News
July 19th 2018
East Midlands Officer Training Corps experience annual exercise
Officer Cadets visiting a memorial near the Somme on their annual exercise
Over 100 Officer Cadets and Staff have travelled to Kent then on to France to take part in the East Midlands Universities Officer Training Corps (EMUOTC) annual training exercise.
Exercise VALIANT EMU, that took place from 22 June to 7 July, is the culmination of a year of hard work and allowed those involved to put in to practice military-based skills they have learnt throughout the year.
Learning public order techniques
The deployment exercise was split into three elements including a scenario based peacekeeping exercise that saw Officer Cadets taking part in numerous activities designed to test and develop both their leadership and soldiering skills.
At the beginning of the soldiering exercise Officer Cadets were taught Public Order drills, Patrolling, house clearance and given an enemy scenario for the training. At this time, those attending were also taught about the many legal and ethical issues of peacekeeping operations.
Officer Cadet Molloy from the University of Leicester took part in the event and explained why he enjoyed the exercise: “Not only were we able to develop ourselves as leaders, but also our teamwork and military skills.”
Practicing urban combat skills
Officer Cadet Gaston-Penny from De Montfort University, commented; “As always, annual camp was a brilliant experience. We were able to show off the proficiencies we have gained throughout the year, and learn new skills such as public order and urban operations training. The unit’s emphasis on socialising with your mates was also great; no other university society can deliver all of those things at once.”
Following on from the exercise, the Officer Cadets had a chance to practice their skills with pistols and rifles on the range, before travelling to France for sobering experience studying the Somme Battlefield. The students studied particular elements of the fighting and reflected on the leadership and inspiration felt by soldiers in the Great War.
During a fully loaded march
To be able to join the UOTC, a nationally available element of the Army Reserve, you must be a university student able to pass selection. Selection at the East Midlands UOTC takes place at the beginning of the academic year, with candidates requiring to pass a medical exam, leadership tests and a physical fitness assessment.
“As always, annual camp was a brilliant experience. We were able to show off the proficiencies we have gained throughout the year, and learn new skills such as public order and urban operations training. "
