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Royal Marines Commando Officer Initial training

What is it?

You’ll push your body to the limit throughout Basic Training, completing a number of different physical exercises, and achieving specific results in order to progress.

Royal Marines Commando Officer Initial Training is one of the longest and most arduous programmes in the world. You’ll need to be in the best condition of your life to make it through. Lasting 16 months, your training will cover everything you need to learn, develop, hone and master to be able to do everything you might ask of your team. You‘ll also be trained in advanced tactical and leadership skills.

If you’re successful, you’ll have a base level of fitness that will benefit you as you start your career.

There are five phases to training, most of which have physical elements and all of which are challenging, testing and demanding.

You will be tested at every stage and, once trained to a suitable a level, expected to complete two specific challenges to prove you have the mettle and state of mind to by a Royal Marines Officer.

The areas that will require particular preparation from you are:

What will I do?

The areas that will require particular preparation from you are:

4.8km run outside:

 Complete a group 2.4km run, followed by an additional 2.4km individual run, outdoors within a specific time. Enter your details below to see the minimum requirement to achieve a pass. As with the majority of Royal Marine fitness, you will be expected to return the best possible time.

The Commando Course:

This course is designed to replicate the conditions and rigours of a wartime environment, while exposing you to the challenges faced by individuals during Commando training in the Second World War. On completion of the exercise you will be required to complete the following tests in four consecutive days:

  • Endurance Course – You will need to complete this in less than 71 minutes
  • A 9-mile Speed March – You will need to complete this uphill route in less than 90 minutes
  • Tarzan Assault Course – This ropes and ladders course will need to be completed in less than 12 minutes
  • The 30-Miler – You will have 7 hours to complete this cross-terrain challenge

Where is it?

The Commando Training Centre, also known as CTCRM, is the principal training centre for the Royal Marines.

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. 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.

Address:

Exmouth Road, Lympstone, Exmouth EX8 5AR

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