About OTA, Chennai

The Officers Training Academy is a training establishment of the Indian Army that trains officers for the Short Service Commission. The OTA conducts a 10-month course that prepares cadets for all branches of the Army, except for the Army Medical Corps. In 1962 two Officers Training Academy were established at Pune & Chennai to fulfill the need of the Indian army. The institute at Chennai was inaugurated on 15 January 1963. It was earlier named as Officers Training Institute. However, the institute was renamed Officers Training Academy on January 1, 1988. In the year 1992, a training facility for ladies, cadets were included in the institute & around 1200 such cadets have been trained so far. The motto of the academy is “Serve with Honour”. In this post, we discuss life at Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai.

Cadets after training at OTA

After completing training at the Academy, the cadet is transformed into a physically tough, highly motivated, and professionally skilled person. OTA is a class apart from other conventional universities. Here at OTA, each subject begins with a theoretical introduction followed by a practical demonstration and exercises for better learning of the trainees. At the end of full training, the successful trainees are proficient enough to handle all infantry weapons and can handle the rigors of toughest conditions. From trainees, they become leaders who can very well lead their subunits in battle. The curriculum of OTA also lays due emphasis on character building and develops a sense of honor which is the most important quality for being a successful combat leader. The training at the Academy covers a wide range of physical and mental activities like physical training, weapon training, map reading, drill, tactics, intellectual development, and above all leadership training.

Organization of Cadets

Cadets at OTA are organized in two battalions and seven companies (5+2). The names of the companies are Meiktila, Naushera, Kohima, Jessami, Basantar, Zojila, and Phillora. Zojila and Phillora companies are for lady cadets only while the rest of the companies are for male cadets. The Ranjit Singh Battalion is one of the two training battalions of OTA. The Battalion has four companies, namely, Jessami, Kohima, Basantar (Gentlemen Cadets), and Phillora (Lady Cadets). The second training battalion of OTA is the Shivaji Battalion. This battalion comprises three companies namely Naushera, Meiktila (Gentlemen Cadet Companies), and Zojila (Lady Cadets). All the companies are named after historic locations where famous battles have been fought in the past.

Life at Officers’ Training Academy

A trainee on admission to the OTA is called a Gentleman/Lady Cadet. The simple reason behind this is that the academy expects its graduates to have the highest moral and ethical values. The GCs and LCs come from different backgrounds with diverse habits and upbringing. The Academy plays a very significant role in narrowing those differences. It helps them to become great individuals ready to serve the motherland as a team. No GC/ LC gets preferential treatment, all work together to achieve collective goals.

The training at OTA is full of action and adventure. It includes route marches, photography, painting, seminars, term papers, tours, and sports. The training helps to improve the mental and physical potential of cadets. Each and every GC/LC is allowed equal space for growth within the given time frame. The training at the Academy is fast, rigorous, and intense.

Intense training psychologically prepares cadets to handle situations that they would encounter on the battlefield where there is no room for error and no scope of explanation and rationalization for failures. A GC/LC learns plenty of values of life during his short stay in the Academy.

The daily routine of cadets at OTA

The cadets at OTA follow a very strict and disciplined routine where there is no scope for being late. The routine followed is as follows:

How to prepare for CDS Exam?

Lakhs of students dream to be a part of the Indian Military Academy, one of the most prestigious institutions in the country. But, only a few can finally make it. It requires sincere dedication and utmost hard work to make it to the Indian Military Academy. Consequently, candidates need to do deep intensive study, a lot of practice, and above all, they must develop meticulous time management skills to clear the written examination. These skills don’t develop in a day. It is a result of continuous hard work and perseverance. One needs to put in consistent effort to get ready to face the final challenge.

Here, Shaurya Bharat Defence Exams Learning App comes to your rescue. The app provides comprehensive study material for students to study. The experienced and dedicated team of Shaurya Bharat leaves no stone unturned for its students. Mock tests, live exams, and practice sets give a lot of practice to students and prepare them to face any challenge. For more details on the CDS examination, log on to https://shauryabharat.com/officers/upsc-cds-exam/

For details, you may also refer to the official website of UPSC – https://www.upsc.gov.in/

To apply online visit https://upsconline.nic.in/

Use the following link to download the Shaurya Bharat app – The best digital platform to prepare for the CDS entrance examination: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.shauryabharat