A brand new BBC collection goes behind the scenes of the gruelling coaching that Royal Marine Commandos need to undergo, culminating with 4 assessments that have to be handed. Watch a clip right here:
Commando: Britain’s Ocean Warriors lets viewers see first-hand simply what it takes to make the grade for one of many world’s most revered army items, whereas additionally exploring the ‘heritage, ethos, tradition and certainly the fashionable function’ of the Royal Marine Commando.
Based on the four-part collection, the street to changing into a Commando begins with the ‘longest infantry coaching on the earth’. With 26,000 hopefuls making use of yearly, solely 400 go on to succeed.
Within the first episode, we meet younger recruits Dom and Kane as they put together to tackle the 4 hellish remaining assessments, accomplished over the course of every week. Solely then can they name themselves a Commando, but when they don’t cross all of them, eight months of coaching can be for nothing.
Matt Holmes, who was Commandant Common of the Royal Marines between 2019 and 2021, says: “When you haven’t received a touch of nervousness, you’re most likely mendacity – partly as a result of it means a lot to you.
“You’ve come by way of all that coaching and also you’re determined to cross the assessments.”
The primary take a look at is called the Endurance Course, which sees recruits deal with a 6.5-mile observe inside a time restrict of 73 minutes to check stamina, nerve, velocity and marksmanship.
Falklands veteran Ricky explains: “The primary take a look at: two-and-a-half miles of cross nation – undulating floor, wading by way of bogs, crawling by way of tunnels, you’re freezing chilly, you’re soaking moist – adopted by a four-mile run, with a taking pictures take a look at on the finish of it, which have to be handed.
“You’ve received to maintain pushing your self.”
Recruits then have to finish the 9 Mile Velocity March, a group take a look at that sees them begin and end a squadded run as a troop inside 90 minutes.
“It’s a collective take a look at, in time, in keeping with one another,” Ricky says.
“You want these different guys round you, they usually want you as properly.
“You’re getting from A to B, match to combat on the finish, that’s what the 9 Mile is designed for.”
After this, it’s the one-mile Tarzan Assault Course, which is designed to push recruits’ our bodies to the restrict – a take a look at that’s accountable for extra critical accidents than some other.
“It’s excessive depth army agility at velocity, at peak, floor, crawling, climbing, all the pieces else,” Ricky explains.
“You’ll be able to’t tempo your self, you’re overcoming a number of various kinds of obstacles as rapidly as you’ll be able to to take care of the momentum of battle.”
Inside simply 13 minutes, recruits should work by way of plenty of obstacles together with ‘The Deathslide’, ‘Commando Crawl’, ‘The Web’, ‘Rope Bridge’ and ‘Jacob’s Ladder’ earlier than a rope climb up a 30ft wall.
In the event that they end after the time restrict or miss any obstacles, they nonetheless fail the entire commando course.
As soon as completed with that, they’re nonetheless not finished, with the 30 Miler nonetheless remaining – the longest activity of the week, which is designed to ‘weed out the weak once they’re at their lowest ebb’.
With lower than eight hours to complete the ultimate take a look at, recruits should race by way of 30 miles of various terrain throughout Dartmoor, all whereas carrying 30lbs of apparatus that may historically be taken into battle.
“A few of that’s by way of bogs, crossing rivers, up and down hills, over undulating floor,” Ricky explains.
“It’s endurance of the very best stage. To maintain going, hours and hours and hours on finish. You’ve received to navigate as properly, it goes half and parcel with all the pieces that we do within the Royal Marines.
“A lot is driving on that take a look at. When you’ve handed it efficiently, it’s so particular. You’ve earned your inexperienced beret, consider me. You actually have.”
Watch Commando: Britain’s Ocean Warriors on BBC One on Sunday 8 Might at 8pm.
