OTA CHENNAI – Best NDA Coaching in Lucknow
History
Colour Presentation
The coveted Presidential Colours to the Academy was presented on 18 August 1990 by His Excellency Shri R Venkataraman, the then President of India. Thus the OTA has had the taste of that unique honour, which guides, inspires and acts as an impetus to greater laurels, as we grow from strength to strength in the unique and time-honoured tradition of the Indian Army
Induction of Women in Officer Cadre
In 1992 the other landmark in the history of OTA was the induction of women into the officer cadre, and the onerous task of training them was undertaken by the Officers Training Academy. So far, around 1200 Lady Cadets have already been commissioned into the various Arms and Services of the Indian Army.
Finalisation of Permanent Location
The OTA has remained in temporary accommodation ever since it came into existence and its demand for a permanent location was going on for a long time. The year 1999 was a turning point in the history of OTA when General VP Malik, PVSM, AVSM, ADC, the then Chief of the Army Staff, announced in his press briefing on 04 September 1999 that the Officers Training Academy will be permanently located in Chennai with enhanced capacity to train 750 cadets as against the existing 500 cadets. The Key Location Plan (KLP) has been finalized and is being executed in a phased manner.
OTA CHENNAI – Best NDA Coaching in Lucknow
Revised Terms and Conditions of Service of SSCOs(Men and Women both Technical and Non-Technical)
Prominent features of the revised policy are:-
(a) Extension of Tenure
(i) Tenure of Short Service Commission. Short Service Commission (SSC), in the Regular Army will be granted for 14 years i.e. for an initial period of 10 years, extendable by 4 years.
(ii) Duration of Training. 49 weeks.
(b) Substantive Promotion:- SSCOs will be eligible for substantive promotion wef 16 Dec 2004.
(i) To the rank of Capt – on completion of 2 years reckonable commissioned service.
(ii) To the rank of Maj – on completion of 6 years reckonable commissioned service.
(iii) To the rank of Lt Col – on completion of 13 years reckonable commissioned service.
Standardisation of Syllabus
The syllabus of OTA has been standardised at par with IMA. This standardised syllabus has been implemented from the SSC-70 course onwards to optimise the training standards. However, revision of the syllabus is done at regular intervals as per directions of Higher HQ.
OTA CHENNAI – Best NDA Coaching in India
Counter Insurgency Training
On commissioning from OTA, a large number of young officers, join units involved in Counter Insurgency Operations (CI Ops), in North East and J&K. A jungle lane shooting range and grenade lobbing area have been made to give realistic CI Ops training to the cadets. A mock-up village has been constructed near P Hill for the training of cadets in CI Ops. Cadets are now being imparted practical training under realistic conditions to undertake to clear of a house/hideout so that they are fully conversant with the drills involved when they join their units in CI Ops Areas.
Computer Lab
OTA CHENNAI: One of the major achievements of the OTA in the year 1999 has been the establishment of a state-of-the-art Computer Lab with a Smart Class and procurement of 51 Pentium Computers and allied peripherals for computer training of the cadets. A Local Area Network with 27 nodes connecting both the Battalions and nearly all of the Branches and Sections of the Academy has been established, paving the way for full automation of the OTA.
OTA Alumni Association
In order to have a link as well as the interaction between OTA and ex OTA officers, it has been decided to form an OTA Alumni Association functioning from the Alma Mater. This idea of forming an Alumni Association was conceived by Maj Gen GH Israni, VSM, a former Commandant of the Academy.
OTA CHENNAI – Best NDA Coaching in Lucknow
Sports Achievements
The Alumni from Officers Training Academy have also made their mark in sports. In 1973, Battalion Under Officer Harcharan Singh was one of the star performers in the Indian Hockey team that took part in the World Cup Hockey Championship at Amsterdam. Later he represented India at the 1976 Olympics. He was awarded the Arjuna Award in 1981. Capt Romeo James represented the Indian Hockey team as the star goalkeeper, at Los Angles Olympics.
In the year 1983 Officers Training School (OTS) Polo team won the Madras Gold Vase by defeating 61 Cavalry by a handsome margin. The team also won the Grand Kolanka Cup, which has its unique place in the Guinness Book of World Records, as the tallest cup in the World. GC Rohit Dagar of OTA won 3 gold and 2 silver medals in the National Equestrian Championship held at Chennai from 16-27 Dec 99. The OTA team also won a bronze medal in a tent pegging competition.
Honours and Awards
OTA CHENNAI: In keeping with the spirit of professionalism and patriotism inculcated by their Alma Mater, the alumni of the OTA have distinguished themselves with numerous honours and gallantry awards. These include Maj R Parameshwaran (Posthumous), the lone recipient of the Param Vir Chakra in OP PAWAN, who made the supreme sacrifice displaying the most conspicuous gallantry. 2 Lt SS Samra and Major (Now Brig) KS Chandpuri won Maha Vir Chakras(MVC) during 1971 War and Major Jasram Singh and Capt JS Raina were awarded Ashok Chakras during Counter Insurgency Operations in the North East. Lt Rajeev Sandhu who was posthumously
awarded Mahar Vir Chakra in OP PAWAN, Major KG Chatterjee who won Maha Vir Chakra in SIACHEN Operations and 2 Lt (now Col ) CA Pithawalla who won Ashok Chakra in Counter Insurgency Operations are some of the officers the Academy is proud of. In the Kargil operations, the Alumni of OTA won four Maha Vir Chakras. Major Padmapani Acharya (Posthumous), Lt Balwan Singh, Major Sonam Wang Chuk and Lt Keishing Clifford Nongrum (Posthumous) are the recipients of this prestigious award.
The tally of gallantry awards won by the alumni is as under:-
(a) Param Vir Chakra 01
(b) Ashok Chakra 04
(c) Maha Vir Chakra 09
(d) Kirti Chakra 06
(e) Vir Chakra 51
(f) Sháurya Chakra 31
(g) Sena Medal 241
OTA CHENNAI: The Officers Training Academy has served the nation with distinction for the past 44 years. The Academy turns out of her portals every six months a constant flow of competent officers and responsible citizens, capable of shouldering their responsibilities as junior leaders of the Army. Till now, nearly 20,000 Gentlemen and Lady cadets have been commissioned from the OTA, taking the final step to fill the echelons of our glorious Army. In addition, 41 foreign cadets from Sri Lanka and 08 from Uganda have been commissioned.
Content by PRASHANT SINGH
Faculty of personality development | 5+ years of experience of teaching | Masters in English literature | 10 times CDS qualified, | Defence enthusiast, educator and explorer
