University Officer Training Corps (Army) - help!

i've got an offer for medicine next year at cambridge, but amongst all my grand plans for my time i was considering joining the UOTC (see thread title)

i was wondering if the OTC took up too much time for medics who i hear have packed weekly schedules. is there enough time to do anything else aside from the OTC, like playing gigs, or other sports?

if anyone knows a current officer cadet at cambridge who's reading medicine could they ask?

EDIT - i'm proficient at fieldcraft, skill at arms and basic leadership - does this mean i can miss out on some of the weekends needed in the MTQ1?

Reply 1

Ed~D

Well Im not a medic and have only been at Cambridge one term but I can probably shed some light on the subject.

First of all it is worth saying that I've had a fantastic time in the OTC so far, getting paid to have fun is not bad, especially when it's only £1 a pint in the bar :smile:

The training you do is far more intense (and enjoyable!) then average cadet exercises (I was one for 5years). One of the best aspects of OTC is the socialising as you get to make friends with people from other colleges and even universities (ARU and University of East Anglia (Norwich) are part of the OTC).

As far as time commitments are concerned you have to attend 3 out of 5 weekends to pass MTQ1, and one of these is actually after lectures finish! Fairly regular attendence at Tuesday evenings is also desirable and as the old saying goes, 'the more you put in, the more you get out'. The pay is also a decent incentive and I should have earnt around £270 this term. Personally I have attended everything but 1 weekend and have put an equal amount of time over to cross country running, so yes, you can certainly fit your degree and other bits and pieces in as well as OTC. Medicine will no doubt be hard work, but mathmos and Natscis usually have far more problems with training due to saturday lectures.

Previous military knowlege is definitely helpful and will enable you to breeze through a lot of activities, although some things may need to be unlearned (e.g. cocking SA80 with left hand, rather than right as per GP). Your section commander may well give you extra jobs (esp 2ic) to keep you busy. As an ex Cadet you will probably be encouraged to do MTQ 2 'fast track' at Easter. I certainly intend to do this as it opens the door to more training possibilities, not to mention an extra fiver a day.

Any other questions, just post or PM.

Reply 2

FadeToBlackout

It is definately possible.

I know a Classicist who does it, but unfortunately no medics. But the total workload is similar, if that helps at all.

Reply 3

Ticki

Engineers also manage it.

Reply 4

Ed~D

Ticki

Engineers also manage it.

Indeed, I'm an engineer. In fact Engineering is probably the most common subject in OTC.

Reply 5

Kaiser

I assume that that goes for the engineers at the UAS as well?

In terms of coping with workload as well I mean

Reply 6

Ed~D

Kaiser

I assume that that goes for the engineers at the UAS as well?

In terms of coping with workload as well I mean

I don't actually know any engineers in the UAS but I expect they cope fine. Most outdoors/ sports related clubs in Cambridge seem to have more than their fair share of engineers which must say something.

Reply 7

musicbloke

All the OTC people I know are ***** (to an extent)

MB

Reply 8

FadeToBlackout

Another fine, well balanced and well argued post from the house of Jacob... :smile:

But meh, I admire cutting to the chase.

Reply 9

musicbloke

FadeToBlackout

Another fine, well balanced and well argued post from the house of Jacob... :smile:

But meh, I admire cutting to the chase.

Fine - yes, well argued - no. There is no argument to have. Any argument would merely be tautology.

MB

Reply 10

boltcarrier

Ed~D

Well Im not a medic and have only been at Cambridge one term but I can probably shed some light on the subject.

First of all it is worth saying that I\'ve had a fantastic time in the OTC ...

cheers for this Ed

well, i got trained up using LSW so im good with the LHS cocking and the gas parts. what kinda cadet were you before OTC? im currently the sergeant major with the engineers cadets in london.

i was thinking of becoming an infanteer this time, but can anyone shed light on the difference in activity between engineer, infantry or armour officer cadets? for example, im quite keen at offroad driving, but how much range firing/OBUA/ambush/platoon battle drills would you do as part of the armour corps?