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Uotc
Hi, everyone. I've just been looking at the UOTC website (army.mod.uk/uotc). Because think i want to join the RAF (and probably not the army), I was wondering whether the UOTC would be of great use to me, as it is an army organisation, or is it useful for all the services. Would RAF recruiters be impressed, and would it enhance my application? Thanks.
(Alternatively, I could just go to a uni with a UAS)
(Alternatively, I could just go to a uni with a UAS)
Reply 1
11
UAS is harder to get into, a UAS may take about 15 a year but a UOTC may take 150 new people. Obviously if you can get into a UAS, brilliant, but look at the UOTC and Group A TA Officer Cadet, neither are as place competitive.
Reply 2
Agreed, there is a huge drop out rate in the UOTC, about 130 joined in my year, by the end of 4 years only about 12 were left, mainly consisting of the Army barmy, clinically insane and the nutters in the band!
Compared to the UAS in Edinburgh I would say we did alot more things in the UOTC, I had a few piping jollies for the RAF and got the impression not much happend. I don't know if that was just Edinburgh. I manged to get lots of skiing, parachuting, diving, crazy band trips and blowing lots up with the UOTC.
However I did find that it was a situation you were either in or out. There was a great group mentality, good or bad?
Personally I went to UOTC to play my Pipe in the Tattoo.
I have to say it was a great confidence boost to me. Prior to joining I was very shy, by the end I was doing my piping in my smalls! I had a BSM who would put me into situations which I would have ran from, he was a Sandhurst SgtMaj so no running from him! Top Bloke.
There has been the banter from the RAF and Army about what I am doing but no problems.
Compared to the UAS in Edinburgh I would say we did alot more things in the UOTC, I had a few piping jollies for the RAF and got the impression not much happend. I don't know if that was just Edinburgh. I manged to get lots of skiing, parachuting, diving, crazy band trips and blowing lots up with the UOTC.
However I did find that it was a situation you were either in or out. There was a great group mentality, good or bad?
Personally I went to UOTC to play my Pipe in the Tattoo.
I have to say it was a great confidence boost to me. Prior to joining I was very shy, by the end I was doing my piping in my smalls! I had a BSM who would put me into situations which I would have ran from, he was a Sandhurst SgtMaj so no running from him! Top Bloke.
There has been the banter from the RAF and Army about what I am doing but no problems.
Reply 3
If you want to join the RAF then sure it's a no brainer...... join the UAS.
Although there are less places (30 odd per year) the selection criteria is no longer as stringent as you don't have to be "aircrew fit" since you no longer fly the EFT syllabus. This is surely of more use than the OTC as you'd gain an insight into the service that you wish to join. With the new UAS format there should be more AT OTC style activities going on to keep you busy.
Finally, I don't know if others will agree with this, but if you seriously harbour ambition of being commissioned into the RAF then the UAS selection should pose np real problems for you. How you do in this will enable you to gauge your chance of success at OASC.
Although there are less places (30 odd per year) the selection criteria is no longer as stringent as you don't have to be "aircrew fit" since you no longer fly the EFT syllabus. This is surely of more use than the OTC as you'd gain an insight into the service that you wish to join. With the new UAS format there should be more AT OTC style activities going on to keep you busy.
Finally, I don't know if others will agree with this, but if you seriously harbour ambition of being commissioned into the RAF then the UAS selection should pose np real problems for you. How you do in this will enable you to gauge your chance of success at OASC.
Reply 4
Defnek I was OTC and am applying to join the RAF, it hasnt caused any problems and the experiences I had in OTC have been very helpful for my aplication, adv training trips, leadership experience, a taste of mil life, if you want to fly then obviuosly the UAS is the choice but if its other bracnhes then maybe the OTC could offer you more in the short term. The OTC in its initial year does basic mil training then in your secoind year you move on to the serious leadership stuff ie being section, platoon cmdrs and get lots of hands on experience in field weekends whihc can only hold you in good stead for any mil job.
The onlything I could comment on about the switch was that being in OTC you pick up lots of general army info without really trying and a good basic idea of the army structure. I had no idea of the RAF structure etc, how its organised, what planes it uses etc etc, being in a UAS and just being around RAF life you would pick up that knowldege and save yourself a job (and lots of questions!) later.
