Some 83 personnel completed the five weeks of training that will hopefully propel them towards the coveted green beret.
Having previously been staged by individual units ahead of the 13-week all arms commando course, the approach was overhauled last year when a combined programme for all cap badges was introduced.
Staged at the home of 24 Commando, Royal Engineers at RMB Chivenor, it includes field exercises, wet and dry drills, navigation and infantry skills before concluding with the pre-joining fitness assessment required for future service with Commando Force Headquarters.
As well as sappers, the course welcomed counterparts from 29 Commando, Royal Artillery, the Commando Logistic Regiment, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy, among others.
“This is the fourth combined conditioning course, and these are the best numbers I have seen in a decade,” said Maj Mark Woodward (RE), training major at 24 Cdo.
“The results have proved it has been worth doing and this is commonly accepted as being a positive move across the commando force.”
With the programme complete, personnel have now moved on to the full all-arms course – at the end of which they receive the green beret and become army commandos.
