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| British Army Commando Course | |
|---|---|
| Name | British Army Commando Course |
| Established | 1940 |
| Type | Military training course |
| Location | United Kingdom |
| Administered by | British Army |
British Army Commando Course The British Army Commando Course is a specialist qualification run by the British Army to prepare soldiers for service with Commando units and amphibious operations. Candidates undergo rigorous training influenced by doctrines from World War II, techniques used by Special Air Service, and amphibious tactics derived from the Royal Marines. Graduates receive recognition that affects postings to formations such as 3 Commando Brigade, Commando Logistic Regiment, and other expeditionary units.
Origins trace to 1940 when volunteers formed No. 1 Commando in response to directives by political leaders after the Fall of France and debates in the War Cabinet (1939–1945). Early operations included raids like the St Nazaire Raid and the Operation Chariot commando actions alongside units such as Special Service Brigade and figures associated with Bernard Montgomery and Winston Churchill. Post‑war restructuring linked commando methods with units including the Royal Marine Commandos and Cold War commitments to NATO formations like the British Army of the Rhine. Training concepts were adapted during conflicts including the Falklands War and operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Balkans, reflecting lessons from campaigns such as the Battle of the Atlantic and doctrines promulgated by staffs at Staff College, Camberley.
Candidates are normally drawn from units across formations including the Parachute Regiment, Royal Engineers, Royal Logistics Corps, and Rifle Brigade veterans transferring from regiments such as the Grenadier Guards or Scots Guards. Eligibility criteria historically referenced service with formations attached to United Kingdom Special Forces in liaison, or operational tours in theatres like Operation Herrick and Operation Telic. Selection is competitive and coordinated with chains such as Headquarters Land Forces and overseen by cadre experienced from postings in units like 4th Battalion, The Rifles and instructors formerly of Special Boat Service and SAS.
The syllabus combines amphibious skills taught at centres influenced by doctrines used in D-Day (Normandy landings) planning, patrolling techniques similar to those in Operation Market Garden, and assault craft handling aligned with methodologies from Royal Navy landing craft operations. Core modules include weapon handling of systems in service with British Army equipment of the 21st century, navigation akin to exercises in the Sandy Training Area, small unit tactics reflecting lessons from the Battle of Britain air-ground integration, and demolitions instruction echoing practices used in Operation Chariot. Specialist instruction may incorporate signals procedures taught in conjunction with units like Royal Signals and medical training paralleling practices of the Royal Army Medical Corps.
Assessments evaluate endurance comparable to standards used in Royal Marine Commando pre-selection and include carrying loads over routes analogous to marches in Scotland's Brecon Beacons and fitness benchmarks used by UK Special Forces Selection. Mental resilience is assessed through stressors used in training derived from operational reviews of Operation Herrick and the psychological frameworks employed by analysts from institutions such as Defence Academy of the United Kingdom. Candidates face timed marches, water confidence tests influenced by surviving scenarios from Dieppe Raid analyses, and leadership tasks modelled on exercises from Exercise Joint Warrior.
Primary training facilities have included ranges and areas historically used by units stationed in Dumfries and Galloway, ranges near Aldershot Garrison, and littoral training sites on Scottish and English coasts used during preparations for campaigns like the Falklands Campaign. Amphibious craft and beach assault work draw on equipment and sites linked to the Royal Navy and joint training with formations operating from bases such as Portsmouth and HMNB Devonport. Specialist ranges for live firing and demolition are located within training estates administered from headquarters such as Defence Infrastructure Organisation.
Successful candidates are awarded a distinctive insignia historically associated with units like 3 Commando Brigade and wear recognition comparable to badges issued across formations including the Parachute Regiment. Post-course assignments include attachments to expeditionary formations such as Commando Logistic Regiment, assignments on amphibious platforms linked to HMS Albion (L14) and HMS Bulwark (L15), and temporary attachments with NATO rapid reaction elements like NATO Response Force. Qualified personnel may be posted to units performing tasks in multinational operations coordinated with commands such as Allied Rapid Reaction Corps.
The course and associated training have been scrutinised following incidents during exercises resembling events in inquiries like those after the Zeebrugge Raid and critiques paralleling public debates over training safety after operations such as Operation Banner. Critics and watchdogs including offices akin to the Health and Safety Executive and parliamentary select committees have at times examined risk management, medical provision, and oversight similar to reviews carried out into training establishments at locations like Catterick Garrison. Advocates point to operational effectiveness demonstrated in deployments to theatres such as Afghanistan and Iraq and to historical precedents from actions in World War II.
Category:British military training