All Arms Commando Course
Encyclopedia
The All Arms Commando Course lasts for 9 weeks and is run by the Royal Marines
at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines
(CTCRM), Lympstone
. Members from any of the United Kingdom
's Regular Armed Forces
and overseas exchange personnel can attend in order to serve with 3 Commando Brigade
. On completion of the course the successful candidate earns the right to wear the green beret
, and to wear the "Commando
Dagger
" on their uniform.
Following a 2 week pre-course period, which brings soldiers from a broad range of backgrounds up to a common standard of basic skills, the course focuses on core military skills, including patrolling
, defence and section
and troop
level attacks.
The course then covers the following Commando skills: amphibious
assault drills, cliff assault drills, helicopter drills and small-unit tactics. The course concludes with a week-long confirmatory test exercise followed by Test Week.
trousers and jacket, carrying 21 lb (9.5 kg) fighting order
and personal weapon
: rope climb
and Commando units of the Territorial Army.
The two week Reserve Forces Commando Course (RFCC) at CTCRM is the culmination of the Recruit's Basic Training. The course is designed to test whether the Recruits professional and physical abilities are of the standard required by a Royal Marines Commando.
Outline of the Reserve Forces Commando Course:
The BPT Pass Out - is a combination of four physical tests conducted in succession, which must be passed before Recruits are allowed to continue any further with the Commando Course. All the BPT tests are conducted carrying Fighting Order (22 lbs) and 5.56mm Rifle (10 lbs).
12 Mile Load Carry - is another criteria test and is conducted as an introduction into the Field Exercise. For the 12-mile march along roads and cross country, recruits are require to carry Full Marching Order weighing 69 lbs and their 5.56mm Rifle (10 lbs).
Four-Day Field Exercise - the purpose of the exercise is to put the Recruit's personal and professional skills to the test under challenging field conditions.
Commando Tests.
The Commando Tests are conducted at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM). Shortly after returning from the field to CTCRM, the Recruits face #the Commando Tests. These are the same Commando Tests undertaken by the Recruits Regular counterparts. For all the Commando Tests the Recruits must carry Full Fighting Order (22 lbs) and the 5.56mm Rifle (10 lbs).
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines
Commando Training Centre Royal Marines
Commando Training Centre Royal Marines is the principal military training centre for the Royal Marines of the British Armed Forces. It is situated near the village of Lympstone, between the city of Exeter, and the town of Exmouth in Devon...
(CTCRM), Lympstone
Lympstone
Lympstone is a village and civil parish in East Devon in the English county of Devon. It has a population of 1,754. There is a harbour on the estuary of the River Exe, lying at the outlet of Wotton Brook between cliffs of red breccia...
. Members from any of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's Regular Armed Forces
British Armed Forces
The British Armed Forces are the armed forces of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.Also known as Her Majesty's Armed Forces and sometimes legally the Armed Forces of the Crown, the British Armed Forces encompasses three professional uniformed services, the Royal Navy, the...
and overseas exchange personnel can attend in order to serve with 3 Commando Brigade
3 Commando Brigade
3 Commando Brigade is a commando formation of the British Armed Forces and the main manoeuvre formation of the Royal Marines. Its personnel are predominantly Royal Marines, supported by units of Royal Engineers, Royal Artillery, The Rifles, and the Fleet Air Arm, together with other Commando...
. On completion of the course the successful candidate earns the right to wear the green beret
Green beret
The green beret was the official headdress of the British Commandos of World War II. It is still worn with pride by members of the Royal Marines after passing the Commando Course and any member of the British Military who has passed the All Arms Commando Course.There are certain other military...
, and to wear the "Commando
British Commandos
The British Commandos were formed during the Second World War in June 1940, following a request from the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, for a force that could carry out raids against German-occupied Europe...
Dagger
Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife
The Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife is a double-edged fighting knife resembling a dagger or poignard with a foil grip developed by William Ewart Fairbairn and Eric Anthony Sykes in Shanghai based on concepts which the two men initiated before World War II while serving on the Shanghai Municipal...
" on their uniform.
Following a 2 week pre-course period, which brings soldiers from a broad range of backgrounds up to a common standard of basic skills, the course focuses on core military skills, including patrolling
Patrolling
Patrolling is a military tactic. Small groups or individual units are deployed from a larger formation to achieve a specific objective and then return. The tactic of patrolling may be applied to ground troops, armoured units, naval units, and combat aircraft...
, defence and section
Section (military unit)
A section is a small military unit in some armies. In many armies, it is a squad of seven to twelve soldiers. However in France and armies based on the French model, it is the sub-division of a company .-Australian Army:...
and troop
Troop
A troop is a military unit, originally a small force of cavalry, subordinate to a squadron and headed by the troop leader. In many armies a troop is the equivalent unit to the infantry section or platoon...
level attacks.
