Page 110 - MERCIAN Eagle 2015

108
OTC (Officer Training Corps)
BIRMINGHAM UNIVERSITY OTC (Officer Training Corps)
University Officer Training Corps Birmingham (UOTC Birmingham) is a military organisation that develops the leadership ability, self-awareness and self- confidence of selected students throughout their time at University.
UOTC Birmingham was formed in 1900 and has since then provided students with a taste of Army life. Members gain a valuable insight into leadership and management and many go on to become officers in
the Regular Army or the Army Reserve, including within The Mercian Regiment.
The Glock
Officer Cadet (OCdt) Luke Meade
The Glock is eight inches long, black
and powerful; as such, it was a weapon many were excited to get their hands on. Upon first receiving the weapons, our training consisted of an even mix of basic weapon handling and photo-taking. First impressions were very positive. The Glock was light, easy to use, and cases soon appeared of people considering futures
in the USA to get their hands on them permanently.
Once the OCdt’s had finished drawing the weapon as fast as possible and pointing it sideways at everything in sight, we moved on to the weapons handling tests. No issues were had on this, and a couple of days later we moved onto the ranges to fire the pistols live.
There were differing levels of success when firing the Glock. Some of those
with smaller hands found themselves accidentally pressing their magazine
release whilst firing, resulting in a magazine on the floor, an empty weapon and an embarrassing pause in their fun. Highlights of the range package for the Glock included cadence firing, one handed firing and turning to fire at the target. Many OCdt’s also enjoyed the chance to quickly transition from firing the rifle to drawing and shooting with the pistol.
Overall the troops carried themselves very well with the pistol, and I am sure all were very appreciative of this thoroughly enjoyable and unique opportunity.
Platoon House
Officer Cadet Calum O’Malley Pearson The Platoon House exercise was the occupation and subsequent defence of
a Forward Operating Base. The base in question was a 3-storey house, including two sentry points on either side of the middle floor.
Clad in Combat Body Armour and loaded with ammunition, we took up our positions; section fire-teams occupying different areas. To start, we heard the call to prayer blasting from speakers, to simulate everything
from a barking dog to mortar fire. Looking through our weapon sights, we saw the heat rising from swathes of ‘desertesque’ pebbled ground. With the wails of Imam’s
still in the background, it made for a very real experience. In fact, had it not been for the slightly bored looking Gurkha in a high- vis jacket standing behind, one could easily have confused Kent for Helmand Province.
The attack began with mortar fire, then different groupings of enemies popping up and down at ranges of 100 to 700 metres across an impressive breadth. Towards the end of the attack our platoon suffered a casualty. OCdt Robinson took the role of a leg amputee with impressive verve, making it all the more difficult for OCdt Thurlow
to remember his BCD lessons and treat him. The exercise ended with a successful Casevac and regroup outside the building.
It was a fantastic opportunity and one you would not often come across, even in the Regular Army outside of the infantry. We are all very thankful to the staff for securing it for us.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE