Royal Marines Reserve

Royal Marines Reserve
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	United Kingdom
Type	Marine Reserve
Command structure	Commander United Kingdom Strike Force

Royal Marines Reserve. The Royal Marines Reserve is a component of the Royal Navy's Royal Marines, providing trained individuals to augment the regular corps. Its members, drawn from civilian life, undertake part-time training to maintain the skills and ethos of the Commando forces. The reserve has a long history of supporting operations worldwide, with personnel deploying alongside regular units in conflicts and exercises.

History

The origins trace back to the Royal Naval Reserve and the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, with formal establishment following the Royal Marines Act 1948. Early units were often formed in major port cities like London, Bristol, and Glasgow. Throughout the Cold War, reservists trained for potential roles in NATO's northern flank. The Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010 significantly reshaped its structure, integrating it more closely with the regular 3 Commando Brigade. Historically, reservists have been mobilized for conflicts including the Falklands War, the Gulf War, and more recent operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Organisation

The force is commanded by a Royal Marines Colonel and falls under the Commander United Kingdom Strike Force. It is geographically organized into detachments, often co-located with units like 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines. Key locations include HMNB Clyde, HMNB Portsmouth, and RM Condor. Administration and training support are provided through the Royal Navy Reserve network. The structure is designed to provide individual reinforcements and specialist capabilities to formations such as the United Kingdom Special Forces and the British Army's 16 Air Assault Brigade.

Training

All recruits must pass the Potential Royal Marines Course and the grueling Commando Course at Commando Training Centre Royal Marines, earning the coveted green beret. Ongoing training includes annual two-week deployments, often to locations like Norway for cold-weather warfare or Oman for desert exercises. Specialist courses cover fields such as mountain leadership, military diving, and reconnaissance. Reservists regularly participate in major exercises such as Exercise Joint Warrior and Exercise Cold Response alongside allied forces including the United States Marine Corps and the Netherlands Marine Corps.

Roles and deployments

Reservists fulfill a wide range of roles, from infantry Commandos to specialists in intelligence, logistics, and communications. They are routinely called upon for global deployments, having served in Operation Herrick in Afghanistan and Operation Telic in Iraq. Other duties include providing security for high-readiness units, supporting Royal Navy ships, and participating in NATO reassurance missions in the Baltic states. They also contribute to domestic resilience tasks, such as supporting civil authorities during events like the 2012 London Olympics.

Entry requirements

Applicants must be British citizens, British Nationals (Overseas), or citizens of the Republic of Ireland with residency in the United Kingdom. The upper age limit typically aligns with the ability to complete the demanding training pipeline. All candidates undergo a rigorous medical examination and fitness assessment, culminating in the Pre-Joining Fitness Test. There are specific entry pathways for former regular personnel of the British Armed Forces, including those from the British Army or Royal Air Force. The application process is managed through the Royal Navy recruitment system.

Notable members

Several members have gained distinction in other fields. Sir Ranulph Fiennes, the renowned explorer and holder of the Victoria Cross, served as a Captain. Television presenter and adventurer Bear Grylls was an officer. John Masefield, the former Poet Laureate, served during the First World War. In politics, Sir Peter Tapsell, the former Member of Parliament for Louth and Horncastle, was a reservist. The actor and writer Kris Marshall also served prior to his career in film and television.

Category:Royal Marines Category:Military reserve forces of the United Kingdom Category:Royal Navy