Mons Officer Cadet School

Mons Officer Cadet School
Active 1927–1972
Country  United Kingdom
Allegiance British Armed Forces
Branch  British Army
Type Training
Role Officer cadet training
Garrison/HQ Aldershot

Mons Officer Cadet School was a former British military training establishment in Aldershot.

History

Mons Barracks was originally constructed from 1926 to 1927 for the Royal Signals.[1] In 1939, Royal Military College, Sandhurst became the home of 161 Infantry Officer Cadet Training Unit (RMC):[2] that unit moved to Mons Barracks at Aldershot in 1942, and subsequently became known as the "Mons Officer Cadet Training Unit (Aldershot)".[2] In 1947, the Mons Officer Cadet Training Unit (Aldershot) was re-organised as an OCTU for short service and National Service officer cadets of the technical arms,[3] i.e. officer cadets of the Royal Artillery and Royal Armoured Corps.[4]

Shortly before National Service was abolished in 1960, Mons OCTU and Eaton Hall OCTU were combined to form the Mons Officer Cadet School. Mons OCS was made responsible for training all Short Service Officer Cadets, and for those joining the Regular Army as graduates. Later, Mons became also responsible for final training of candidates for Territorial Army commissions. The intensive training that emphasised cadets' duties as subalterns, rather than as field officers and generals was fast and efficient, and attractive to potential officers since the course lasted just six months compared to two years at Sandhurst.[4]

The Mons OCS was closed in 1972, and its responsibilities transferred to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, which was re-organised as an academy for student officers and officer cadets, including regulars, short servicemen, and Territorials.[3]

Notable graduates

References

  1. ↑ "Branch History". The Royal Signals Association, Aldershot Branch. Retrieved 2010-02-27.
  2. 1 2 "British Army Training: History". Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 5 May 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
  3. 1 2 "Some key dates in the history of The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and its predecessors". The Churchill Society. Retrieved 2010-02-27.
  4. 1 2 "The History of RMA Sandhurst" (PDF). British Army. Retrieved 2010-02-27.
  5. ↑ Andrew Motion, The Lamberts (1986), pg. 278
  6. ↑ "Major Robin Collier – obituary". Daily Telegraph. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  7. ↑ Gupte, Pranay (2010). Dubai: The Making of a Megapolis. Bombay: Viking. p. 128. ISBN 978-0-670-08517-0.

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