Life as an Officer

Throughout our long history, we’ve held a unique place in Britain’s Armed Forces. While our basic role stays the same, we’re constantly adapting to the new challenges we face in the Royal Marines as well as a nation.

As well as our ability to operate on land, at sea and in the air, we have specialist skills that make us a vital part of the UK’s Joint Rapid Reaction Force.

While you’re training at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM), you’ll be known as a Young Officer. When you finish your 15 months training there, you’ll become a Royal Marines Officer. You'll have your own passing-out parade, marking the end of your phase-one training, and then you'll start your phase-two training. .

In phase-two of Royal Marines Officer training you put everything you’ve learned so far into practice. You’ll be commanding a troop of around 30 men, most of who will already have several years’ service. Don’t let this faze you though, as you’ll have a very experienced Troop Sergeant as your Second-in-Command.

On operations, you’ll need skills in leadership, planning, tactics and making decisions, and at all times you’ll be responsible for the morale, training, effectiveness and the well-being of the men under your command.

As a Royal Marines Officer you have a number of specialist jobs available to you. All of these jobs will give you a new set of skills to enhance what you have already learned.  Whatever your job and rank within the Royal Marines, you will be first and foremost a Royal Marines Commando – a member of one of the world’s most respected fighting forces. Anyone who wears the Green Beret can truly say they’ve earned it.