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Sheffield UOTC
Welcome to the home page of the University of Sheffield Officer Training Corps.
Do you like a challenge?
Do you enjoy having a good time?
Do you want to get more out of university than a degree? The University of Sheffield Officer Training Corps (SUOTC) provides both opportunity and challenge for students to develop their personal skills whilst providing the individual with an insight into Her Majesty's Armed Forces.
What is SUOTC?
Sheffield is one of nineteen contingents which make up the Officer Training Corps. It is part of the TA and offers students the opportunity to join as potential officers or officer cadets. You will undertake a wide variety of activities including 'green' or military training, adventurous training, sporting events...and the odd bit of socialising.
Who Can Join?
The OTC welcomes all those who are keen to take up the challenge of being part of the unit. No prior military experience is needed. Obviously former members of the ACF and CCF are attracted to the OTC and may well pass through training more quickly and be expected to help others with the benefit of their knowledge. Individuals, male or female, who are interested in joining must be:
- between 18 and 26 years of age
- a British citizen
- physically fit
- have two or more years of study to do at either the University of Sheffield or Sheffield Hallam University
Commitment and Pay
Joining the OTC commits you to no more than three years as an Officer Cadet (OCdt). The OTC takes into account that your first priority is to your university degree and as such will make every effort to ensure that you are not distracted from these studies. Unit training takes place on Wednesday evenings during term time and additionally on several weekends during each semester, except during examination periods.
As a member of a TA unit, you will receive an appropriate rate of pay:
- 1st Year Officer Cadet - £ 32.39 per day
- 2nd Year Officer Cadet - £ 36.71 per day
- 2nd Lieutenant (TA) - £ 55.22 per day
- An annual TA Bounty is also payable, on completion of mandatory training tests and attendance at Annual Camp. This commences at £120 and rises to £170 in the third year.
- Travel expenses are also re-imbursed
Military Training
 The content of the military training is determined by previous military experience (or in the case of the majority of students, the total lack of previous experience!):
- First Year students are normally posted to B (or Basic) Company. Here you will be taught a range of basic military skills including map-reading, first-aid, field-craft, and weapon-handling, culminating in an assessment, known as MTQ 1. This knowledge allows all officer cadets to take a full and active part in annual summer camp which is held at the end of each academic year.
- Students in their second year of training are posted to A (Advanced) Company where they continue to develop skills learned in B Company and acquire further tactical, leadership and managerial skills, leading to the MTQ 2 assessment. A successful pass earns a rise in pay and the opportunity to obtain a City and Guilds Award.
· Students in their third or subsequent years of study are posted to D (Development) Company. In D Company there is the opportunity to return to A or B Companies as an assistant instructor, attend specialist Company training and participate in other adventure training/leadership related activities.
- For all students there are also opportunities to learn more sophisticated military skills under the guidance of TA or Regular units, represent the unit at Sport, and learn or develop skills in a variety of outdoor pursuits. Established favourites are climbing (we have individuals who are Army Champions), trekking and canoeing. Every effort is made to qualify students as Instructors
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Advanced Application of Training – The Cambrian Patrol
The Cambrian Patrol exercise normally takes place during late October/early November each year and is the British Army’s premier patrolling competition open to teams from the Regular and Territorial Army, and overseas. The exercise is designed for soldiers and commanders to gain experience of patrol operations in adverse, yet realistic conditions and is both physically and mentally demanding. Patrols must cover approximately 45 KM on foot carrying full equipment. Individual and leadership skills are thoroughly tested over rough terrain, often in inclement weather. Battle procedure, navigation, fieldcraft, obstacle crossing, first aid and casualty evacuation procedure, communications skills, AFV recognition and the firing of personal weapons are also tested during the course of the exercise.
Teams can achieve one of four grades for the Cambrian Patrol and on completion of the route each team will receive a certificate – completion alone is no mean feat and many fail to do this. Depending on how many points the teams score on the patrol they will be awarded either Bronze, Silver or Gold medals. Historically, UOTC Teams with their fit and highly motivated personnel have done well. In 2003 SUOTC were awarded a Silver Medal, a significant achievement as only 50% of teams even finished the course.
SUOTC does participate in the Cambrian Patrol and training tends to start after the Easter vacation period, primarily taking the form of fitness and military training, with numerous trips to Winn Hill in the Peaks. Although Winn Hill is not that high, running up and down it with a full Bergen is good training for the gradients and terrain that are encountered during the competition itself in the Welsh countryside!
During annual camp, the Cambrian Patrol team also provides a dynamic enemy force. When not dying during exercise play, the team conduct numerous recce/other missions against the friendly forces!
