Mons Officer Cadet School
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Mons Officer Cadet School was a
British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...
military training establishment for officer cadets in
Aldershot Aldershot () is a town in Hampshire, England. It lies on heathland in the extreme northeast corner of the county, southwest of London. The area is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council. The town has a population of 37,131, while the Alders ...
from 1942 to 1972, when it was closed and all officer training concentrated at Sandhurst. Until 1960, it was known as the Mons Officer Cadet Training Unit. The training course at Mons was for Short Service Officer Cadets, Territorial Army officers, and those joining the Regular Army as graduates. It was relatively short, usually lasting only six months or even less, compared with two years at Sandhurst.


History

Mons Barracks was originally constructed from 1926 to 1927 for the
Royal Signals The Royal Corps of Signals (often simply known as the Royal Signals – abbreviated to R SIGNALS or R SIGS) is one of the combat support arms of the British Army. Signals units are among the first into action, providing the battlefield communi ...
. In 1939,
Royal Military College, Sandhurst The Royal Military College (RMC), founded in 1801 and established in 1802 at Great Marlow and High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, England, but moved in October 1812 to Sandhurst, Berkshire, was a British Army military academy for training infant ...
became the home of 161 Infantry Officer Cadet Training Unit (RMC): that unit moved to Mons Barracks at Aldershot in 1942, and subsequently became known as the "Mons Officer Cadet Training Unit (Aldershot)". In 1947, the Mons Officer Cadet Training Unit (Aldershot) was re-organised as an OCTU for short service and
National Service National service is the system of voluntary government service, usually military service. Conscription is mandatory national service. The term ''national service'' comes from the United Kingdom's National Service (Armed Forces) Act 1939. The ...
officer cadets of the technical arms, i.e. officer cadets of the
Royal Artillery The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery (RA) and colloquially known as "The Gunners", is one of two regiments that make up the artillery arm of the British Army. The Royal Regiment of Artillery comprises t ...
and
Royal Armoured Corps The Royal Armoured Corps is the component of the British Army, that together with the Household Cavalry provides its armour capability, with vehicles such as the Challenger 2 Tank and the Scimitar Reconnaissance Vehicle. It includes most of the A ...
. In the 1950s, candidates for National Service commissions, which were unlikely to last more than two years, received a cut-down version of officer training, lasting for sixteen weeks, either at the Mons Officer Cadet Training Unit at Aldershot or the Eaton Hall OCTU near
Chester Chester is a cathedral city and the county town of Cheshire, England. It is located on the River Dee, close to the English–Welsh border. With a population of 79,645 in 2011,"2011 Census results: People and Population Profile: Chester Loca ...
. Shortly before National Service was abolished in 1960, the Mons and Eaton Hall OCTUs were combined to form the Mons Officer Cadet School. Mons was made responsible for training all Short Service Officer Cadets, and for those joining the Regular Army as graduates. Later, Mons also became responsible for final training of candidates for Territorial Army commissions. The intensive training that emphasised cadets' duties as
subaltern Subaltern may refer to: *Subaltern (postcolonialism), colonial populations who are outside the hierarchy of power * Subaltern (military), a primarily British and Commonwealth military term for a junior officer * Subalternation, going from a univer ...
s, 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.
Ranulph Fiennes Sir Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes, 3rd Baronet (born 7 March 1944), commonly known as Sir Ranulph Fiennes () and sometimes as Ran Fiennes, is a British explorer, writer and poet, who holds several endurance records. Fiennes served in the ...
trained at Mons in 1963 and later recalled “Instead of two years at Sandhurst there would be five months concentrated training at Mons Officer Cadet School. At Mons, half of us were white; the rest black, brown and yellow. Everyone got on fine so long as they pulled their weight.” The Mons OCS was closed in 1972, and its responsibilities transferred to
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS or RMA Sandhurst), commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is one of several military academies of the United Kingdom and is the British Army's initial officer training centre. It is located in the town of ...
, which was re-organised as an academy for all British Army student officers and officer cadets, including short servicemen, regulars, and Territorials.


