At Liverpool UOTC we run a university club that is sponsored by the Army. Each year we select and train 140 students who want to improve their employability whilst at university and, more specifically, develop themselves as leaders.  In so doing we communicate the values, standards and career opportunities of the British Army in the hope that our students graduate as both good leaders and our champions in their chosen profession.    

With the increasing number of good degrees being attained by our students, we recognise the importance attached to "degree plus" activity that sets graduates apart in a very competitive marketplace. So in designing a leadership development programme that supports the academic syllabus and is CV enhancing, we have spent considerable time with the Careers/Employability departments and accrediting bodies to ensure that the additional time spent with the UOTC improves our students' chances of clinching good jobs on graduation.

Our training is both challenging and fun, and its variety ensures that we provide something for everyone.  It all starts at the very basic levels, but we can accelerate those with previous experience or qualifications through the programme.  Every aspect of the training (be it military training, adventure training, sport or the social programme) supports a 3-year development programme that comprises a 2-year learning phase and a one-year leading phase:

• Year 1 - Introducing Leadership
• Year 2 - Developing Leadership
• Year 3 - Performing Leadership

To achieve this students become officer cadets within platoons that compete for the unit's Challenge Cup on an annual basis.  As the students progress through the programme they move up the management hierarchy of the platoon, and, by the time they reach the third year, they will be leading either 8-man sections or 25-man platoons, as well as organising and running other unit events. Whilst we encourage students to join in their first year to reap the full benefit of the programme, we do allow students to join in their second year for the learning phase.

We structure our programme to suit the academic timetables of all our universities.  The minimum annual commitment we ask for is 12 mid-week training evenings, 5 weekends and a 2-week summer camp early in the summer holidays. 

The training evenings take place at the detachment bases from 1900 to 2200 hours on Tuesdays at Lancaster and on Wednesdays at Liverpool, whilst the training weekends, which are for the whole unit, can be on any military training area in the North of England.  We go further afield on summer camp choosing a training area anywhere in the UK or abroad which has an ample provision of exciting adventure training options.
 
We provide a package of opportunities and rewards that is unrivalled by any other university society.  Our students emerge with a better understanding of themselves, as better team players, more effective communicators and coaches, better planners, organisers and decision makers - in sum, they are extremely well equipped to lead and succeed once they graduate. 

Time with us does not end with graduation however. Through our Association of Alumni our people keep in touch with each other and help maintain the strong friendships that develop whilst serving. Most importantly, the Association is used as a network to help our graduates progress in the big wide world.
 
If you are tempted and would like to know more about our UOTC, then come and see us at our stand at your next Freshers' Fair, give us a call or simply come and visit us at Crawford Hall or Alexandra Barracks on a training evening. 

I look forward to meeting you.

David Young
Commanding Officer