The course then covers the following Commando skills: amphibious
Amphibious warfare
Amphibious warfare is the use of naval firepower, logistics and strategy to project military power ashore. In previous eras it stood as the primary method of delivering troops to non-contiguous enemy-held terrain...
assault drills, cliff assault drills, helicopter drills and small-unit tactics. The course concludes with a week-long confirmatory test exercise followed by Test Week.
Bottom Field Tests
Wearing boots, CS95British Army Uniform
British Army uniform currently exists in several grades, which are worn depending on the requirements of a unit or individual, ranging from ceremonial uniforms to combat dress.-History:...
trousers and jacket, carrying 21 lb (9.5 kg) fighting order
Personal Load Carrying Equipment
Personal Load Carrying Equipment is the current tactical webbing system of the British Army. It consists of a belt, yoke and a number of pouches. Associated with PLCE webbing is a series of other similar load carrying equipment and rucksacks .The purpose of PLCE is to hold everything a soldier...
and personal weapon
SA80
The SA80 is a British family of 5.56mm small arms. It is a selective fire, gas-operated assault rifle. SA80 prototypes were trialled in 1976 and production was completed in 1994....
: rope climb
- Bottom Field assault course in under 5 minutes
- 200 metre fireman's carryFireman's carryA fireman's carry or fireman's lift is a technique allowing one person to carry another person without assistance, by placing the carried person across the shoulders of the carrier....
, carrying own and colleague's equipment and weapon, in 90 seconds - Full regain over the water tank
Criteria Tests
Undertaken during the course, and must be passed to progress.- 4 Mile Speed March - as a formed body in 40 minutes carrying 21 lb (9.5 kg) fighting order and personal weapon
- 6 Mile Speed March - as a formed body in 60 minutes carrying 21 lb (9.5 kg) fighting order and personal weapon
- 12 Mile Load Carry - as a formed body in 4 hours and 40 minutes carrying 69 lb (31.3 kg) marching order and personal weapon
Commando Tests
Completed on consecutive days during the final test week:- Endurance Course - 2 miles (3.2 km) of cross country and water obstacles followed by a 4 miles (6.4 km) road run in 73 minutes for soldiers and 71 minutes for officers carrying 21 lb (9.5 kg) fighting order and a personal weapon, followed immediately by a range shoot in a 25m range simulating 200m, in which 6/10 targets must be hit.
- 9 Mile Speed March - as a formed body in 90 minutes carrying 21 lb (9.5 kg) fighting order and personal weapon
- Tarzan Assault Course - in under 12 minutes carrying 21 lb (9.5 kg) fighting order and personal weapon
- 30 Miler - 30 miles (48.3 km) cross-country march over DartmoorDartmoorDartmoor is an area of moorland in south Devon, England. Protected by National Park status, it covers .The granite upland dates from the Carboniferous period of geological history. The moorland is capped with many exposed granite hilltops known as tors, providing habitats for Dartmoor wildlife. The...
in 8 hours (7 hours for officers, and plan own route) carrying 21 lb (9.5 kg) fighting order and personal weapon
Reserve Commando Course
There is also a Reserve Commando Course run for members of the Royal Marines ReserveRoyal Marines Reserve
The role of the Royal Marines Reserve of the United Kingdom is to support the regular Royal Marines in times of war or national crisis. The RMR consists of some 600-1000 trained ranks distributed among the five RMR Centres within the UK...
and Commando units of the Territorial Army.
The two week Reserve Forces Commando Course (RFCC) at CTCRM is the culmination of the Recruit's Basic Training. The course is designed to test whether the Recruits professional and physical abilities are of the standard required by a Royal Marines Commando.
Outline of the Reserve Forces Commando Course:
- Battle Physical Training (BPT) Pass Out
- 12 Mile Load Carry
- Four Day Field Exercise
- Commando Tests
The BPT Pass Out - is a combination of four physical tests conducted in succession, which must be passed before Recruits are allowed to continue any further with the Commando Course. All the BPT tests are conducted carrying Fighting Order (22 lbs) and 5.56mm Rifle (10 lbs).
- 30 Foot Rope Climb
- 200m Fireman's Carry
- Assault Course
- Full Regain
12 Mile Load Carry - is another criteria test and is conducted as an introduction into the Field Exercise. For the 12-mile march along roads and cross country, recruits are require to carry Full Marching Order weighing 69 lbs and their 5.56mm Rifle (10 lbs).
Four-Day Field Exercise - the purpose of the exercise is to put the Recruit's personal and professional skills to the test under challenging field conditions.
Commando Tests.
The Commando Tests are conducted at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM). Shortly after returning from the field to CTCRM, the Recruits face #the Commando Tests. These are the same Commando Tests undertaken by the Recruits Regular counterparts. For all the Commando Tests the Recruits must carry Full Fighting Order (22 lbs) and the 5.56mm Rifle (10 lbs).