The Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM) is one of several military institutions which has been training potential JDF officers over the decades. The CTRCM turns out Royal Marine Commandos for the United Kingdom and select Commonwealth countries. The first Commandos were Afrikaner soldiers trained to act independently in unfavourable conditions, carrying out raids behind British lines. It was at the insistence of World War 2 British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill, that the Commandos were founded in Britain. He suggested that an elite set of troops, capable of creating havoc deep in the enemy’s line, was needed. JDF officers attend the Young Officers Commando Course and benefit from the same exacting training as their British counterparts.

After spending three weeks at Newcastle, two of us flew out from the sunny tropical climate of the Caribbean to the wretched cold of South Devon, England. We spent the first ten weeks at CTCRM on initial military training: field craft, first aid, signals and weapon training. Interspersed were our six-mile runs and our sessions in the gym, meeting the initial military fitness (IMF) standard. Passing the IMF meant successfully completing the required number of push-ups, chin-ups, thirty-foot rope climbs and vaulting. Only then were we introduced to the bottom field where things became progressively harder with the addition of webbing on our backs, weighing 22lbs and our SA80s. We started at the top of the ropes, jumped the water ditch, and crashed into the six-foot wall. Leaving some skin under the cargo net, we swung across the monkey bars, hung precariously from the regains, ran through the tunnels and at the end shouted, in my case, "Linton Staff!"

Physical fitness is necessary to successfully complete the CTCRM Young Officers (YOs) course. The constant number of speed marches and carrying of bergens that weighed over a 100lbs had its toll on a number of YOs, some of whom were medically discharged, back termed, or made to quit. Our batch of twenty-three YOs was reduced to sixteen by the end of training. Another facet of the training at CTCRM is the number of training exercises and the periods spent living in the field. In essence, this is what being a Commando is about; being able to operate independently for prolonged periods without any contact with your parent unit.

After six months of rigorous training, we arrived in the middle of winter and nearer to the big one, the Commando Course. The first week was interest week where we were introduced to the different cadres in the Royal Marines. We spent time with the Mountain Leaders (marines trained in how to operate in mountainous and Arctic conditions). They taught us the rudiments of cliff and heliborne assaults. We spent time with members of 539 Assault Squadron, where we were familiarized with the Landing Craft Utility (LCU), rigid raiders, cross decking drills and amphibious raids. We employed all these techniques on Exercise Green Beret, as we sailed along the English coast planning and carrying out raids at different locations.

The final week was Commando Test Week, every Young Officer would have to be successful in this test in order to be rewarded with the symbolic green beret. All previous test and exercises contribute to the readiness for this week of tests. These tests are taken in full fighting order; webbing weighing a minimum of 22lbs and our faithful companion weighing just under 9lbs, the SA80. These tests decide if your previous six months of sweat, tears, and blood were in vain. If successful, one would be rewarded with the coveted green beret.

On the Monday morning there is the endurance course; a four-mile speed march, then the negotiation of a series of water obstacles and tunnels which cover approximately three miles. Then there is the four-mile-run back to camp. The entire course should take less than 70 minutes. The test ends on the 25m range, where a minimum of six shots from ten, must score hits.

Tuesday, the Tarzan assault course starts with the ‘death slide’ down a rope from an elevation of approximately 50m. This is followed by a series of hanging rope obstacles, and run of at least 200m followed by the assault course (200m). Finally there is a 30ft rope climb, before collapsing at the feet of the medic.

On Wednesday there is the 9-mile speed march. We complete this within 90 minutes then conduct a troop attack. On Thursday, the most difficult of all the tests is undertaken; the 30 miler which is to be done within 7 hours. At this point during test week, my feet were bruised, swollen, and numb all at the same time from the previous days of activities. I can still recall the feeling of anxiety and nervousness as we formed up on that dark Thursday morning at the back gate of Okhampton Camp, taking a nervous look at my watch every now and again as it drew nearer and nearer to 0600hrs when we would take off over the marshes and hills of Dartmoor for the next 7 hours.