After completing this, enlisted men attend a three day Potential Royal Marine Course (PRMC), while officers take the Potential Officer Course (POC), at Commando Training Center Royal Marines (CTC) in Lympstone, England.
Here, a final battery of physical and mental tests are conducted including 3-mile timed runs, 2.5 mile obstacle course, strength tests (60 pressups, 80 situps, and minimum of 3 pullups), along with a swimming test. All must show good form or the candidate may be failed.
If passed, a recruit is issued a pair of socks and boots, along with a certificate entitling them to join recruit training.
Now, for the enlisted, a rigorous 32 weeks begins. Officers will do 64.
NATO’s longest infantry training starts with the 1st phase, known as Initial Training. Officers alongside enlisted must endure lengthy daily drills consisting of physical and mental conditioning, field craft, parade ground, small unit tactics, weapons efficiency, and traditions and history of the Corps.
2nd phase is Military Training, operating in teams from 8 to 28, speed marches with up to 70 pounds on backs plus air and cliff assaults taking place in the rugged landscapes of CTC, Dartmoor and Woodbury Common.
3rd phase is Amphibious Training, learning how to use rafts, small boats and landing craft for raids and familiarization with the Special Boat Service.
4th phase comes in the closing weeks, when they enter the signature Commando Course. Wearing standard kit including 32 pound rucksack, recruits must complete the following events:
- 9 mile speed march completed in 90 minutes (10 minutes per mile)
- The Endurance Course at Woodbury Common, stretching 6 miles of rugged terrain with pipes, tunnels, wading pools and underwater culvert. 4 mile run back to base with a marksmanship test where 6 of 10 hits must be achieved on a 25meter target representing 200 meters. The combined time to complete the course is 73 minutes.
- The Tarzan Assault Course starting with a Commando slide down a zip line, rope climb up 34 foot wall, to be completed in 13 minutes for enlisted, 12 for officers.
- The final test is the 30 miler. This route takes them through the rolling and jagged highlands of Dartmoor with additional weight of safety equipment added. Enlisted must complete the march in 8 hours, the officers in 7.
Upon completion of the Commando Course, the privilege of wearing the symbol of the Corps, the Green Beret, is granted.
Only 1 in 5 make it this far. (As an interesting fact, Queen Elizabeth’s son, Edward, tried but failed to become an RM Commando.)
It’s still not over, as the training team does a final assessment of the recruit’s skills and qualifications to see if they pass.
If they do, they find themselves in the last week designated ‘The King’s Squad’, with their own section of the recruits galley. A pass out parade is held, and the Marine receives assignment to 3 commando brigade for a period as a general duties rifleman.
Afterwards, they may apply to specialize in the following Commando Specializations:
- Aircrewman
- Assault Engineer
- Armoured Support Group (Viking)
- Armourer
- Chef
- Clerk
- Combat Intelligence
- Communications Technician
- Drill Instructor
- Driver
- Heavy Weapons – Air Defence
- Heavy Weapons – Anti-Tank
- Heavy Weapons – Mortars
- Information Systems
- Landing Craft Coxswain
- Medical Assistant
- Metalsmith
- Military Police
- Mountain Leader
- Platoon Weapons Instructor
- Physical Training Instructor (PTI)
- Reconnaissance Operator
- Signaller
- Swimmer Canoeist
- Stores Accountant
- Telecommunications Technician (Tels Tech)
- Vehicle Mechanic (VM)
- Yeoman of Signals
- Commando Officer Specializations
- Heavy Weapons Officer
- Intelligence Officer
- Landing Craft Officer
- Mountain Leader
- Pilot
- Physical Training and Sports Officer
- Signals Officer
- Special Boat Service Officer
- Staff Officer
- Weapons Training Officer
- Platoon Weapons
Royal Marine Commando Videos
SOFREP recommends the following videos for further information about the Royal Marine Commandos.
Commando on the frontline [HQ] Ep1
Commando on the frontline [HQ] Ep2
COMMENTS