CTCRM Lympstone

Based at Lympstone in Devon CTCRM selects and trains all Royal Marines Officers, recruits and reserves. CTCRM is unique in that it also provides all Non Commissioned Officer (NCO) command training as well as training 70% of all Royal Marines specialists.

CTCRM is the only UK training establishment that trains to Operational Performance Standard which means that on departing CTCRM all trainees are trained and able to deploy direct on Operations. In the last 12 months it has seen Officers and Recruits deploy direct from the parade ground to Afghanistan, North Africa and the Indian Ocean.

CTCRM is divided into 3 training wings, each commanded by its own CO.

Command Wing is responsible for training all Young Officers and NCO’s from Corporal to Regimental Sergeant Major. Command Wing are also responsible for command training of the Royal Marines Band Service and the Royal Marines Reserves. 

Commando Training Wing trains all Royal Marines Recruits, as well as Reserves and the initial training for all Bandsmen and Women. It is also responsible for running the All Arms Commando Course which selects and trains Servicemen and Women from the other 3 services, and occasionally from abroad, to be able to serve alongside the Royal Marines anywhere in the world. 

Specialist Wing trains 70% of all Royal Marines specialists ranging from;

• Weapons instructors be they light or heavy weapons 
• Physical Training Instructors 
• Mountain Leaders 
• Armoured Vehicle Operators 
• Assault Engineers 
• Drill Leaders 
• Signallers 
• Information Managers

Facilities at Lympstone are wide-ranging.

They include a first class gymnasium complex and swimming pool for combat swimming tests, an indoor range simulator incorporating the latest laser technology, a modern urban combat training complex, a nearby 300-metre rifle range to hone recruits’ shooting skills and on-site training areas within the 77 acre base.

In addition CTCRM has access to 2,500 acres of nearby Woodbury Common, as well as the training areas of Dartmoor and others in Wales and Scotland.

On average, 1,300 recruits, 2,000 potential recruits and 400 potential officers attend training courses and acquaint courses at CTCRM every year. In addition the Training Wings run upwards of 320 courses a year for a further 2,000 students.

Commandant

Colonel Dave Kassapian joined the Royal Marines as a Second Lieutenant in 1989, having completed a BA(Hons) in English from Manchester University. 

He took over as Commandant, Commando Training Centre Royal Marines on the 5th October 2012.

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