Royal Marines Officers lead and manage teams of Royal Marines. They have responsibility for the training, welfare and discipline of the men and women under their command. Royal Marines Commandos are the frontline troops of the Royal Navy.
Royal Marines (Commando) Officers must be ready to serve anywhere in the world and must be prepared to go into combat zones at any time.
The Work
Royal Marines Officers can choose to specialise in one of several roles, including:
Heavy Weapons Officer
Pilot Officer
Intelligence Officer
Landing Craft Officer
Physical Training and Sports Officer
Signals (communications) Officer
Special Boat Service Officer
Mountain Leader Officer.
You could be:
leading your unit in a war zone
leading your unit in peacetime exercises, in the UK or abroad, practising for war situations
organising marines and their equipment, at home or overseas
doing administrative work at your base.
Pay
The figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates may vary, depending on:
where you work
what job you do.
The starting salary for a Royal Marine Officer when joining the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM), is £25,700 a year. After training and experience you could go on to earn £31,000.
After 26 months you have the potential to be earning £39,600.
You get extra allowances in some jobs and for being overseas. The Royal Marines service provides subsidised food and accommodation, uniforms and protective clothing, free healthcare and a pension.
Conditions
Working conditions vary, depending on where you are and what you are doing, but you could often be in difficult and dangerous situations.
You may be away from home and family for several months on end.
You can be sent anywhere in the UK or abroad, sometimes at short notice.
You often have to work in hostile environments and extreme weather conditions.
Hours might be long and irregular, and you might have to work shifts.
It is not always adventurous and exciting; there is a lot of routine work.
You need 96 UCAS tariff points (3-4 Highers, depending on the grades) plus 5 subjects at National 5 including English and Maths. There are some Royal Marines scholarships for school students studying for Highers.
Many entrants have a degree.
There are some Royal Marines cadetships and bursaries for students taking a degree.
You must meet residence and nationality requirements – they are shown on the Royal Navy website.
You must be aged 18-25 when you start basic training. The maximum age will vary depending on your chosen area of specialism.
You must be fit and healthy – there is a strict medical examination.
You must be at least 145cm tall and weigh at least 65kg. You must be within the healthy range for BMI (23 to 28).
Your first step should be to contact your local Armed Forces careers office; they will give you detailed information about the selection process.
The selection process involves a series of interviews, plus mental and physical tests.
You will take the Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA), which includes English, maths, problem solving skills and understanding of mechanics. You will find examples on the Royal Navy website.
Undertake a pre-joining fitness test.
Attend an interview with a local Royal Navy or Armed Forces recruitment office.
Complete the four-day Royal Marines Officer Selection Course (OSC), which includes physical tests. The course is tough, physically and mentally, and will assess your leadership potential.
You will be fully assessed and given a final mark, which will be provided by the Final Selection Board.
If you are accepted you would join the service as an officer on an Initial Commission of 12 years. The conditions on leaving and how much notice is required varies depending on which branch or specialism you are in. The Royal Navy or Armed Forces recruitment offices would advise on this.
an excellent leader and able to enforce discipline
self-disciplined
resilient and resourceful
able to remain calm under pressure and work effectively in conflict situations
able to react quickly and make decisions under pressure
able to handle complex information
physically strong – you will be working at heights and carrying heavy loads in extreme weather
reliable and honest.
You should also have:
a sense of adventure
good physical and mental stamina
excellent organisational skills
excellent communication skills
the ability to work alone and also as part of a team.
Training
You will complete 16 months of basic training at the CTCRM at Lympstone in Devon.
For the first two years you will join a Commando Unit as a Troop Commander, leading 30 commandos.
You will complete your officer training with Advanced Military Management Training and Unit Management, Exercise Planning and Final Exercise Phases.
You will work towards a Level 5 Diploma in Management and Leadership from the Chartered Management and Institute (CMI), as well as vocational qualifications to gain specialist skills in your chosen role.
You keep up to date by attending training courses throughout your time in the Royal Marines.
Getting On
There is a clearly defined promotion route, from lieutenant to captain, major, lieutenant colonel and beyond.
Personal development will continue throughout your career with opportunities to gain specialist skills and enhance your leadership abilities.
Your chances of promotion are better if you take further training.
Experience in the Royal Marines can be useful for a variety of jobs after you leave.
More Information
For detailed information about the Royal Marines, phone 0345 600 1444 or visit the Royal Marines website.
