Royal Marines

The Royal Marines is a small but powerful part of the Navy. It is its amphibious infantry – operating in the air, on land and at sea. The Royal Marines is only open to male applicants and obtaining a commission is not easy. However, once you have obtained your green beret you will be working for one of the UK's elite fighting forces and there are many areas of specialisation to progress onto.

Specialist career routes in the Royal Marines

Officers can specialise in:

• heavy weapons 
• intelligence 
• landing craft 
• mountain leadership 
• physical training and sports 
• piloting 
• signals 
• staff duties 
• the Special Boat Service 
• weapons training. 

Commandos can specialise in a range of areas, from armoured support to combat intelligence.

Royal Marines recruitment

To become an officer in the Royal Marines:

1. Attend the three-day Potential Royal Marines Course (PRMC) at the Commando Training Centre in Lympstone. This includes physical tests, aptitude tests, leadership and teamwork exercises and interviews. 
2. Attend the two-day Admiralty Interview Board at HMS Sultan in Hampshire. This includes a medical examination and fitness test, various aptitude tests, a biographical questionnaire, an essay, leadership and planning exercises, and an interview.
3. Successful applicants spend 54 weeks at the Commando Training Centre. This involves strenuous physical training alongside leadership and management training. Phase two of training involves being in charge of a troop of Marines for around a year, before being promoted to lieutenant or captain.