surrey, Sussex, Thames Valley, UCL - Gower Street and Royal Free, Westminster | http://www.army.mod.uk/UOTC/5682.aspx http://ulotc.co.uk/ |
| Wales UOTC | Cardiff University, UWIC, Aberystwyth, Bangor, Swansea, University of Glamorgan, Wrexham, Chester. | http://www.army.mod.uk/UOTC/5488.aspx |
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.Bans
In March 2008, a motion was passed during the University College London UnionUniversity College London Union
University College London Union , founded in 1893, has a credible claim to be England's oldest students' union. It was formed with the following objectives: "the promotion of social intercourse and of the means of recreation, physical and mental, of the students of University College, and the...
'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.
Through a subsequent motion passed through the Union Council the decisions made at the Annual General Meeting were ratified, however the ban was subsequently overturned by a large majority in following year's AGM of 27 February 2009.
This coincides with similar actions taken at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, Goldsmiths College
Goldsmiths College
Goldsmiths, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom which specialises in the arts, humanities and social sciences, and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It was founded in 1891 as Goldsmiths' Technical and Recreative Institute...
. The University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
followed with a proposal to ban military recruitment which also received press attention. However, this proposal failed.
Bans were also put in place at the University of Stirling
University of Stirling
The University of Stirling is a campus university founded by Royal charter in 1967, on the Airthrey Estate in Stirling, Scotland.-History and campus development:...
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.
See also
- University Royal Naval UnitUniversity Royal Naval UnitA University Royal Naval Unit is a Royal Navy training establishment connected to a university, or a number of universities concentrated in one area...
(URNU) - organisational counterpart in the Royal NavyRoyal NavyThe Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service... - University Air SquadronUniversity Air SquadronUniversity Air Squadrons are training units of the Royal Air Force which primarily provide basic flying training, force development and adventurous training to undergraduate students at British universities...
(UAS) - organisational counterpart in the Royal Air ForceRoyal Air ForceThe Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world... - Defence Technical Undergraduate SchemeDefence Technical Undergraduate SchemeThe Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme is a university sponsorship programme for students who want to join the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force or Engineering and Science branch of the MOD Civil Service as technical officers after they graduate; Army sponsored students are destined...
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