Sporting Activities
Sheffield UOTC prides itself on being able to offer a wide range of sporting and adventurous activities. The unit has active hockey, rugby, football, climbing and orienteering teams for both men and women. These teams have successfully taken part in Brigade competitions, inter-unit 'friendlies' and other competitions. So, whether you consider yourself a pro or an amateur, SUOTC has something for you!
Adventurous Training
Where possible, adventure training activities and outings are also organised, taking advantage of the Peak District, the Lake District and Welsh mountains and even further afield, using the unit's integral transport.
Exercise BOURNE NORTHERN – South Africa Jul 05
Exercise BOURNE NORTHERN was an adventurous training exercise conducted in South Africa. 24 members of the OTC took part in the exercise. Trekking was conducted in the Southern Drakensburg Mountains, with the main trek being the 5 day Giants Cup Hiking Trail. Other parts of the exercise involved a battlefield tour of Isandwana and Rorke's Drift, two cultural tours (a rural Zulu village and Soweto) and a safari.
Social
Social evenings are an integral part of life at Sheffield UOTC. Whether after a training evening, or a challenging weekend, a social evening allows all those involved to unwind and relax. We benefit from our own Officers’ Mess, which allows us the freedom to run it largely as we choose; opening times, decorations and bar prices. The social evenings occur in a variety of formats from formal black tie dinners to themed nights, to a quiet drink catching up with friends. These evenings are held within the barracks which is well located close to a very lively city centre!
Interpretations within a theme are only limited by imagination and each year theme nights such as Halloween or St Patrick's Day never fail to inspire weird and wonderful costumes! The evenings are often interspersed with mess games encouraging healthy competition between the companies, though it is claimed that none can beat the invincible D Company!
In contrast, formal dinners add another dimension to unit social evenings. The dinners provide opportunities to dust off a dinner jacket or splash out on a new dress, and it’s a nice change from the usual student 'beans on toast'. Formal dinners, such as the Contingent Dinner allows the whole unit and invited guests, to come together giving an insight into the etiquette and traditions of the Armed Forces.
In fact, social evenings at SUOTC are so good, that many past members take the opportunity to return in the form of the popular Shark Ball Reunion Dinner!
Support To Charities
Throughout the training year Sheffield UOTC organises and undertakes a range of charity events aimed at raising money for several different organisations. The main Fund raising event for the year is carried out during Exercise UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE.
This was a Contingent effort involving teams of Officer Cadets completing a course of around 44 miles in and around the Sheffield and Peak District area. The route took people out into the heart of the Peaks following a pre-designated route over a number of hills. Groups set out over several hours on the Friday evening with the final team leaving around 11.30 pm.
Ten teams completed the course, with the running team coming in first after a weary 14 hours! The event was extremely challenging for many but immensely satisfying for all, who learned more about themselves and the importance of team work. In terms of fundraising, individuals gathered sponsorship and a raffle took place. In all, the Unit raised £4500 which was divided between a local charity, St Luke's Hospice and The Army Benevolent Fund.
In addition to this Contingent effort a number of individuals carried out fund raising activities; in particular two Officer Cadets participated in a number of marathons this year in support of various charities.
What Do I Get Out of the UOTC?
- SUOTC attracts like-minded individuals keen to make the most out of their time at university. Judging by years past you are likely to make some of your best and most trusted friends at OTC.
- Those students who have successfully completed MTQ 2, may apply to the for the award of the City and Guilds Leadership Award, which counts as a Level 4 NVQ and demonstrates skills in five core areas – leadership, organisation and leadership, communication, teamwork and analysis & problem solving. At such a competitive time for graduates, these skills will be invaluable for inclusion on your CV - whatever your chosen future profession.
- For those committed to Adventurous Training, there is the opportunity to gain new qualifications and skills, extend and consolidate existing ones and to become a qualified Instructor.
Whilst we emphasise that the UOTC is not a recruiting exercise, it does offer the officer cadet an unrivalled opportunity to become familiar with Her Majesty's Forces, either through the OTC itself and contact with its experienced Regular and Territorial staff, or through attachments and familiarisation visits to other units. In the past twelve months, Officer Cadets have had the chance to visit both Royal Navy and RAF facilities. Should anyone decide to pursue a commission in the Army, Navy or Air Force (in either a reserve or regular capacity) the OTC is on hand to advise and assist you
How to Find Out More
For more information contact:
RAWO
Sheffield UOTC
Somme Barracks
Glossop Road
Sheffield S10 2HU
Tel: (0114) 252 6315
E-mail Sheffielduotc-cc@tanet.mod.uk
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