Royal Marines Reserve

What is the Royal Marines Reserve?

  • Both Men and Women can become part of the elite amphibious element of our Maritime Reserves, making up just 1% of our nation’s overall tri-service reservists.
  • Training is much more arduous than the Royal Navy Reserve, with a greater commitment required to prepare you for the rigours of the Commando Course – the same assessment undertaken by everyone who wears the green beret.
  • As soon as you’re trained, you’re deployable. That means working alongside your regular counterparts, wherever you’re needed most. From conflict zones to the scene of a natural disaster, you’ll need to seamlessly transition from civilian to elite soldier.
  • You’ll start as a General Duties Rifleman within your RMR Unit. After a few years in that role, you will have the opportunity to choose a specialisation. The main specialisations are Landing Craft Coxswain, Assault Engineer, Heavy Weapons (Mortars) and Swimmer Canoeist.
  • The Royal Marines Reserve is a key part of our overall ‘trained strength’. This elite team is just 600-strong, with the demands of staying at the very top of your game meaning only the most dedicated last the course. In return they get an exciting career that runs parallel to your everyday life.

What's it like?

Tough. Unless you’re joining as an ex-regular Royal Marine, getting through training will be the biggest challenge you’ve ever tackled. And once you’ve done it? That’s when you get your own green beret and are deployable to wherever you’re needed, all over the world.

You’ll need to attend your weekly drill nights and regular training weekends to stay ready for action. And when you are required, you’ll take your place alongside your regular counterparts. And pride isn’t all you’ll get in return. You’ll get paid for training, at the same rate as your regular equivalent. On deployment your salary will be supplemented to the same level as your civilian job.

The roles

Royal Marines Reservist

Take your place within a 600-strong team of part-time amphibious soldiers. You’ll be just as elite as your regular colleagues, wearing the same green beret, and undertaking the same operations. The only difference? You’ll do it all alongside your civilian career.

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Royal Marines Reserve (ex-Regular Forces)

Use your previous military experience, and develop your existing skills within a Royal Marines Reserve Unit. If you were previously a Royal Marine and left the Service less than two years ago, you may be eligible for seamless transition without the need for basic training. If not, you’ll complete the same Commando Course as everyone who wears the green beret.

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Find your unit

Want to start the adventure of a lifetime? Enter some details about your location to find your nearest Royal Marines Reserve unit.

Go beyond the everyday

If you want to add something special to your day-to-day life, see how the Royal Navy Reserve could provide the challenge and sense of purpose you’re looking for.
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