OFFICERS TRAINING ACADEMY

"Serve with Honour" is the motto of the Officers Training Academy Chennai, as signified by the Cross Swords, depicting the profession of Arms and the Ashoka Chakra depecting Honour.

Aim

The training at the OTA aims at inculcating in the Gentlemen and the Lady Cadets moral values, leadership traits, mental and physical powers, a sprit of adventure and a will to win.

History

The Officers Training School was established in September 1962 to train Emergency Commissioned Officers. On 02 Feb 1965, it was started to Short Service Regular Commission. On 01 Jan 1988, Officers Training School was rechristened as Officers Training Academy(OTA).

   For the first time in the History of Indian Army, Women were inducted in the Army as Officers and the onerous task of training the WSES (O) courses commenced at the OTA from 21 Sep 1992. The OTA is located at St. Thomas Mount, a suburb of Chennai. St. Thomas Mount was an important bastion of the Madras Presidency Army of the British. The buildings occupied by OTA were built between 1815 and 1952. The OTA campus sprawls over an area of approximately 650 acres.

Service and General Awareness Training

The aim of service training is to prepare a GC/.LC for command of an infantry platoon in war and peace and that of General Awareness Training is to orient them with present technical advancements in the filed of warfare. Various training given at the OTA are:-

  1. Tactics
  2. Map Reading
  3. Organisation and Administration.
  4. Integrated General Leadership Training.
  5. Weapon Training.
  6. Physical Training.
  7. Drill.
  8. Communication Skills
  9. Military Technology
  10. Computer Applications
  11. Social Studies
  12. International Relations

MODES OF ENTRY

ModeCourse CommencingAgeEducatinal
Qualification		MethodWhen To apply
Short Service Commission
Non Technical		 May and October/November 19-25 years Degree at the time of Joining CDSE Written Test and SSB Interview Apply in response to advertisement during march and October
Short Service Technical May and October/November 19-27 years Engineering Degree and Notified Discipline Direct SSB Interview Apply in response to advertisement during march and October
Short Service Commision
NCC Special Entry Scheme		 May 19-25 years Graduate with 50% aggregate marks,two years service in NCC senior Division,Army with minimum Grade on 'C' certificate exam Direct SSB Interview Apply in response to advertisement during october
Women Special Entry Scheme Officers March and September 19 to 27 years Graduate or Post Graduate Direct SSB Interview Apply in response to advertisement in June and December

Eligibility Conditions:-

Male/ Female, may be married if above the age of 25 Years. Should be a graduates in any discipline.

Training Duration:-

The training duration is 44 Weeks. On Successful competition of the course the cadets would be commissioned as lieutenant as per as possible the arms and service of their choice. However, it is based on merit and availability of number of vacancies. The training will be completed in terms of Five months each, at the end of each term the Cadets would be granted short leave.

Duration of Service would be generally Five years extendable up to 10 years. Or can also be converted into Regular (Permanent Commission), in this case the candidates will lose a seniority of Nine months, to the corresponding IMA Course. This is because the cadet entering into IMA under Goes a training for 1 ½ years, prior to his commissioning.