Lancaster University

Lancaster

anyone thinking about joining the OTC? (officer training core)

for anyone that doesn't know what it is its like the TA (territorial army) for uni students. the only real difference is that no matter what you can't get sent off to war (iraq for example). i'm definatley thinking of joining. you get paid about £150 for a weekend exercise.

i think students from lancaster do the OTC with the liverpool regiment.

i know alot of people who are currently in it at different uni's and they love it.

anyone else thinking of joining?

(for more information just type "http://www.army.mod.uk/uotc/liverpool/index.htm" into your browser)

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Reply 1

JoeFen

I'd rather get stoned on a weekend.

Lancaster University

Lancaster

Visit website

Reply 2

luke88

JoeFen

I'd rather get stoned on a weekend.

On topic, I'd be interested, I'll have look at the website now.

Reply 3

nobodyishere888

I'd definately consider it...looks cool. Anyone know how many evenings a week it is and if it's all weekend or what?

Reply 4

foss

if you'd rather get stoned at the weekend then more fool you - but each to there own :smile:

its 1 nite training a week. and a weekend excercise every 2 weeks. the great thing about it is that you can pick and choose what you want to go to. so if you miss a weekend excercise it doesn't matter - but you will be expected to "catch up".

its standard army pay which increases each year. and there's a bonus at the end of each year (probably about £150).

plus it looks *****ing brilliant on your CV. and also there is a bar exclusive to OTC members (at the barracks i think) which is about £1 a pint :smile:

plus its a great way to make new friends.

i think its worth joining and then if its not for you then just leave. the 1st few weeks of training will be to weed out people who can't take the disipline or decide that its not to there liking.

hope that helps

Reply 5

luke88

How long does it last and why do we get paid for it when we won't be any use since we won't be sent to any missions?

Reply 6

floss

hey luke.. this would stop you being in so much debt by crimbo!!

Reply 7

RyanT

I don't get it either, why would they pay for soldiers who they can't get killed?

It sounds good, but i'll pass as discipline isn't my strong point lol :mad:

Reply 8

nobodyishere888

Isn't it hard to get in though? I was reading on the website that they usually recruit 100 students from 8 different univerisites for that particular one, which works out at around 12 students from each uni...not a lot.

(The bit below is copied from their website)

The LUOTC is based at 2 Training Centres in Liverpool and Lancaster. LUOTC normally recruits about 100 students, from 8 different universities and colleges in the Liverpool/Lancaster area, as well as other smaller catchment areas.

University of Liverpool
Lancaster University
Liverpool John Moores University
Hope College
University of Central Lancashire
Edge Hill University College
St. Martins College
Chester College

Reply 9

JoeFen

I hear they go for people with an IQ of below 30 too.

Reply 10

simatemcprimate

JoeFen

I hear they go for people with an IQ of below 30 too.

Isn't that the same IQ as a cabbage?

Reply 11

foss

well i think they hope that some people will join the armed forces after uni. but the skills that are learnt are also essential in any other job (leadership, teamworking etc).

don't worry about selection. from what i've been told the only people who they would say no to are people who are totally incompitent, weigh 20 stone, or have only one leg.

go to the freshers fair and ask all the questions you want. they will probably have better answers than i can give you. also you may aswell join because if you don't like it you can leave at any time.

don't worry about discipline either - its not as bad as you might think. learning to march is tough - but its quite fun (i was in the ACF for about 3 years (army cadet force)).

Reply 12

foss

Originally Posted by JoeFen
I hear they go for people with an IQ of below 30 too.

they'd accept you then, lol.

Reply 13

simatemcprimate

How will learning to march save your life in a combat situation?

Reply 14

JoeFen

foss

they'd accept you then, lol.

LOLZERS!!!!!

Reply 15

foss

How will learning to march save your life in a combat situation?

it won't but learning discipline is very important. if i was on an excercise and i didn't have my rifle with me at all times then i would get beasted and given a b*llocking. simply because it could save my life. drill is about drilling things into you, so you can do it without thinking (that includes keeping your rifle with you at all times)

Reply 16

JoeFen

Say for example in one of these combat situtations, two guys approached you from behind with knives, would you have no option (if you didn't have a rifle) to pull them both off?

Also, where does this 150 quid a weekend come from? The Government?

Reply 17

foss

Say for example in one of these combat situtations, two guys approached you from behind with knives, would you have no option (if you didn't have a rifle) to pull them both off?

whatever floats your boat mate - if your that way inclined :wink:

i guess it does come from the government. but i'm no expert

Reply 18

JoeFen

Absolute scum. Here, run about in army clothing doing drills for no apparant reason and get 150 quid for it.

I'd rather give it to the crackheads in my city centre.

Reply 19

Katius

i'm thinking about joining the LUAS (liverpool university air squardon) this year..i was gonna go for it last year but i thought i'd give myself a year to settle in! I think with the OTC you go to a number of selection weekends whereas with the UAS it's a series of interviews and a physical :s pretty scary! Any one else thinking of joining?