Unit/ Formation: Barracks/ Camps
Location: Great Britian
Period/ Conflict: 1900's
Year: 1960
Date/s: 1960
The training of commandos after the War continued at Bickleigh until 1954 under the staff of the Commando School and then under a cadre of 42 RM Commando except when this Commando was re–mobilised.
In 1960 all commando training was concentrated at Lympstone (at one time known as Exton) in Devon. By 1969 it was part of the Training Group RM. On 24 August 1970 Lympstone was redesignated the Commando Training Centre. [1]
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.
CTCRM is divided into 3 training wings, each with its own Commanding Officer.
Command Wing
Commando Training Wing
Specialist Wing
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.
Marines Commando 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.
Your Royal Navy career begins at Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM), Lympstone. If successful after the Recruit Orientation Phase (ROP) and throughout the process, you’ll spend 32 weeks here and learn the skills you need to become an elite soldier. Your one-way train ticket will be purchased for you at the start of training. [2]
Commando Phase – 8 weeks
If successful in the first stages of training, recruits progress to introductory Commando training. This will see them undertake: Live firing tactical training - at section and troop level, day and night manoeuvre training and amphibious foundation training.
A final exercise and four Commando tests will follow:
The endurance course: Two miles of tunnels, pools, streams, bogs and woods, followed by a four mile run back to camp where recruits will need to achieve six out of ten in a shooting test.
The nine-mile speed march: This needs to be completed in 90 minutes, as a unified squad, while carrying 30lbs of equipment and rifle.
The Tarzan assault course: This is an aerial assault course which needs to be completed in 13 minutes, while carrying 30lbs of equipment and rifle.
The 30-mile march: This is a march across Dartmoor, which needs to be completed in less than eight hours, carrying 40lbs of equipment and a rifle [3]
References:
[2] Royal Navy MOD