Commando Training Centre Royal Marines

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Commando Training Centre Royal Marines
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Lympstone, Devon
Lympstone Commando Training Centre across the mudflats - geograph.org.uk - 4294566.jpg
Commando Training Centre Royal Marines, from across the River Exe
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Commando Training Centre Royal Marines
Location within Devon
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Commando Training Centre Royal Marines
Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (the United Kingdom)
Coordinates 50°39′50″N3°26′17″W / 50.663971°N 3.438024°W / 50.663971; -3.438024
TypeRoyal Marines Base
Site information
Owner Ministry of Defence
OperatorNaval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy
Controlled byFlag of the Royal Marines.svg  Royal Marines
Website CTCRM Lympstone - Royal Navy
Site history
Built1940
Built for Admiralty
In use1940-Present
Garrison information
GarrisonCommando Training Centre
OccupantsCommando Wing
Commando Training Wing
Specialist Wing

Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM) is the principal military training centre for the Royal Marines. It is situated near the villages of Lympstone and Exton, between the city of Exeter, and the town of Exmouth in Devon, England.

Contents

History

The site was established in 1940 as the "Royal Marines Depot Exton" and was renamed the "Royal Marines Depot Lympstone" later in the Second World War. [1] In February 1960 the Commando School Royal Marines, which had been based at Bickleigh Barracks, moved to the site. [2] [3] The site was renamed the "Commando Training Centre Royal Marines" in 1972. [1]

Organisation

Royal Marine Recruits Rope Climbing at the Commando Training Centre Roayl Marine Recruits Rope Climbing at CTCRM MOD 45152269.jpg
Royal Marine Recruits Rope Climbing at the Commando Training Centre

CTCRM is under the full command of Fleet Commander and responsible for providing commando trained officers and other ranks for the front line. CTCRM is overseen by the Commandant CTCRM, a colonel, Royal Marines. [4] CTCRM is structured with three training wings (Command Wing, Commando Training Wing and Specialist Wing) each with its own commanding officer. [4]

Courses

Candidates who wish to become Other Ranks are required to pass Recruit Orientation Phase (ROP) for 4 weeks before beginning the mainstream 32 weeks training held at CTCRM, in addition to undergoing academic, medical and interview assessments for candidates to the British armed forces. [5] New entry training for Royal Marines other ranks (the "commando course") is undertaken at CTCRM, at Dartmoor, and at Woodbury Common, Devon, and is conducted over thirty-two weeks. [4] Candidates who pass the commando course receive the award of the green beret, the distinguishing mark of a commando. [4]

Those who wish to become Royal Marine Officers must pass the Potential Officers Course (POC). [6] This is a four-day course that assesses physical and academic ability and is very similar to the PRMC. Those who pass this and then perform well at the Admiralty Interview Board (AIB) will be given a place on the Young Officer Training course. This course lasts 15 months, of which 34 weeks are spent at CTC Lympstone [7] and the remainder at Britannia Royal Naval College and on the West Coast of Scotland. [7] The centre delivers new entry training to an average of 1,300 recruits a year. In addition 2,000 potential recruits and 400 potential officers attend acquaint courses. [4]

Lympstone Commando

CTCRM is served by Lympstone Commando railway station on the "Avocet Line". [8]

Cadets

CTCRM is the home of Lympstone Division Royal Marines Volunteer Cadet Corps [9] which is open to boys and girls aged 9 to 16 (who can serve until aged 18) from the local south east Devon area. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Marines</span> Marines of the United Kingdom

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lympstone Commando railway station</span> Railway station in the Devon, England

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lympstone</span> Village in Devon, England

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Arms Commando Course</span>

The All Arms Commando Course (AACC) lasts for 13 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 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. The Royal Marines expect that nearly half of the volunteers will drop out or be dismissed before completing the AACC. The primary aim of the course is to give service personnel the core military skills necessary for Extremely and Very High readiness Commando and Littoral Strike operations.

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References

  1. 1 2 "75 years of Commando Training at Lympstone". Royal Navy. 23 February 2015. Archived from the original on 25 January 2020. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  2. "Royal Marines History" (PDF). Marine Society and Sea Cadet Marine Cadet Section. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 July 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  3. "RMITC / CTCRM - Lympstone". Exeter Flotilla. Archived from the original on 14 May 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Commando Training Centre". Royal Navy. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  5. "Getting Ready to be a Royal Marines Commando" . Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  6. "Royal Marine Commando Officer | Guide to the Joining Process". www.royalnavy.mod.uk. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  7. 1 2 "Royal Marines Commando | Officer Training | What to Expect". www.royalnavy.mod.uk. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  8. FOI request sent through Whatdotheyknow
  9. 1 2 "Lympstone". Volunteer Cadet Corps. Retrieved 27 January 2021.