Royal Marines Training and Preparation
Royal Marines training is one of the toughest challenges in the world — a 32-week journey designed to build strength, endurance and resilience to Commando standards. At Commando Temple, our Military Fitness Training in London takes inspiration from the same ethos. Whether you’re preparing for selection or simply want to push yourself against elite benchmarks, we recreate elements of the Commando Course in our sessions. Here’s what the training involves — and how you can prepare.
Where Do Royal Marines Train?
Inside CTCRM Lympstone
All Royal Marines recruits begin their journey at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM) in Lympstone, Devon. This base, set against the challenging terrain of Woodbury Common and the Exe estuary, is where candidates are pushed to their limits.
How Long Is Royal Marines Training?
The Royal Marines undertake the longest infantry training programme in NATO. It lasts 32 weeks for recruits and longer for officers.
Training phases include:
- Recruit Orientation Phase (ROP) – introduction to military life.
- Phase 1 (Foundation) – drill, weapons, fieldcraft basics.
- Phase 2 (Advanced soldiering) – navigation, live firing, combat training.
- Commando Phase – the legendary Commando Tests.
- King’s Squad – ceremonial parade on completion.
The Commando Tests – What You Must Pass
The Commando Tests are the final hurdles:
- Endurance Course – 6 miles plus marksmanship shoot.
- 9-Mile Speed March – 90 minutes in full kit.
- Tarzan Assault Course – rope/obstacle course under 13 minutes.
- 30-Miler – Dartmoor march in 8 hours with kit.
Pass them, and you earn the Green Beret.
What Do Royal Marine Commandos Do?
Royal Marines are Britain’s elite amphibious troops, specialising in:
- Amphibious assaults.
- Mountain and cold-weather warfare.
- Expeditionary deployments worldwide.
Ethos & Identity
The Commando Ethos is built on:
- Courage
- Determination
- Unselfishness
- Cheerfulness in adversity
The nickname “Bootnecks” dates back to the 18th century, when Marines wore leather collars to protect against cutlass blows.
Pass Rates & Service Numbers
Training is deliberately tough. Around 30–40% of recruits fail before earning their Green Beret. Today, there are around 6,000 trained Royal Marines Commandos in service.
How We Prepare You For Marine Fitness Tests
At the Commando Temple, our Military Fitness Training channels the same standards:
- Strongman carries for yomps.
- Calisthenics for strict form.
- Kettlebell conditioning for durability.
- Military circuits replicating test conditions.
We have world-class instructors in all of these disciplines. Our training is for people getting ready for service or getting to that level for other reasons. Modern life makes people soft. Training to Royal Marine standards proves you can endure more, achieve more, and lead with confidence.
Conclusion
Royal Marines training proves that limits can be pushed further than you think. At Commando Temple, every training journey begins with a personal assessment. We start with an initial consultation – either a phone call or face-to-face meeting – to understand your current fitness level, motivations, and any training you’re already doing. We then conduct an initial physical and psychological assessment, which can take place at our main facility in London or at our sister site in the Peak District.
We build your tailored plan into the TrueCoach app, giving you a solid roadmap. We often recommend and structure things with more frequent sessions at the start then fewer as you approach full-scale readiness.
Explore our Military Fitness Training service page or book your first session today.
Each military organisation requires specific criteria to be attained prior to joining. Our coaches will work with you to build the strongest military fitness programme and route into your chosen group.
Military requirements differ from those of typical gym goers. Power to weight ratio, agility, mental toughness and resilience are essential to all serving.
Pushing yourself too hard increases the chances of injury – a typical fate to people trying to get ready for military tests! We’ll work alongside you to keep you moving pain free.
WHAT’S NEXT? WHERE DO WE START?
Send us an email or give us a call to book a free 30 minute consultation.
Rob or a member of his team will ascertain what the strongest course of action is for you. This may be 121 military fitness training, group classes, a membership or a combination of all three.
Each person we work with has a different set of abilities (both physiological and psychological). The crew will recommend a course of action after we have spoken to you directly.
MILITARY FITNESS STANDARDS
