Royal Marines Commando Stages and standards

You are faced with an exacting level standards that you’ll need to meet and exceed if you’re to prove you can hack it as a Royal Marines Commando. Most of these tests have a minimum requirement, but it's a key part of the Royal Marines ethos to push to the limit, regardless of what is acceptable.

The stages are as follows:

1. Pre-Joining Fitness Test Plus
>> 2. Royal Marine Candidate Preparation Course <<
3. Recruit Orientation Phase
4. Initial Training


Royal Marine Candidate Preparation Course

The Candidate Preparation Course (CPC) is a three-day course at Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM), Lympstone. 

The course includes the following:

  • VO2 Max/Bleep Test assessment 
  • Press Up, sit up and pull up assessments 
  • Swimming assessment 

Confidence and Determination assessments are also part of the course, which are conducted on the:

  • Endurance course 
  • High obstacle course 
  • Bottom field 

Swimming Assessment

The swimming assessment is conducted across the Candidate Preparation Course, the Recruit Orientation Phase and, for Royal Marines Officer candidates, the Royal Marine Officer Selection Course.

You will be expected to:

  • Step off a three metre platform
  • Complete two laps of the pool, approximately 150m, using the breaststroke and without touching the sides or floor of the pool. There is no time limit
  • Tread water for two minutes
  • Climb out of the pool without using the steps

The test is conducted in swimming trunks or shorts without equipment and no goggles are to be worn unless for a medical reason.