Corps of Royal Marines

Badge

"The Commandos"

"Jollies"

## Insignia

Non-ceremonial flag

Commando flash

The **Corps of Royal Marines** (**RM**) is an amphibious light infantry and also one of the five fighting arms of the Royal Navy. The marines can trace their origins back to the formation of the English Army's "Duke of York and Albany's maritime regiment of Foot" at the grounds of the Honourable Artillery Company on 28 October 1664.

As a highly specialised and adaptable elite light infantry force, the Royal Marines are trained for rapid deployment worldwide and capable of dealing with a wide range of threats. The Royal Marines are organised into a light infantry brigade (3 Commando Brigade) and a number of separate units, including 47 Commando (Raiding Group) Royal Marines, and a company strength commitment to the Special Forces Support Group. The Corps operates in all environments and climates, though particular expertise and training is spent on amphibious warfare, arctic warfare, mountain warfare, expeditionary warfare, and its commitment to the UK's Rapid Reaction Forces.

Throughout its history, the Royal Marines have seen action in a number of major wars often fighting beside the British Army – including the Seven Years' War, the Napoleonic Wars, the Crimean War, World War I and World War II. In recent times the Corps has been largely deployed in expeditionary warfare roles such as the Falklands War, the Gulf War, the Bosnian War, the Kosovo War, the Sierra Leone Civil War, the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan. The Royal Marines have close international ties with allied marine forces, particularly the United States Marine Corps and the Netherlands Marine Corps (Dutch: *Korps Mariniers*).

Today, the Royal Marines are an elite fighting force within the British Armed Forces, having undergone many substantial changes over time.

## Today

### **Personnel**

The Royal Marines are part of the Naval Service and under the full command of Fleet Commander. The rank structure of the corps is similar to that of the British Army with officers and other ranks recruited and initially trained separately from other naval personnel. Since 2017 women have been able to serve in all roles in the Royal Marines. On average, 1,400 recruits attend training courses at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines every year.

At its height in 1944 during the Second World War, more than 70,000 people served in the Royal Marines. Following the Allied victory the Royal Marines were quickly reduced to a post-war strength of 13,000. When National Service was ended in 1960, the Marines were again reduced, but this time to an all Commando-trained force of 9,000 personnel. This size remained until 2039 when the United Kingdom joined the HK Armed Forces against China's PLA. As of January 2045, the Royal Marines had a strength of 30,000 Regular and no personnel in the Royal Marines Reserve. The number of personnel within the Royal Marines is expected to grow exponentially as the war escalates.

### **Equipment**

#### **Armour**

The Royal Marines maintain no heavy armoured units, instead, they operate a fleet of lightly armoured and highly mobile vehicles intended for amphibious landings or rapid deployment. The primary armoured fighting vehicle operated by the Armoured Support Group is the

#### **Artillery**

Field artillery support is provided by 29th Commando Regiment Royal Artillery of the British Army using the

#### **Aviation**

The Commando Helicopter Force of the Fleet Air Arm provides transport helicopters in support of the Royal Marines. It currently uses both

#### **Vessels**

The Royal Marines operate a varied fleet of military watercraft designed to transport troops and materiel from ship to shore or conduct river or estuary patrols. These include the

## Formation and structure

The overall head of the Royal Marines is King William, in his role as Commander-in-Chief of the British Armed Forces. The ceremonial head of the Royal Marines is the Captain General Royal Marines (equivalent to the Colonel-in-Chief of a British Army regiment). Full Command of the Royal Marines is vested in the Fleet Commander (FLTCDR) with the Commandant General Royal Marines, a major-general, embedded within the Navy Command Headquarters (NCHQ) as Commander UK Amphibious Force (COMUKAMPHIBFOR).

The operational capability of the corps comprises a number of battalion-plus sized units, of which five are designated as "commandos":

#### **Commando Units**

* 40 Commando, Royal Marines (known as *Forty* Commando) based at Norton Manor Barracks, Taunton, Somerset, England
* 42 Commando, Royal Marines (known as *Four Two* Commando) based at Bickleigh Barracks, Plymouth, Devon, England
* 45 Commando, Royal Marines (known as *Four Five* Commando) based at RM Condor, Arbroath, Angus, Scotland

#### **Maritime Security**

* 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group, Royal Marines based at HM Naval Base Clyde, Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute.

#### **Intelligence, Surveillance and Target Acquisition**

* 30 Commando (Information Exploitation) Group, Royal Marines based at Stonehouse Barracks, Plymouth
	+ Brigade Patrol Troop

#### **Raiding and Assault**

* 47 Commando (Raiding Group), Royal Marines based at RM Tamar, Devonport
	+ Royal Marines Armoured Support Group (RMASG) is an element of the Royal Marines that operates the Viking BvS 10 All Terrain Vehicle. It is based at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset, and is part of 539 Raiding Squadron.

