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| British Royal Marines Commando Course | |
|---|---|
| Name | British Royal Marines Commando Course |
| Caption | Royal Marines training on a live-fire range |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Navy |
| Type | Commando training |
| Role | Individual and unit-level commando proficiency |
| Location | Commando Training Centre Royal Marines, Lympstone |
British Royal Marines Commando Course The British Royal Marines Commando Course is the principal qualifying program for recruits seeking to join the Royal Marines, operated at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM) in Lympstone on the River Exe. The course produces personnel capable of serving with units such as 3 Commando Brigade, Royal Navy, Fleet Air Arm, Special Boat Service, and allied formations including United States Marine Corps and Dutch Korps Mariniers. It is renowned for its rigorous physical demands, amphibious warfare focus, and the award of the coveted Green Beret and Royal Marines Commando badge upon successful completion.
The origins of modern commando training trace to the formation of British Commandos during World War II, influenced by figures like Lord Mountbatten and operations such as the Dieppe Raid and the St Nazaire Raid. Post-war reorganisation saw the consolidation of elite amphibious forces under the Royal Marines and the establishment of CTCRM at Lympstone in the 1950s to institutionalise standards developed during campaigns including Normandy landings, the Malayan Emergency, and the Korean War. During the Cold War era CTCRM adapted to NATO doctrines alongside formations such as 1st (United Kingdom) Division and exercises like Exercise Cold Response. Reforms in the late 20th and early 21st centuries responded to operations in Falklands War, Gulf War, Iraq War, and War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), integrating lessons from units such as Royal Marines Commandos and partnering forces including United States Navy SEALs and French Commandos Marine.
Candidates must satisfy standards set by the Ministry of Defence and undergo medical and security vetting similar to personnel transferring between units such as Coldstream Guards or Parachute Regiment. Entry pathways include recruits from British Armed Forces enlistment, direct entry from civilian applicants, and lateral entry from units like Royal Navy ratings or Army Reserve. Pre-selection involves fitness benchmarks comparable to tests used by Special Air Service selection and documentation including certificates recognised by NHS medical standards. Applicants frequently prepare via programmes run by civilian organisations including Combat Fitness, Paratrooper Training Association, and regional support from establishments such as Defence Gateway.
The course comprises discrete phases mirroring operational requirements encountered by formations such as 30 Commando Information Exploitation Group and units that deploy on Operation Herrick or Operation Banner. Phases include initial recruit training aligned with standards of Royal Navy basic training, a commando phase with naval and amphibious instruction similar to Landing Craft Tank operations, assault and marksmanship blocks reflecting doctrines used by Brigade Reconnaissance Force, and final exercises modelled on operations like Operation Granby. Assessment milestones incorporate benchmarks used by Joint Services Command and Staff College and interoperability scenarios involving NATO partners such as Royal Netherlands Marine Corps.
Instruction emphasises amphibious warfare skills drawn from historical engagements such as the Sicily campaign and contemporary littoral doctrine used by NATO amphibious task groups. Key syllabus elements include small arms handling consistent with SA80 doctrine, mortar and heavy weapons familiarisation akin to training in 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards, demolitions and breaching techniques studied by Royal Engineers, navigation and mountain skills comparable to courses at Army Mountaineering Association, combat first aid aligned with St John Ambulance standards, shipboard drills reflecting Royal Fleet Auxiliary procedures, and communications training using systems similar to Bowman and Satcom equipment. Instructional modules draw on doctrine from institutions such as Defence Academy of the United Kingdom and include live-fire ranges, amphibious landings with craft like the LCU and RHIB, and urban operations informed by lessons from Siege of Sarajevo and Battle of Fallujah.
Physical testing mirrors protocols used by elite units including United States Marine Corps Reconnaissance and French Commandos. Assessments include mile and multi-mile runs over terrain used in training areas like Dartmoor and Exmoor, loaded marches comparable to Sapper marches, swimming and water confidence evaluations in tidal conditions at Torbay and Plymouth Sound, obstacle and endurance tests similar to those in Airborne Forces selection, and timed battleship and cliff assaults on features such as Beesands Ley and Dawlish Warren. Psychological resilience is evaluated using methodologies influenced by studies at King's College London and selection psychology models applied in Defence Science and Technology Laboratory research, with debriefs and welfare support coordinated with organisations like Royal British Legion.
Graduates receive the Green Beret and the Royal Marines Commando insignia, a symbol with heraldic links to honours such as the Victoria Cross and regimental history chronicled in works like those by Ian Gardner and Max Arthur (historian). Recognition ceremonies often involve senior officials from Ministry of Defence and senior officers from formations such as 3 Commando Brigade and sometimes guests from allied services including United States Marine Corps. Successful candidates may be posted to units including 45 Commando, 40 Commando, 42 Commando, or specialist wings such as Commando Logistics Regiment and opportunities exist for further training with organisations like Special Boat Service and exchange postings to Royal Marines Reserve detachments.
The course has generated scrutiny similar to inquiries into other elite training regimes such as those involving Parachute Regiment and SAS selection, with investigations referencing incidents reported in outlets like The Times and The Telegraph. Notable controversies include debates over attrition rates during campaigns reminiscent of those in Operation Herrick and welfare provision comparable to cases reviewed by Service Complaints Ombudsman for the Armed Forces. Safety incidents on live-fire ranges and maritime exercises prompted reviews by bodies such as Health and Safety Executive and procedures updated in coordination with Royal Navy and Defence Safety Authority. High-profile legal cases and coronial inquests have involved participation from organisations including Council of Tribunals and advocacy by Service Families Federation.
Category:British military training