Page 127 - The Wish Stream Year of 2022

The origins of the modern-day Commando Train- ing Centre can be traced back to 1939, when the Corps expanded prior to the Second World War, resulting in the original camp being built for the training of reservists, and initially called the Royal Marines Reserve Depot. By November that year, staff had begun to form training teams at the new camp, formerly part of the estate of Sir Francis Drake, and by late January 1940 the first of many thousands of Royal Marines arrived at the depot for training.
On 5 September 1941, the camp was renamed Depot Royal Marines Lympstone and at its peak was training 800 Royal Marines a month for war service. During this period, a second camp at nearby Dalditch in Budleigh Salterton was home to the Royal Marines Infantry Training Centre (RMITC), and this was responsible for the sec- ond phase of training. At the end of the war, the Army could no longer spare infantry for the spe- cialist amphibious role, and it fell naturally to the Royal Marines with the establishment of 3 Com- mando Brigade to maintain the capability. The Commando School at Archnacarry in Scotland closed with the responsibility initially transferring to the Royal Marines Training Group at Tywyn in Wales.
During the 1960s, the majority of the Corps’ spe- cialist infantry training, command and commu- nication courses, and virtually all other aspects of commando training held at Bickleigh camp, near Plymouth, were relocated to Lympstone. A major building programme commenced and the first of the new accommodation blocks was opened on 12 July 1963. In 1970, the camp was finally renamed The Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM).
Throughout the 1970s, work continued to shape Lympstone into a centre of military excellence with a swimming pool and gymnasium complex, Medical Centre, indoor range, lecture complex and even its own railway station (known as ‘Lympstone Commando’) being constructed. The Commando Training Centre at Lympstone has seen many changes since 1939, although it still retains one of the old wooden huts as a mark of respect to the pioneers of World War II.
Today CTCRM provides for all aspects of new entry training and continuation courses within one establishment, ensuring the highest stand- ards are maintained, so guaranteeing the Royal Marines Command has personnel for its major
manoeuvre element, 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines and other operational units. The Commandant of CTCRM Lympstone is a Colo- nel Royal Marines.
Current Royal Marine Officer Training
Since the end of the 1980s, only a single batch of Young Officers have been trained at Lympstone per annum. Commensurate with the size of the Corps compared to the other Services, in recent years on average only around 50 Young Officers are trained annually. New entry officer training is undertaken over a 60-week period, with Young Officers completing a package of military training leading to the Commando Tests coupled with an element of command and management training leading to successfully completing training. The current intake (September 2022) is comprised of 61 Young Officers between the ages of 19 to 26. Around 70% are graduates. None are women. The batch also includes two Italian and one Ken- yan young officers. Although currently there are just two women Army Commandos, there are so far no women Royal Marine Commandos, even though the selection and training are open to them.
Royal Marines Officer training is one of the longest and most arduous programmes in the world. This is where Young Officers learn all the skills they need to lead a team of elite amphibi- ous Commandos. Royal Marine Officer train- ing is split into 5 separate phases over 4 terms designed to take potential officers as a civilian and develop them into a soldier with the skills to command a troop. The training includes the extremely demanding Commando Tests (under- taken by marine and officer recruits alike) culmi-
HISTORICAL 125