29th Commando Regiment Royal Artillery 29 Commando Regiment is the Commando - trained unit of the British Army ' s Royal Artillery . The regiment is under the operational control of 3 Commando Brigade providing artillery support and gunnery observation . History . 29 Field Regiment Royal Artillery became 29 Commando Light Regiment Royal Artillery in 1962 . This consisted of three gun batteries numbered 8 ( Alma ) , 79 ( Kirkee ) , and 145 ( Maiwand ) . At that time , each battery consisted of 4 x 105mm pack howitzers ( Italian Mountain Gun ) and manned with approximately 65 men . The early commando training was initiated in the Royal Citadel at Plymouth with a four week ' beat up ' to select those who would go on to CTCRM Lympstone and complete the five week Commando course ( X Troop ) with the Royal Marine trainees where all qualified for the Green Beret . In 1965 , 95 Commando Light Regiment Royal Artillery formed with 8 ( Alma ) moving from 29 and 7 ( Sphinx ) came out of mothballs . From 1965 until 1970 the two regiments were based alternately in Singapore or The Royal Citadel in Plymouth . The Naval gunfire support batteries were 20 Battery with 29 Regiment and 148 ( Meiktila ) Battery with 95 Regiment . During this period the regiments saw action in Aden and Borneo as well as spending time on HMS Albion , HMS Bulwark , HMS Intrepid , and HMS Fearless travelling to trouble spots world wide . In 1971 the two regiments joined together and formed 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery with four gun batteries . The Naval Gunfire Support batteries became 95 Commando Forward Observation Unit . The Gun Batteries were then attached to a Royal Marine Commando as part of a Commando Group . For example 45 Commando Group consisted of 45 Commando Royal Marines , 7 ( Sphinx ) Commando Battery Royal Artillery , 45 Commando Air Squadron , Condor Troop Royal Engineers and an Ordnance section . The regiment was stationed in Northern Ireland in the early 1970s . During the 1982 Falklands War , 29 Commando Regiment accompanied the Royal Marines , providing much needed support with their L118 Light Gun s . In 1996 , during the celebrations of the regiment ' s centenary in the Citadel in Plymouth , the honorary Freedom of the City of Plymouth was conferred on the regiment ( with the unanimous support of Plymouth City Council ) . They were also sent to Afghanistan to help with the operations against Al Qaeda and Taliban militants . Organisation . The regiment consists of an HQ battery , three gun batteries , a Naval Gunfire Support Forward Observation battery and an attached Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers workshop which includes a Royal Logistic Corps stores section . The gun batteries are equipped with six L118 105MM light guns and three Observation Posts each . In addition the regiment is supported by 266 ( GVA ) Commando Battery , their affiliated Territorial Army unit , who train with and support 29 Regiment on operations . Selection and training . Soldiers volunteer for 29 Commando Regiment from the regular units of the Royal Artillery , Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers , and other attached arms and services ( e . g . chefs , clerks etc . ) and are required to undergo Commando training following entry to the regiment . Personnel are inducted into ' PC Troop ' ( Potential Commando Troop ) and taken through a six week foundation course at Okehampton , covering the basics of field craft , navigation , physical training , skill at arms and commando history . The course teaches anything that may have been missed in Phase One and Phase Two training as well as new commando skills . After completing foundation , candidates start the four week Commando Conditioning Course ( CCC ) or otherwise known as ' beat - up ' . This is a rigorous phase where personnel are required to pass multiple criteria tests in all aspects of commando training in order to qualify for the All Arms Commando Course ( AACC ) . The AACC is an arduous nine - week course conducted at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines at Lympstone , Devon culminating in the Commando tests and leading to the award of the Green beret . Gunners then go on to complete further specialist training as required .