Notable graduates

:''See also :Graduates of the Mons Officer Cadet School'' * George E. Mudenda, retired Zambian Army Brigadier-General and Adjutant-General * Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Nigerian Army, Military Governor of the Eastern Region, Leader of the secessionist State of Biafra * Alexander, Crown Prince of Yugoslavia *
Sani Abacha Sani Abacha (20 September 1943 – 8 June 1998) was a Nigerian military officer and politician who ruled as the military head of state of Nigeria from 1993 until his death in 1998. He seized power on 17 November 1993 in the last successful c ...
, former military President of
Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...
*
Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa ( ar, حمد بن عيسى بن سلمان آل خليفة '; 28 January 1950) is King of Bahrain since 14 February 2002, after ruling as Emir of Bahrain from 6 March 1999. He is the son of Isa bin Salman ...
,
King of Bahrain The King of the Kingdom of Bahrain ( ar, ملك مملكة البحرين) is the monarch and head of state of Bahrain. The House of Khalifa has been the ruling family since 1783. Between 1783 and 1971, the Bahraini monarch held the title of Hak ...
*
Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi (; born 22 February 1949) is the ruler of the Emirate of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates. Early life Hamad Al Sharqi was born in 1949, the son of Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, former ruler of ...
, Hakem of Fujairah * D. W. Hapuarachchi, Major General Sri Lanka Army * Nicholas Soames, Baron Soames of Fletching *
Samuel Ogbemudia Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia (17 September 1932 – 9 March 2017) was a Nigerian army officer and politician. He was military Governor (1967–1975) of the Mid-West State, later renamed Bendel State, part of which in turn became Edo State Afte ...
, Brigadier General, Nigerian Army. Military Administrator of Bendel *
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Brigadier and Author *
Akwasi Amankwaa Afrifa Lieutenant General Akwasi Amankwaa Afrifa Born (24 April 1936 – 26 June 1979) was a Ghanaian soldier, farmer, traditional ruler and politician. He was the head of state of Ghana and leader of the military government in 1969 and then chairman o ...
, Ghanaian Head of State *
Joseph Nanven Garba Joseph Nanven Garba (17 July 1943 – 1 June 2002) was a Nigerian general, diplomat, and politician who served as president of the United Nations General Assembly from 1989 to 1990. Early life and military career Born in Langtang, Nigeria, Garba ...
, Nigerian Army general, diplomat, and politician *
George Agbazika Innih George Agbazika Innih (25 September 1938 – 15 August 2002) was a Nigerian Army general and statesman. He was the military governor of Bendel and Kwara States. Early years George Agbazika Innih was born on September 25, 1938, at Agenebode, ...
. Nigerian Army general and politician *
Miles Hunt-Davis Brigadier Sir Miles Garth Hunt-Davis, (7 November 1938 – 23 May 2018) was a British Army officer who was also the Private Secretary to The Duke of Edinburgh from 1993 until 2010. Early life and education Miles Hunt-Davis was born in Johanne ...
, British Army brigadier *
Emmanuel E Ikwue Emmanuel E Ikwue (born 6 June 1940) was Nigerian Air Force's Chief of the Air Staff from 1969 to 1975. Brigadier Ikwue was the fifth Commander of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), the third indigenous to hold the post. Appointed in December 1969, he w ...
, Nigerian Air Force Chief of the Air Staff *
Mohammed Sani Sami Mohammed Sani Sami was Governor of Bauchi State, Nigeria from January 1984 to August 1985 during the military regime of Major General Muhammadu Buhari. Early life Mohammed Sani Sami was born in Zuru in Kebbi State. He joined the army on 10 Dece ...
, Nigerian Army brigadier and Governor of
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, Nigeria *
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, Sierra Leone Army brigadier and acting Governor-General of Sierra Leone *
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, Nigerian Army, President of Nigeria. *
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, former
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and General * Bashiru Jinadu, Nigerian Army Major-General *
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, manager of the Who * Robin Collier MC *
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, Emir of Dubai, Vice President and Prime Minister of the
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* Tony Hunter-Choat, British soldier who served in the
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*Derek Chanda Mutoni, retired Zambian Army Brigadier-General *
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, Guyanese Army retired brigadier general, president of Guyana *
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, Deputy Prime Minister *
Ranulph Fiennes Sir Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes, 3rd Baronet (born 7 March 1944), commonly known as Sir Ranulph Fiennes () and sometimes as Ran Fiennes, is a British explorer, writer and poet, who holds several endurance records. Fiennes served in the ...
, explorer * Hassan Usman Katsina, Nigerian Army, Governor of Northern Nigeria, Chief of Army Staff


References

{{authority control Military training establishments of the United Kingdom Educational institutions established in 1960 Training establishments of the British Army 1960 establishments in the United Kingdom Military in Aldershot Military history of Hampshire Military academies of the United Kingdom