Written question asked by Lord Naseby (Conservative) on Monday, 5 January 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 19 January 2026. It was answered by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Monday, 19 January 2026 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

University Officer Training Corps

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to streamline background checks for applicants to the University Officer Training Corps who had been members of the Combined Cadet Force while at school.

Answer: The University Officer Training Corps (UOTC) application process, which all applicants are subject to, cannot be streamlined or reduced for applicants who were members of the Combined Cadet Force (CCF). A UOTC Officer Cadet is attested into the British Army as a Group B Reservist and are required to complete and pass medical and security checks, which members of the CCF are not subject to when joining the CCF. The CCF is not part of the British Armed Forces (Regular or Reserve), it is a uniformed youth organisation, that is sponsored by the Ministry of Defence, and which operates in schools across the United Kingdom.

Secondary information