Commando Training Centre Royal Marines
Encyclopedia
Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM) 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
. The centre delivers new entry training to recruits and officers, as well as specialist trade training and command course for Non-commissioned officer
s (NCO), and officers of the Royal Marines
, Royal Marines Reserve
, special forces snipers, and the wider armed forces.
The Royal Marines is the only element of the armed forces to train officers and other ranks at the same location.
trained officers and other ranks for the front line. CTC is overseen by the Commandant CTCRM, a Brigadier
, Royal Marines, on behalf of the Commandant General Royal Marines
, who is supported by a Deputy Commandant, the Commanding Officer
.
The centre is structured with three training wings supported by a Training Support Department which provides the training infrastructure. Each wing is commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel
, reporting to the Director of Training for the standard of training output.
(PRMC), held at CTCRM, in addition to academic, medical and interview assessments for candidates to the British armed forces. PRMC lasts 3 days and assesses physical ability and intellectual capacity to undertake the recruit training. Officer candidates must undertake a similar selection called a POC (Potential Officers Course), which is more physically demanding and also has tests of leadership and command plus the Admiralty Interview Board
.
New entry training for RM Other Ranks is conducted over thirty-two weeks, the longest infantry training course in NATO, and is undertaken at CTC, Woodbury Common
and Dartmoor
. The course culminates in the commando tests, undertaken over three days, leading to the award of the green beret
, the distinguishing mark of a Commando
.
New entry officer training is undertaken over fifteen months, with Young Officers completing a similar package of military training leading to the commando tests coupled with an element of command and management training leading to commissioning. The performance targets for the commando tests are more demanding than those for other ranks.
On completion of training new trained ranks and officers will normally be posted to a rifle company in one of the three Commando formations of the RM, later electing to specialise in one of the trades available. A number of trade specialisation courses are conducted at CTCRM, with others being undertaken elsewhere.
Command courses are undertaken by candidates for promotion, encompassing the military and leadership skills required at the higher rank as well as the management skills required for supervisory roles.
CTCRM delivers the All Arms Commando Course
, providing commando training non-RM: Army
, Royal Navy
and Royal Air Force
personnel posted to commandos or elements of 3 Commando Brigade
.
on the "Avocet Line
", only open to those having business at the base.
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...
of the British 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...
. It is situated near the village of 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...
, between the city of Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
, and the town of Exmouth
Exmouth, Devon
Exmouth is a port town, civil parish and seaside resort in East Devon, England, sited on the east bank of the mouth of the River Exe. In 2001, it had a population of 32,972.-History:...
in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
. The centre delivers new entry training to recruits and officers, as well as specialist trade training and command course for Non-commissioned officer
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
s (NCO), and officers of the Royal Marines
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...
, Royal Marines Reserve
Royal 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...
, special forces snipers, and the wider armed forces.
The Royal Marines is the only element of the armed forces to train officers and other ranks at the same location.
Organisation
CTCRM is under the full command of Commander in Chief Fleet, and responsible for providing CommandoCommando
In English, the term commando means a specific kind of individual soldier or military unit. In contemporary usage, commando usually means elite light infantry and/or special operations forces units, specializing in amphibious landings, parachuting, rappelling and similar techniques, to conduct and...
trained officers and other ranks for the front line. CTC is overseen by the Commandant CTCRM, a Brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
, Royal Marines, on behalf of the Commandant General Royal Marines
Commandant General Royal Marines
The Commandant General Royal Marines is the professional head of the Royal Marines. The title has existed since 1945...
, who is supported by a Deputy Commandant, the Commanding Officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
.
The centre is structured with three training wings supported by a Training Support Department which provides the training infrastructure. Each wing is commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
, reporting to the Director of Training for the standard of training output.
Courses
Candidates for the RM are required to attend the Potential Royal Marine CoursePotential Royal Marine Course
The Potential Royal Marines Course, often abbreviated to PRMC, is the Royal Marines selection course for Potential Recruits. The course is held at CTCRM, and is designed to assess a candidate's suitability for entry into the Royal Marines...
(PRMC), held at CTCRM, in addition to academic, medical and interview assessments for candidates to the British armed forces. PRMC lasts 3 days and assesses physical ability and intellectual capacity to undertake the recruit training. Officer candidates must undertake a similar selection called a POC (Potential Officers Course), which is more physically demanding and also has tests of leadership and command plus the Admiralty Interview Board
Admiralty Interview Board
The Admiralty Interview Board is the instrument of Officer selection for the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Marines Reserve, and Royal Fleet Auxiliary...
.
New entry training for RM Other Ranks is conducted over thirty-two weeks, the longest infantry training course in NATO, and is undertaken at CTC, Woodbury Common
Woodbury Common
Woodbury Common may refer to:* Woodbury Common, Devon, an area of common land near Woodbury, Devon* Woodbury Common Premium Outlets, an outlet center near Central Valley, New York...
and Dartmoor
Dartmoor
Dartmoor 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...
. The course culminates in the commando tests, undertaken over three days, leading to the award of 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...
, the distinguishing mark of a Commando
Commando
In English, the term commando means a specific kind of individual soldier or military unit. In contemporary usage, commando usually means elite light infantry and/or special operations forces units, specializing in amphibious landings, parachuting, rappelling and similar techniques, to conduct and...
.
New entry officer training is undertaken over fifteen months, with Young Officers completing a similar package of military training leading to the commando tests coupled with an element of command and management training leading to commissioning. The performance targets for the commando tests are more demanding than those for other ranks.
On completion of training new trained ranks and officers will normally be posted to a rifle company in one of the three Commando formations of the RM, later electing to specialise in one of the trades available. A number of trade specialisation courses are conducted at CTCRM, with others being undertaken elsewhere.
Command courses are undertaken by candidates for promotion, encompassing the military and leadership skills required at the higher rank as well as the management skills required for supervisory roles.
CTCRM delivers the All Arms Commando Course
All Arms Commando Course
The All Arms Commando Course lasts for 9 weeks and is run by the Royal Marines at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines , 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...
, providing commando training non-RM: Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
and Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
personnel posted to commandos or elements of 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...
.
Lympstone Commando
CTCRM is served by Lympstone Commando railway stationLympstone Commando railway station
Lympstone Commando railway station is a railway station on the branch line from Exeter to Exmouth in Devon, England.The station is a rare example of a passenger station not open to the general public: it is exclusively for the use of visitors to the Royal Marine Commando Training Centre at...
on the "Avocet Line
Avocet Line
The Avocet Line is the railway line in England connecting Exeter with Exmouth. It was originally built by the London and South Western Railway. The line follows the Exe Estuary for most of its route, giving views of the estuary...
", only open to those having business at the base.