Freshers' Fairs

The process is simple.  Current OUOTC Officer Cadets will be present at the following Freshers' Fairs; look out for us and come and ask any questions you may have.

Meeting us at one of the Freshers' Fairs is your first chance to register your interest in joining OUOTC.  Once we have your details we will be able to inform you of upcoming events and whether you have been invited to attend our Selection Weekend.  

If for whatever reason you miss us at your Freshers' Fair you can still contact us directly with your name, university, length of course, and contact details.  However, you must attend one of the Open Evenings if you are to stand a chance of being selected to attend the Selection Weekend.  

NB: The OTC does not recruit or induct at any other time during the year.  

Open Evenings

The next stage will see you visiting Falklands House in Oxford for one of our Open Evenings.  This year there are 2 separate evenings both beginning at 1830: the first on Tuesday 29 September for students at Oxford Brookes and the University of Gloucestershire; the second on Tuesday 13 Oct for students at the University of Oxford, Reading University and The Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester.  Here, you will get a chance to meet current Officer Cadets and Staff and will be shown around a host of stands which describe and highlight the various activities you will be involved in.  Afterwards there will be a chance to chat more informally in the bar over a drink.  

Selection Weekend

The final stage will see you invited to attend our selection weekend at The Defence Academy, Shrivenham.  The weekend is challenging and exciting and will involve a series of activities designed to assess whether you are suitable for a place at OUOTC.  You will complete and deliver a short presentation, take part in group activities, do some form of leadership task as well as having a short medical and physical assessment.  

You MUST be able to commit to attending this weekend if you wish to join OUOTC.  

Commitment

Joining OUOTC involves some work and commitment on your part, but we will guide you through the process.  As long as you have at least 2 years of a degree left to study, are a full time student in our catchment area, and satisfy our medical, fitness, and nationality requirements, we would be delighted to hear from you.  

Previous military experience is not required to join OUOTC.  Volunteers normally sign up for the three years but can resign at anytime for any reason.  

Most Officer Cadets enjoy the training and the insights they gain into military life so much that they see it through.  For many, it also forms the basis of their social life while at university and gives them stability and a supportive group of friends while away from home  

We realise that academic studies must come first so OUOTC training and exercises are structured around the academic calendar.  

During the academic term, OUOTC trains on Tuesday evenings (1830-2030) in Falklands House, Oxford and on several weekends.  

Most activities take place during the winter and spring terms plus a two-week summer camp, which is scheduled early in the holiday to allow for other work and leisure commitments.  

Having successfully completed basic training, the amount of time cadets commit to TA activities depends on the amount of time that can be spared.  However, prospective Officer Cadets should be able to commit to attending 8 drill nights every Tuesday during term time in addition to 3-4 weekends per term.  

There are a whole host of other activities that Officer Cadets can get involved in and this very much depends on the time an individual has to commit.  These range from social events to Battlefield Studies, charity fundraising, internal magazine/newsletter production, training support to OTC, TA and Regular Army training, and leadership & teamwork development projects.  

 

Contact

If you have any further questions, do not hesitate to contact us.

Oxford UOTC
Falklands House
Oxpens Road
OXFORD
OX1 1RX

01865 255341
OxfordOTC-Adjt@mod.uk