TA/UOTC recruitment?

[Devils Advocate]

Hello
I'm a First time poster, Long time lurker, who (quite unusually if most posts are to be believed) has ABSOLUTELY NO INTEREST WHATSOEVER IN ATTEMPTING TO JOIN A UNIT OF UKSF!


However, although still at school, I've turned 18 there recently, and am seriously looking at TA or possibly UOTC memebership next year, in Scotland, specifically around Aberdeen or Dundee.
(August/Sep. 03)

Although the offical Army websites are fairly good, I can't seem to get any info about TARVCA(?) in Scotland......... cam anyone help?

Also, If anyone has any experience/sales pitch for TA/UOTC units in these areas I would be very grateful if You could take the time out to post a wee reply.

Moreover on a more sensitive topic, coming from 'Norn Iron', what are the security restrictions/ attitudes towards recruting people coming from this area in UK mainland units?

Sorry if these seem like silly questions, but I have looked throguh telephone books/internet, and I was hoping to get a more unofficial or 'off the record' view that that of military recruiters.........................
if you don't ask......................

If you've read this far and can't help, cheers for the time anyway.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DA.

[K24io]

Dundee you say..... SAS have a reserve unit there... Oh righ,t not interested.

OTC aren't that bit, not the most professional lot but the training etc will fit in a lot better with Uni.

For actual unit details etc look at
http://www.ta.mod.uk/unit_locations_12.html
Apologies if you've already seen it.


RE NI - Not really a problem, the security search on you will be a bit more in depth and might take slightly longer but it won't affect your chances of getting or anything. Plenty of folk serving from NI.

There is an RMR unit in Dundee as well, up to you though.

Cheers,

Kev

Hello
I'm a First time poster, Long time lurker, who (quite unusually if most posts are to be believed) has ABSOLUTELY NO INTEREST WHATSOEVER IN ATTEMPTING TO JOIN A UNIT OF UKSF!


However, although still at school, I've turned 18 there recently, and am seriously looking at TA or possibly UOTC memebership next year, in Scotland, specifically around Aberdeen or Dundee.
(August/Sep. 03)

Although the offical Army websites are fairly good, I can't seem to get any info about TARVCA(?) in Scotland......... cam anyone help?

Also, If anyone has any experience/sales pitch for TA/UOTC units in these areas I would be very grateful if You could take the time out to post a wee reply.

Moreover on a more sensitive topic, coming from 'Norn Iron', what are the security restrictions/ attitudes towards recruting people coming from this area in UK mainland units?

Sorry if these seem like silly questions, but I have looked throguh telephone books/internet, and I was hoping to get a more unofficial or 'off the record' view that that of military recruiters.........................
if you don't ask......................

If you've read this far and can't help, cheers for the time anyway.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DA.

[Devils Advocate]

Cheers Kev, many thanks for the reply.

Q. is this your mug by any chance?
http://www.awe-outdoors.co.uk/jacket.jpg

UOTC definitly seems to be that bit more geared for study, only I have my doubts as to whether I would be considered 'Potential Officer/Cadet' material or not............

In terms of commitment, I won't really know until I start my course just how much exactly would be realistic?

e.g. found this too, your mob perhaps?
http://www.royal-marines.mod.uk/static/pages/2819.html
http://www.royalmarinesreserve.org

After trawling through the above, I can't really see me being able to hack the time commitment, although again maybe thats simply "psych'ing" yourself out at the beginning, who knows?
(e.g. the selection weekend requirements, I have tried and can meet the minimum standards for the lot- but not much more!- puff! and somehow can't see this being good enough, they'd really be scraping the barrel! )

As to security/vetting, given that it may well take longer then usual, would it be an idea to see if the local TAVRCA can begin that process now, or must all administartion be handled by the unit one were applying too?

Cheers for the time,
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DA

[K24io]

Yes thats my mug.
Yes that my unit.
No I don't smile. Ever.

If you are at uni then you are officer material for Army/Navy/RAF. Behind the lines can be a bit more of a management role than true leadership. Not my words, those of serving officers.

Depends what course you are doing mate, I was in 9-5 first two years but it has eased off now I'm in third year (just finishing, fantastic).

If you join OTC then leave and join RMR it will feel like a step up in soldiering. If you join RMR then OTC it will feel like a step down, even though you'll be an officer cadet not a recruit.

