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Reflections from an 18-year journey to a Green Beret
WHILE THE REMAINDER OF THE COURSE RECEIVED THEIR BERETS THE DAY BEFORE, MY GREEN BERET PRESENTATION WAS A MORE PERSONAL AFFAIR, WHICH HAVING TAKEN 18 YEARS TO ACHIEVE, GAVE ME THE TIME I NEEDED TO REFLECT
Gnr S Pearson
Like the beginning of every good story, my journey began as a young boy; my father was a serving Royal Marines Commando and would tell me stories about his recent travels and the inner meanings of the Commando Ethos. I then became captivated by the history of British Commando forces and realised my ultimate goal was to follow in my older brother and father’s footsteps; to earn a Green Beret. A few years later, on passing the Potential Royal Marines Course aged 17, I got off the train at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines in Lympstone, Devon, to begin my training. Had I known on that day back in 2002 that it would take until 2020, via two services and six attempts at the commando course to earn my Green Beret, then it would have immediately put into a personal context what the Commando mindset is all about... To improvise, adapt and overcome...
In the early weeks of my first attempt at the Commando Course, I suffered a significant injury falling from the Tarzan Assault Course and was moved into Hunter (rehabilitation) Company. And while in rehab I developed a severe case of pneumonia and was subsequently discharged. After years of re-applying, I got another chance in 2009, but this time I was struck down with a respiratory virus five months through training and because of my previous case of pneumonia in 2002, I was discharged again. I remember being devastated, especially as I had to wait another four years to be clear of any illness before I could pass the medical. When I re-applied in 2013 as I had been directed, my application was rejected on medical grounds. I appealed this, and won, but then a few weeks later it was rescinded, and I was told to never re-apply to the Royal Marines again. At this point, I thought that all hope of gaining a Green Beret was finished.
Years later, my brother mentioned that during his most recent deployment to Afghanistan, there was a soldier from 29 Commando augmented to his section, who was no different to the rest of the team,
apart from his cap badge. I couldn’t believe that my bloody singlemindedness had prevented me from considering this alternative route before... The next day I contacted the Army Careers Office and within a few months, I began my basic training, arriving at The Royal Citadel in early 2018. It would then take me another four attempts at passing the AACC. On my first attempt, my injury from 2002 flared up and got me RTU’d. The second time, I tore my groin badly during a bottom field session and was RTU’d. The third time, I got to week 11 and failed to make time on the Tarzan Assault Course from falling off the same obstacle as I did in 2002. And from landing poorly I tore the ligaments in my ankle. The saving grace was that I had a week-6 re-join therefore my chain of command gave me one final opportunity...
On my final attempt, I arrived at CTC in March 2020 and within a week the country went into its first COVID-19 lockdown and the course looked like it would be cancelled. Thankfully, strict control measures were put in place and I got to the Commando Test week without issue. Ironically, the Tarzan Assault Course caught me out again; I fell off an obstacle and then failed to make the time. I now had to do a re-test the day after the 30 Miler. With a wry smile, I thought it was fitting that the Tarzan Assault Course would be the final thing I had do to earn my Green Beret!
Forty-eight hours later, with the 30 Miler in the bag, I stood at the top of the death slide of the course, keeping as calm as I could; “Three, Two, One, Go!” After landing the death slide I negotiated the rope swing and punched my arm through the rope net, but somehow I fell off the obstacle to the bottom of the net. Having rehearsed this exact fall so many times before, I re-negotiated the obstacle and cracked on. As I got to the 30-foot wall, and saw the faces on the DS watching, I knew it was close; I gave it my everything and pulled myself over the top, shouting my name and waiting for the PTI to give me the good news. After keeping me on tenter- hooks for longer than I would consider amusing, he informed me that I had passed. While the remainder of the course received their berets the day before, my Green Beret presentation was a more personal affair, which having taken 18 years to achieve, gave me the time I needed to reflect.
From my perspective I wouldn’t have achieved my ambition without the rehabilitation care provided by the unit physio team, in SSgt Craven and Maj Marshall. Equally, had the chain of command not believed I was physically robust enough to pass, they would have not given me a final crack at the course. While my story is certainly unique, as it takes most gunners around a year to earn their Green Beret from the point of arriving at the Citadel, we all share setbacks in our careers and lives. But it is not the setbacks that we are judged on; it is the way we respond and adapt and overcome.
24 29 COMMANDO REGIMENT ROYAL ARTILLERY
Gunner Pearson doing his best Jason Statham impression in Cape Wrath
United We Conquer!