Editing Ulster Defence Regiment (section)

===Commissioned officer recruitment===
For each battalion there was a minimum requirement of:
* 1 [[lieutenant colonel]]
* 6 [[Major (rank)|major]]s
* 7 [[Captain (armed forces)|captain]]s
* 25 [[lieutenant]]s (including 2nd lieutenants)

To recruit [[company (military unit)|company]] and platoon officers, Scott-Bowden and his subordinates were obliged to award instant [[Officer (armed forces)|commissions]] to people deemed suitable.  The ideal candidates were sought in the USC, reserve forces, university [[Officers' Training Corps]] and [[Army Cadet Force]]. In various battalions officers of company and platoon rank could be found who had served in the USC, the Regular and Territorial Army, the [[Royal Navy]], the [[Royal Air Force]], the [[Royal Marines]], the [[British Indian Army|Indian Army]] and even the [[United States Army]].<ref>Potter pp30-31</ref> In addition to the problem of finding officers there had to be observance of the Protestant/Catholic ratio but by March 1971, 18 Catholic officers had been recruited and the total number of officers was just enough for battalions to function at their current strengths.<ref>Potter p43</ref> This rose to 23.<ref name=autogenerated18>Potter p58</ref> All seven battalions were led by former commandants of the USC.<ref name="Northern Protestants pg. 212"/>