RMR Scotland are running a 'holding troop' at the moment. Potential recruits can come in and train apparently, I'm apparently in at as well but seem to be constantly lame with different injuries at the moment and fitness is slowly fading away. Why not phone them and see if you can pop in?


Can't really help you with security questions I'm afraid.

I think there is another similar thread kicking about at the minute, have a search for it.

[otc boy]

Hi DA,

I've coming up to completing my second year in OTC and I've had a cracking time, but i fancy something a bit more serious and two years is enough, so i'm trying 4 para in sept.

It is very easy to get into, and I've got plenty of NI mates in there. Infact theres probably about 20 NI lads and lasses in the unit.

The main part of OTC is the social life, and that and my mates is the only thing keeping me in the unit. I don't know about in other otc's but we've got plenty of girls in ours and this years intake saw an influx of hotties! Apart from that the military stuff is pretty good but it gets a bit lame after a while when you hear about what other units do. If you're serious about the military stuff there are events like the cambrian patrol which is far more hardcore than our normal training.

I think it is also really good because of the careers help you get from the staff who are all a mix of the different services, we've got staff from Life Guards, Queens ROyal Lancers, Engineers, RLC, Queens Lancs Regt, Cheshire Regt, Royal Anglian officer, REME. On summer camp were even having some training organised by 23 SAS.

It's good craic

[theparamancan]

4 para! Easy to get into? You say OTC boy...

Don't talk like that till you've passed P-Coy

Just you wait till september...

good luck mate

[otc boy]

no mate i wouldn't dream of talking about something i don't know...i meant OTC was easy to get in to, NOT 4 para!

apologise for the confusion

[Midshipman786]

lol i have to confess i only got into UOTC on my second go, injured myself on the gruelling 1.2mile run:P but i only joined cos URNU rejected me 2yrs in a row! got ineventually though, on my 3rd go when there was a new CO, old one didnt like me very much the w*nker.

[theparamancan]

sorry otc boy, i was being a mong and not reading properly

[Devils Advocate]

Hmmm.... many thanks for the replies.

1. So what are the exact recruiting standards then for Scottish UOTC's?
(e.g. 3.2Km run; Sit-up/Min.; Press-ups/min.; Jumping Jacks; Pull-ups, Etc.?)

Given the fact that I've tried and can pass the minimums for the RMR Selection, albeit at home over the weekend, would this be enough for UOTC standards?

2. Also, I have a major problem regarding eyesight - I wear glasses/sports lenses usually,
(6/60 L+R on Snellens Test, better then fully correctable to 6/5 L+R, but everything else fine.......)
Would this disqualify me automatically, espically if its supposed to be competitive entry, given high demand/application numbers?

3. I was told most of the UOTC units are capped at between 150 -300 during any academic year........correct or not?

4. Oh, and what is a "lecturette"?

5. Finally, should I wait until Freshers week to contact them, or try now?

If you know the answers to any of these questions call this number for a free.........
Only joking -I know I'm very demanding but if you doknow , giv'us a post please, cheers.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DA.

[sp10122]

Hey mate


Look, don't even bother with the OTC. Bunch of wanna be officers who do some meaningful trg but you'll cover what you do do at Sandbags anyway.

I commissioned last year and on my trade course we've got an ex RMR bloke, a cracking lad, me, ex int corps and also some OTC types. Well, fine but they've not gained anything extra we didn't do at Sandbags. Bit of AT maybe but that's about it

The RMR bloke....nails and a good lad.

Me...spent donkeys doing briefings and using GENFORCE working in all sorts of different HQs and jobs all over the place, including abroad. I held a real NCO rank, got paid more and learnt what it was like to be an NCO. Not to sit around drinking pimms before trying to talk down to soldiers as ahppened to me more than once with some OTC punter.

Whatever non-regular unit you go to....TA/reserves is good news. 4 PARA or RMR will test you physically and let you know how far you can push yourself as well as showing you some good soldiering. 21/23....good lads, don't think you're used as much sa you should be when you're in and you really need to be committed to it. Int Corps....regs are v understaffed so you'll get used as much as you can give to them. Not everyone's cup of tea as it's not very 'green' in a field soldiering sense. You'll learn shit loads though and be better placed than some staff officers after a couple of years, especially in terms of strategic and operational level warfare.

If you just want to sit on your arse pretending you're in the Army..go OTC. Do a real job mate, get yourself into a unit that'll really teach you something.


Best of luck old chap!!