Officer Training Corp
 

Hi Guys
Just thought anyone currently in the RAF could maybe add a few points on this. I have decided that if I definitely go to University it will be Queens and obviously they don't have an UAS. I thought the OTC should be good as not only do you get to travel, you earn money as well as gaining qualifications in leadership etc. Is the OTC respected from the boarding selection or do they see it as lack of commitment as I won't be joining a UAS. Any other related comments would be greatly appreciated.

Regards:ok:

Unless you're going there do to a medical degree, then yes, Id see no reason why not.

The only reason I say that is that MASUAS currently has 3 medics on bursary/cadetship/whatever the name is on it's strength who are at Queen's. I know this because I too am a member of that fine UAS.:ok:

However, any other degree, it would probably be best to go OTC. We had a boarding officer from OASC down to the sqn a couple of weeks ago to assist with interviews for our freshers, she explained that sometimes they suggest to people to join the OTC rather than the UAS. This would suggest either are perfectly valid.

And if you explain at your OASC board the reasoning why you went OTC rather than UAS, im sure nobody would complain. To view it as a 'lack of commitment' would be really unfair, if there is no UAS available to you, it's unrealistic to expect you to have joined it.

Im sure others will have far better things to say than I do though.

It will hopefully, all goes well be a history degree. It's interesting to hear there are some guys at your UAS from queens, has there been any doing a non medical degree like me who had the chance to join eg Salford UAS.

Well, as Im sure you can appreciate, the commute is a wee bit awkward.

Im fairly certain we only get medics on the sqn, thats because they tend to go to uni with their cadetship/bursary already sorted. Therefore they have to be affiliated somewhere. I've only ever met one of them.

Basically, unless you can get yourself a bursary, you're better off being in the OTC.

Unless you're willing to rethink where you go to uni.

There's another option - join the TA. Great experience, proper training and access to courses, really good bunch of guys and gals normally, and you can't be mobilised until you have graduated, by which time you'll have resigned and got through OASC....

Stay in the ranks, easily make Cpl in three years, really good grounding in military life. OTC is a bit girly, really, IMHO.

A number of mates successfully went this route while at university. One ended up as a Chinook pilot.

OTC is fine - its part of the TA and you can do as much (or as little) as you want. I went regularly, did lots of mil stuff and got an HGV licence too - you can (could then) even get a TA commission. The mil related stuff all helped no end at IOT - square bashing, bulling boots, knots and lashings, weapon drills etc. All counts as military service, there was a UAS in the same uni/city but there was no suggestion that I should have gone there. In fact any commitment to a club or activity is (was) seen as a positive factor.

Good advice guys! Would anyone know of the chance for RAF co-operation while at an OTC such as frequent visiting to RAF Aldegrove etc.

JAG,

Lots of good advice here. I wouldn’t worry too much about a perceived ‘lack of commitment’ in not joining a MASUAS! OASC are likely to look favourably on any opportunity to develop your personal and leadership skills whether with the OTC, TA or any other similar organization. However, if you apply for any sponsorship, and are successful, you will become a member of MASUAS. (Muppet has obviously forgotten about their last pilot bursar!)

Good luck at Queens.

Duncs:ok:

Interesting to hear about the pilot bursar from Queens. I think I am too late to apply for the bursary though. Would anyone be able add....:ok:

JAG,

You can apply for sponsorship at any time.

Duncs:ok:

Thanks
D'Sord do you know anything such as RAF co-operation with prospective RAF candidates at OTC.:ok:

personally i'd suggest the TA rather than OTC.

OTC's have - can have - a certain reputation for being home to a strain of humanity known as the complete to*ser.

do you really want to hang out with 19 year olds in red trousers braying everywhere?

join a TA unit, get yourself properly trained and sort out a short tour over the summer, or even a full six month job (build up and post op leave will take you to 11 months) by taking a sabatical.

it will give you vast experience, enormous confidence and you'll have a massive headstart at Cranwell.

(my TA unit, in Birmingham, were very understanding about academic deadlines and study time, they also sorted out a 3 month tour for the summer of years 2 and 3, giving me lots of cash and a fabulous addition to my CV.)

A world of opportunities...
 

Once you are in the big Green Machine and have your DPM's / MoD 90 / chit in lieu, the world is your filter-feeding mollusc.

Whilst at Uni I spent a year in Germany and did a bit of river crossing with the Bundeswehr in Marders, another guy at LUOTC got his Spanish Para wings whilst away. I also had the mixed pleasure of playing a shot-down Russian pilot during Ex Brave Defender, including a 'Blues Brother' moment courtesy of the Yorkshire Volunteers.

Your TA / OTC unit will have frequent opportunities to 'do stuff', according to how much time you can divert from your studies/wine/women/song (delete according to taste). IIRC, you cannot be comp mobilised in the TA if you are still a student, so your degree is protected.

As per the UAS, there is no RAuxAF presence in NI but 602 Sqn in Glasgow might be prepared to cover your travel costs to and from training. NI has a range of TA units, including a detachment of 23 Intelligence & Security Company, a Battery of Light Guns (Royal Artillery) and of course the Royal Irish Rangers.

If you want to go on exercise with the RAF during your Summer /Winter hols, a polite phone call or letter to the RAF Sqn's Adjutant will open alot of doors. Tell your own Unit Chain of Command first of your intentions and keep them in the loop, you'll most likely get paid for going away too !

Hope this helps.

FP

Whilst at Coleraine, prior to joining the RAF, Mrs WhiteOvies was with the Artillery TA and had an extremely enjoyable time. Training was excellent and gave her a lot of confidence prior to IOT. She also spent a significant amount of time parachuting from mil aircraft and meeting lots of interesting people along the way. A great way to broaden your military experience and it will give you an understanding of the guys on the ground whilst you are flying above them (hopefully).

The extra money helps for a student but like all these things (OTC/URNU/UAS etc) you get as much out of it as you put in, so crack on and enjoy it.:ok:

Most TA units draw recruits in from a wide range range of backgrounds - in my TA squadron we had lads who were casual labourers through to the landed gentry, with and without titles. Once inside the gates we pretty much left all that behind, and the craic was superb. The regt had a very real role in the wartime orbat, and that was a massive motivator.

OTCs on the other hand are at worst a drinking club, and at best they'll never be a fighting unit. By definition all the guys and gals will be undergraduates aged 18-25. You'll mix with them and their type by being at uni, but you won't meet the lads I mentioned above in the OTC.

The fact that you've served in the ranks should be very useful as a baby officer - you'll learn loads and it will show.

As mentioned, if you put the effort in, it will be re-paid - both in your wallet and your experience.

Good advice there Guys, don't know if I would join the TA as I think my Uni time could be damaged. I think the OTC will be the one as you do get to travel and you do get paid whenever you attend. You also get to alot of places that the UAS can't fund such as trips to Canada, Italy and Norway(trips that QUOTC have made). The letter to the RAF is a good tip as I want to have some contact because I want this asthma mis-diagnosis to be put to oneside so I can focus on aircrew.:ok:

Sounds good but impossible for me.

JAG,

Why impossible (other than you can't join - yet!)? Muppet's sqn recently had a final year pilot bursar who completed his flying training from Ulster. The mil pay for your travel and most of the adventurous training takes place during academic holidays.

Never say never.

Duncs

:ok:

When I was at MASUAS (staff) some years ago we had a number of medical students who, as the rules were then, had to join the UAS because they were on cadetships ie on RAF Pay. They were way too busy to play a useful part in the life and work of the UAS and they were taking up slots that could have been filled by people who did have the time to turn up! One year the CO wote on a medical cadet's annual report "I have never met this officer"!