All Arms Commando Course The All Arms Commando Course lasts for 8 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 ( e . g . personnel from units attached to the Marines ) and overseas exchange personnel can attend in order 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 . Following a 5 week pre - course period , which brings soldiers from a broad range of backgrounds up to a common standard of basic skills , the course focuses on core military skills , including patrolling , defence and section and troop level attacks . The AACC is for trained military ranks only and is not open to new recruits into the armed forces . The course then covers the following Commando skills : amphibious assault drills , cliff assault drills , helicopter drills and small - unit tactics . The course concludes with a week - long confirmatory test exercise followed by Test Week . The course is open to both men and women . In 2002 Major Philippa Tattersall of the Adjutant General ' s Corps became the first ( and so far , only ) woman to have successfully completed it . Tests . The following Tests must be passed by the volunteers : Bottom Field Tests . Wearing boots , CS95 trousers and jacket , carrying fighting order and personal weapon : Criteria Tests . Undertaken during the course , and must be passed to progress . Commando Tests . Completed on consecutive days during the final test week : Reserve Commando Course . There is also a Reserve Commando Course run for members of the Royal Marines Reserve and Commando units of the Territorial Army . The two week Reserve Forces Commando Course ( RFCC ) at CTCRM is the culmination of the Recruit ' s Basic Training . The course is designed to test whether the Recruits professional and physical abilities are of the standard required by a Royal Marines Commando . Outline of the Reserve Forces Commando Course : The BPT Pass Out - is a combination of four physical tests conducted in succession , which must be passed before Recruits are allowed to continue any further with the Commando Course . All the BPT tests are conducted carrying Fighting Order ( 22 lbs ) and 5 . 56mm Rifle ( 10 lbs ) . 12 Mile Load Carry - is another criteria test and is conducted as an introduction into the Field Exercise . For the 12 - mile march along roads and cross country , recruits are require to carry Full Marching Order weighing 69 lbs and their 5 . 56mm Rifle ( 10 lbs ) . Four - Day Field Exercise - the purpose of the exercise is to put the Recruit ' s personal and professional skills to the test under challenging field conditions . Commando Tests . The Commando Tests are conducted at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines ( CTCRM ) . Shortly after returning from the field to CTCRM , the Recruits face # the Commando Tests . These are the same Commando Tests undertaken by the Recruits Regular counterparts . For all the Commando Tests the Recruits must carry Full Fighting Order ( 22 lbs ) and the 5 . 56mm Rifle ( 10 lbs ) .