NOT only can they walk on water, but they can fly as well. A Royal Marine demonstrates his dexterity as he celebrates completing one of the most physically-demanding courses in the Corps. After 17 weeks of intensive training, during which they received instruction in combat conditioning, anatomy, physiology and nutrition, gained qualifications including swimming pool life guard, and boxing and rugby league coaching, four green berets became physical training instructors. The course is not just physical – there’s a lot of learning, paperwork, planning and organisation – such as helping to run the Inter-Services mountain bike championship. Being marines, it all has to be of the highest calibre. “From day one, the mountain I had to climb was reiterated by the course instructor – there was only one standard, gold standard,” said 29-year-old L/Cpl Stuart Brimacombe from Camberley in Surrey, one of the successful students to pass at the Commando Training Centre in Lympstone, the Corps’ alma mater. “This high standard is expected after daily physical exhaustion and – my favourite –the paperwork ultimately ends up taking place on your weekend, which I found to be a nice touch!” Having passed, the new PTIs’ first task will be to make sure would-be marines meet the exacting physical standards demanded by the Corps during the 32-week basic training course at Lympstone. “It has been an honour and privilege to have instructed these men and watched their development over the past 17 weeks,” said course instructor Sgt Mo Morris. “As the custodian of standards for the Royal Marines Physical Training Branch, the course has not been an easy one. “I can safely say that these men deserve to take their place in the PT branch. I for one am proud of their achievements and so should they be.” Pictures: LA(Phot) Dean Nixon, CTCRM
Posted on: Mon, 01 Dec 2014 14:27:07 +0000
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