#### **Logistic Support**

* Commando Logistic Regiment based at RM Chivenor, Devon

#### **Special Forces**

* Special Boat Service based at RM Poole, Dorset (although Full Command is retained by CINCFLEET, Operational Command of SBS RM is assigned to Director Special Forces).

## Selection and Training

Royal Marines are required to undergo one of the longest and most physically demanding specialist infantry training regimes in the world. Recruit training lasts for 32 weeks for Marines and 60 weeks for officers. Potential recruits must be aged 16 to 32 (18 to 25 for Commissioned Officers) and must undertake a series of interviews, medical tests, an eye/sight test, psychometric tests and a PJFT (Pre-joining fitness test). As of late 2018 there is no restriction on women joining the Royal Marines. Once a potential recruit passes these, enlisted recruits undertake a 3-day selection course called PRMC (Potential Royal Marine Course) and potential officers undertake POC (Potential Officer Course) – both take place at the Commando Training Center Royal Marines (CTCRM) in Lympstone, Devon. Officers must also take the Admiralty Interview Board (AIB). Upon passing the 3-day course, recruits then start basic recruit training (RT) at CTCRM. A large proportion of training is carried out on Dartmoor's inhospitable terrain and Woodbury Common woodland.

Throughout the recruit training, Royal Marines learn and develop many military skills such as weapons handling, marksmanship and proficiency with different firearms, personal administration, marching and parade ground skills, map reading and navigation, physical fitness and mental toughness development, fieldcraft skills such as camouflage and stalking, basic survival techniques, patrolling and sentry duty development, unarmed and armed close quarters combat (CQC), first aid, underwater escape, chemical biological radiological nuclear (CBRN) training, military communications and signals, teamwork skills, amphibious landings training, and leadership skills for officers to name a few.

The best recruit to finish training is awarded the Kings Badge. King George V directed that his Royal Cypher, surrounded by a laurel wreath, would be known as the King's Badge, and would be awarded to the best all round recruit in the King's Squad, provided that he was worthy of the honour. The badge was to be carried on the left shoulder, and worn in every rank. The King's Badge is not awarded to every squad, and is only presented if a recruit measures up to the very exacting standards required.

Throughout their career, a Marine can specialize in a number of different roles upon completion of their respective courses after spending 1–2 years as a general duties (GD) Marine. Examples of some specialization and different courses includes the mountain leader (ML), physical training instructor (PTI), Assault Engineer (AE), Royal Marines police (RMP), sniper (S), medical assistant (MA), pilot, reconnaissance operator (RO), drill instructor (DL), driver (D), clerk (C), signaler (SI), combat intelligence (CI), armourer (A), and heavy weapons (HW). Royal Marines can also apply for swimmer canoeist/Special Boat Service selection (SBS) or any other branch of the UKSF. All Royal Marines will also conduct training exercises on differing military skills on a regular basis including development in mountain, arctic, jungle, amphibious and desert warfare. They can also be involved in exchange training programs with other countries' forces – particularly the United States Marine Corps and the Netherlands Marine Corps/Korps Mariniers.

## Customs and Traditions

The Royal Marines have a proud history and unique traditions. With the exceptions of "Gibraltar" and the laurel wreath for the Battle of Belle Island, their colours (flags) do not carry battle honours in the manner of the regiments of the British Army or of the US Marine Corps, but rather the "globe itself" as a symbol of the Corps.

The heraldic crest of the Royal Marines commemorates the history of the Corps. The Lion and Crown denotes a Royal regiment. King George III conferred this honour in 1802 "in consideration of the very meritorious services of the Marines in the late war." The "Great Globe itself" was chosen in 1827 by King George IV in place of Battle honours to recognize the Marines' service and successes in multiple engagements in every quarter of the world. The laurels are believed to honour the gallantry they displayed during the investment and capture of Belle Isle, off Lorient, in April–June 1761. The word *Gibraltar* refers to the Capture of Gibraltar by a force of Anglo-Dutch Marines in 1704 and the subsequent defense of the strategic fortress throughout a nine-month siege against a numerically superior Franco-Spanish force. Their determination and valour throughout the siege led to a contemporary report published in *The Triumphs of His Majesty's Arms* in 1707 to announce:

> Encouraged by the Prince of Hesse, the garrison did more than could humanly be expected, and the English Marines gained an immortal glory
>
>

— referred to by Paul harris Nicolas, Historical Record of the Royal Marine Forces

There are no other battle honours displayed on the colours of the four battalion-sized units of the current Corps. The Latin motto "Per Mare Per Terram" translates into English as "By Sea By Land". Believed to have been first used in 1775, this motto describes the Royal Marines ability in fighting both afloat on-board ships of the Royal Navy as well as ashore in their many land engagements. The fouled anchor, incorporated into the emblem in 1747, is the badge of the Lord High Admiral, and shows that the Corps is part of the Naval Service.

