Editing Scheyville National Park (section)

===Officer Training Unit, Scheyville===
{{Main|Officer Training Unit, Scheyville}}

In 1965 Scheyville was once again commandeered for military uses, specifically to house an Officer Training Unit for [[Conscription in Australia|National Servicemen]]. The OTU provided and intensive 22-week program of training in military leadership skills for select National Servicemen. The Unit was the first of its kind in Australia as previously Officers were traditionally educated and trained in the elite military schools such as [[Royal Military College, Duntroon]] and not selected from those drafted into National Service.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

Between 1965 and 1973, and under the command of the noted soldier and military educationist Ian Geddes, 1871 conscripts passed through Scheyville OTU making use of the classroom-based training as well as the extensive field exercises and physical fitness training.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

Once again the quadrangle buildings formed the nexus of the site's activities. The administration block on the southern end of the quadrangle housed the Commanding Officer's and Sergeant Major's administrative quarters The dormitory buildings on the east and west sides were further adapted to house the Officers who provided the training, and the dining room and kitchen was the Officer's Mess.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

The Commandant and his family were housed in the old farm managers house and the Sergeant Major and family in the overseers cottage. The prefabricated buildings, a legacy of the Migrant Holding Centre period accommodated the Officer Cadets. The SAARs huts were converted to provide gymnasium facilities and the Officer Cadet's dining and recreation facility. A parade ground was established to the north east of the quadrangle and adjacent to that on the west of the parade ground, a "t" shaped teaching facility was constructed.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

In addition to reusing existing buildings, the OTU made extensive use of the surrounding farmlands and scrub, establishing obstacle courses, a small arms range, challenge courses and a tough rout march trail.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

The Officer training was tough physically, emotionally and mentally. It was intended to remake, remould and train the potential Officer "in a way that was similar to tearing the insides out of an old factory and completely renovating the insides."<ref>(Donnelly, The Scheyville Experience)</ref><ref name=nswshr-1817/>

330 graduates of the Scheyville Officer Training Unit served in the [[Vietnam War]], eight of whom died in action. Other graduates did not see active service in Vietnam but went on to other areas of the Army where 130 became Lieutenant Colonels and 13 Brigadiers. Many who trained at the OTU, such as [[Tim Fischer]] and Jeff Kennet have achieved positions of importance in civilian life and attribute their success to their training at Scheyville.<ref name=nswshr-1817/>

Direct entry aviation cadets were also trained at Scheyville, in the same 6-month courses as the National Servicemen. There were three 12-month Officer Cadet School (OCS) Portsea courses at Scheyville in 1972 and 1973. The first six months of these courses were the same as that for National Servicemen and the latter six months concentrating on subjects more suited to careers with the Regular Army. The Officer Training Unit continued to function until 1973 (the last intake was October 1972 to March 1973), after the [[Australian Labor Party]] abolished further National Service in December 1972. However, a small number of the Regular Army officer cadets were still training there until December 1973 before travelling to OCS Portsea to graduate.