The Commando Training Centre Royal Marines, known as CTCRM, is the principal training centre for the Royal Marines.
Commando Training Centre Royal Marines Lympstone
Royal Marines Recruit Training Diaries
Follow the recruits through their 32 week intensive commando training...
Based at Lympstone, in Devon, it trains new recruits and reserves, as well as delivering specialist trade training and continuation training. The Royal Marines are the only armed forces to train officers and other ranks in the same place, although they follow different courses.
CTCRM runs three training wings which cover recruit training, officer training, infantry support training, command courses for Non Commissioned Officers and specialist training. These comprehensive courses are vital to maintain standards within the Royal Marines.
Each of the three wings is commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel who is responsible to the Commandant. The Commandant is assisted in his management by a deputy, who as well as being the second-in-command is the legal 'Commanding Officer', responsible for such matters as the day-to-day administration of the base, discipline of troops and the security of the complex and outside training areas used by the Training Wings.
All Royal Marines return to Lympstone many times as they progress through their career. From the Potential Royal Marine Course (PRMC) to Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM), from Potential Officers Courses (POC) to Commandant they will return to Lympstone. Equally they will attend specialist qualification courses at Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM) to improve their military skills.
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 95 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, 1,200 recruits and 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.
COMMANDING OFFICER
Neil Willson
- RANK:
- Lieutenant Colonel
- JOINED:
- 1985
- SPECIALISATION:
- Physical Training and Sports Officer
- PREVIOUS UNITS:
- 45 Cdo, 42 Cdo
Military experience
Neil Willson joined young officer training at CTCRM in September 1985 and then appointed to Troop Command at 42 Commando in Plymouth. Following Arctic Warfare Training in Norway and a tour of South Armagh was selected for and subsequently managed the Royal Marines Biathlon Team. This was followed by specialisation training as a Physical Training and Sports Officer in 1989.
Further appointments followed at the Royal Marines School of Music at Deal, with the Army at NCOs Tactical Wing Brecon, a UN Military Observer tour in Former Yugoslavia in 1990/91 and as the Operations Officer of the Commando Logistic Regiment.
He was subsequently promoted to Lt Colonel and assumed the role of Commanding Officer at CTCRM in March 2011.
Married to Melanie and after too many married quarters finally bought a house in Lympstone Village, near Exeter. One daughter, Eleanor and a crazy rabbit. Enjoy all sports (particularly skiing, anything in the water, tennis) and chilling out with family and friends
He was then appointed as the Adjutant of 45 Commando Group with subsequent operational deployments to the Gulf and Northern Ireland. With the closure of the Barracks at Deal, was then appointed to play a key role in setting up the new Band Service and School of Music structure in Portsmouth. This was followed with an appointment as the Inspector of Physical Training for the Royal Marines and Secretary of the Royal Marines Sports Association.
An overseas posting to Headquarters ARRC in Germany resulted in a 2 year sabbatical with the Army, initially as a MRLS Battery Commander in 2003/04 with 39th Regiment and then as the Royal Artillery Majors appointer at the RA Manning and Career Management Division at Glasgow.
A return to the Royal Marines followed in May 2005 as OC Infantry Support Company at CTCRM and after 1 year was selected as an Acting Lieutenant Colonel and served in Headquarters Regional Command (South) (HQ RC(S)) at Kandahar during Operation Herrick 5.
He was then appointed as the Second in Command of 42 Commando Group working with 650 extraordinary people both on a Norway deployment to the Arctic Circle and then work up, deployment and recovery of the Unit to Operation HERRICK 9 as the Regional Battle Group(South).
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