Established as OTS Madras– 15 Jan 1963
(7 OTS were set up during WW-II, between 1942 to 1945, however all closed down at the end of war but produced four India Army Chiefs)
Post-independence, two OTS were set up at Pune & Madras in 1963 to train ECOs however OTS Pune closed down in 9 May 1964.
1st Commandant – Brig Ram Singh (Brig AMM Nambyar was 3rd Commandant at our time)
1st OTA alumni Commandant – Maj Gen SD Awasthi
1st cadet to arrive at OTS – Lt Gen OP Kaushik, EC1
1st OTS course – EC1 – 15 Jan 1963 – 442 cadets. EC12 – Last EC course – Apr 1965 (Alternate EC courses were passing out from OTS & IMA)
1st SSRC course – SS1 – 2 Feb 1965
1st SSRC Technical course – SSRC (T) 1 – Oct 1969
1st Women course – WSES 01 (“Women Special Entry Scheme” with SS-58) – 21 Sep 1992 (25 cadets)
OTS Madras granted permanent status in 1985
OTS renamed as OTA Chennai – 1 Jan 1988
Presidential Colour presented by Sri R Venkataraman – 18 Aug 1990
1st PVC (and only) – Maj Ramaswamy Parmeshwaran(P) – SS-12, 8 Mahar, Sri Lanka
1st Ashok Chakra (so far 8) – Maj D Sriram Kumar, 39 Assam Rifles, [Lt Navdeep Singh (P), 15 MLI, Capt Jas Ram Singh, 6 Rajput, Capt Jasbir Singh Raina, 10 Guards, 2/Lt Cyrus A Pithawalla, 17 JAK, Lt Col Harsh Uday Singh Gaur, 10 Bihar, Maj Mukund Varadarajan (P), 44 RR & Col Jojan Thomas (P), 45 RR]
1st MVC (so far 10) – 2/Lt SS Samra (P), 8 Guards (My Coursemate), Brig Kuldip Singh Chandpuri, 23 Punjab, Maj PS Ganpathi, 8 Mahar, Maj KG Chatterjee, ¾ GR, 2/Lt Rajiv Sandhu, 7 Assam, Maj Padmapani Achatya (P), 2 Raj Rif, Col Sonam Wangchuk, Ladakh Scouts, Lt Balwan Singh, 18 Grenadiers, Lt Keishing Clifford Nongrum (P), 12 JAK LI, Capt Pratap Singh (P), 75 Med.
1st KC (so far 22) – Capt Haripal Singh Ahluwalia (P), 7 Jat (My Coursemate)
VrC – 63 (10 from my Coursemate), SC – 119, SM – 587
OTS had initially two Battalions – Ranjit Singh Bn & Shivaji Bn. Subsequently 3rd Bn Maharan Pratap added in 1969 and later reverted back to original two Bns.
As on date 2 Bns & 7 Companies (5 for Gentlemen Cadets & 2 for Lady Cadets)
Ranjit Singh Bn – 4 Companies – Kohima, Jessami, Basantar & Phillora (Lady Cadets)
Shivaji Bn – 3 Companies – Meiktila, Naushera & Zojila (Lady Cadets)
Jai Hind
Arvind Nautiyal
SS8