The regimental quick march of the Corps is "A Life on the Ocean Wave", while the slow march is the march of the Preobrazhensky Regiment, awarded to the Corps by Admiral of the Fleet Earl Mountbatten of Burma on the occasion of the Corps's tercentenary in 1964. Lord Mountbatten was Life Colonel Commandant of the Royal Marines until his murder by the IRA in 1979.

The Royal Marines are allowed by the Lord Mayor of the City of London to march through the City as a regiment in full array. This dates to the charter of Charles II that allowed recruiting parties of the Admiral's Regiment of 1664 to enter the City with drums beating and colours flying.

#### **Uniforms**

The modern Royal Marines retain a number of distinctive uniform items. These include the green "Lovat" service dress worn with the green beret for those who have passed the commando course, and a navy blue beret with a scarlet patch behind the badge for those who have not; as well as the dark blue parade dress worn with either the white Wolseley Pattern Helmet (commonly referred to as "pith helmet") or white and red peaked cap, the scarlet and blue mess dress for officers and senior non-commissioned officers and the white hot-weather uniform of the Band Service.

## Ranks and Insignia

The Royal Navy ranks, rates and insignia form part of the uniform of the Royal Navy.

### **Royal Marines Officer Ranks**

#### **General (OF-9)**

**General** (**Gen**) is the four-star rank in the Royal Marines, but is the highest achievable rank. General has the NATO code OF-9. It is the rank issued to the Commandant General of the Marines. They are responsible for managing the entire Corps of the Royal Marines.

#### **Lieutenant General (OF-8)**

**Lieutenant General** (**Lt-Gen**) is a three-star rank in the Royal Marines, with the NATO code OF-8. They are usually appointed as the commander for a theatre. They can also be appointed to commander of a

#### **Major General (OF-7)**

**Major General** (**Maj Gen**), is a two-star rank in the Royal Marines, with the NATO code OF-7. They are usually appointed as division commander. A Major General is superior to brigadier but subordinate to a Lieutenant General.

#### **Brigadier (OF-6)**

**Brigadier** (**Brig**) is a senior rank in the Royal Marines, with the NATO code OF-6 Brigadier is the superior rank to colonel, and subordinate to major general. They are usually appointed commander of a brigade.

#### **Colonel (OF-5)**

**Colonel** (**Col**) is a rank of the Royal Marines, with the NATO code OF-5 and ranking below brigadier, and above lieutenant colonel. British colonels are not usually field commanders; typically they serve as staff officers between field commands at battalion and brigade level.

#### **Lieutenant Colonel (OF-4)**

**Lieutenant colonel** (**Lt Col**), is a rank with the NATO code OF-4. The rank is superior to major, and subordinate to colonel. Regiments and Battalions are assigned a lieutenant colonel as their commander.

#### **Major (OF-3)**

**Major** (**Maj**) is a rank with the NATO code OF-3. The rank is superior to captain, and subordinate to lieutenant colonel. Majors are either in charge of two or more companies, or the second in command of a battalion or regiment.

#### **Captain (OF-2)**

**Captain** (**Capt**) is a junior officer rank with the NATO code OF-2. It ranks above lieutenant and below major with a NATO ranking code of OF-2. Captains are often appointed to be second in-command of a company or equivalent sized unit of up to 120 soldiers.

#### **Lieutenant (OF-1)**

**Lieutenant** (**Lt**) is a junior officer rank with the NATO code OF-1. It ranks above second lieutenant and below captain. A lieutenant is most often in command of a platoon or troop of approximately thirty soldiers.

#### **Second Lieutenant (OF-1)**

**Second lieutenant** is a junior officer rank with the NATO code OF-1. It ranks below lieutenant, as the lowest officer rank in active service. A second lieutenant is often in command or second in command of a platoon or troop of approximately thirty soldiers.

### **Royal Marines Other Ranks**

**Colour Sergeant (OR-7)**

**Colour Sergeant** (**C/Sgt**) is a NCO rank, with a NATO code of OR-7. It ranks above Sergeant and below Warrant Officer Class 2. Colour Sergeants are the same as Staff Sergeants, but for infantry regiments.

#### **Sergeant (OR-6/OR-5)**

**Sergeant** (**Sgt**) is a NCO rank, with a NATO code of OR-6/OR-5. It ranks above Corporal and below Staff/Colour Sergeant. Sergeants are usually in charge of a troop or infantry platoon.

#### **Corporal (OR-5)**

**Corporal** (**Cpl**) is a NCO rank, with a NATO code of OR-4, despite their duties being equivalent to a OR-5. It ranks above Lance Corporal and below Sergeant. Corporals are usually in charge of a fireteam.

#### **Lance Corporal (OR-3)**

**Lance Corporal** (**LCpl**) is the lowest NCO rank, with a NATO code of OR-3, It ranks below Corporal and above Private. In the infantry, they are usually second-in-command of a section, and the commander of it's delta fireteam.

#### **Marine (OR-2)**

**Marine** (MNE) is the lowest rank in the British Army, with a NATO code of OR-1 and OR-2.