Stavross, funny that you mentioned that group mnetality thing, thats one of the things whihc put me off by the time i got to my 3rd/4th year if your not part of the JUO select crew you tend to be ''out' slightly. I was in Tayforth, just up the road from you and we did a lot of adv training. The UAS did a bit but my impression was it was more down to you to go and get youself on ski trips etc.
The onlything I could comment on about the switch was that being in OTC you pick up lots of general army info without really trying and a good basic idea of the army structure. I had no idea of the RAF structure etc, how its organised, what planes it uses etc etc, being in a UAS and just being around RAF life you would pick up that knowldege and save yourself a job (and lots of questions!) later.
Stavross, funny that you mentioned that group mnetality thing, thats one of the things whihc put me off by the time i got to my 3rd/4th year if your not part of the JUO select crew you tend to be ''out' slightly. I was in Tayforth, just up the road from you and we did a lot of adv training. The UAS did a bit but my impression was it was more down to you to go and get youself on ski trips etc.
Reply 5
Yes, I did find that if you were not part of the group you would be shunned by the JUO crew and even some of the staff.
Fortuanatly I was well known but managed to have chums outside the OTC.
I do think if you are going military and have been in OTC, UAS alot of attention will be directed to your imput, how was your attendance, what did you do. I know of one bod who was not a JUO went for RCB, he failed, areas of concern were his CO didn't give a glowing report since he hardly knew the bod and he wasn't a JUO after 3 years, which the boarding officer was very questionable about why he was still and Ocdt.
Fortuanatly I was well known but managed to have chums outside the OTC.
I do think if you are going military and have been in OTC, UAS alot of attention will be directed to your imput, how was your attendance, what did you do. I know of one bod who was not a JUO went for RCB, he failed, areas of concern were his CO didn't give a glowing report since he hardly knew the bod and he wasn't a JUO after 3 years, which the boarding officer was very questionable about why he was still and Ocdt.
Reply 6
The key seemd to be to have a varied life, not just OTC friends/flatmtes. I had the promotion issue as well, I wasnt promoted mainly as we had a very large year that stayed on to the mtq2 stage and as i only joined in my second year they decided to promote people that had 2 yrs left with the unit, unlike a few of us who only had one. But basically I didn't stand out enough, a msitake I have definately learnt from!
I did quite a lot of OTC stuff, field ex's, adv training, so in my OASC interview it mainly concentrated on that rather than why i was still an Ocdt which would have been a tricker question to answer..
I did quite a lot of OTC stuff, field ex's, adv training, so in my OASC interview it mainly concentrated on that rather than why i was still an Ocdt which would have been a tricker question to answer..
Reply 7
Agreed, the bod I knew was just otc all the way. One would expect if you were army barmy you would be a top end JUO or even TA 2Lt.
I too have done lots of otc stuff, what other things were you asked, since when I went for the filter that was manily a chat about my antics in the Pipeband and Gun Troop, not really any time left for anything else.
I too have done lots of otc stuff, what other things were you asked, since when I went for the filter that was manily a chat about my antics in the Pipeband and Gun Troop, not really any time left for anything else.
Reply 8
They questioned why I switched from army - RAF which was not that surprising then they just moved onto the adv training as I did 2 overseas exped to Africa building a well and an irrigation project which I am happy to talk about for ages and luckily they picked up on that. They also asked about time commitments how often I went, what we had done on our summer camps, what the mtq2 exam involved etc.
Its funny but the OASC interview talked a lot more about OTC than my army RCB briefing interview did!
Its funny but the OASC interview talked a lot more about OTC than my army RCB briefing interview did!
Reply 9
defnek
OP
1
thanks, everyone. I was also wondering what the eyesight requirments are for UAS (seeing as you fly); i know to be a full pilot in the raf you need perfect vision. I am short-sighted, but not very much (i don't wear my glasses very often). thanks
Reply 10
defnek
OP
1
also, does the university of York have a UAS; i heard somwhere that it doe, but i can't remember where
Reply 11
It does indeed, think its shared with Leeds or maybe Hull but it definitely has one and they attend Freshers Fair, look in google for York+UAS.
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