Para Reg or Royal Marine

[garett]

Hi, I'm a Private in a Canadian Infantry Reserve Regiment and for the past year I've been sending various forms back and forth to the British Army and now the Royal Marines. I am a university student so joining the British forces is basically a contingency plan. Though the books I have read the Para Reg and the Royal Marines seem to be the two infantry units who seem to be on the sharp end of the British Infantry. Can anyone give me a comparison on the two units based on joining and operational perspectives.

[Enfield]

Hi garret,

Looks like you and I are in the same position. How much corresponding have you done with the Brits? I did a lot, a year or so ago, and then figured that was all I could get out of them unless I went over there. You aiming for CF officer? Apply to RMC?

I'm not expert, but I've done some research, so I'll try to give you some ideas. You've probably already checked out the Royal Marine homepage and the Para Reg homepage. I haven't found any other sites with a whole lot of new info. In terms of books, there are four I'd recommend, try Amazon or other online tsores for them, a couple are rare: For the Marines, read "The Making of a Royal Marine Commando" an excellent and in-depth look at the marines, covers everything, and is also very recent. Also, try "First into Action" mostly about the SBS, with a little on the Marines, great book either way. For the Paras, there's "The Making of a Para", a bit old (written in 1990), but lot's of pics. And "Close Quarters Battle", another SAS book, but a good chunk of it is on Para Reg and training, but back in the late 70's.
For specific info and questions, try the British Defence Liason Staff, at the Britsih High Commission in Ottawa. They happily answer questions, especially about nationality and residency and stuff like that. This is also where Canadians go for an interview to have the 5-year residency requirement for a Commission waived.

Personally, I'm aiming for the Marines. But both are tough units, with top of the line soldiers. I'd be happy to share any info I've got and to exchange ideas and material. Drop me a line at enfield7@yahoo.com

Cheers!
Enfield

[asquaddie]

Hi guys

Perhaps I can add a few things. Although the two units have many similarities, they are in fact two very different beasts.

The RM ("affectionately" referred to as Cabbage Hats due to their green berets) is actually part of the navy, so unless you join a commando combat support unit you aren't actually in the army. What's more, their training is different. If you manage to get through the Potential officers course (POC) which I assume you would as students, you would then go to be trained with them, and finish your training with the commando course, which is six months long, and by all accounts pretty hard, with a lot of good training.

The real men are clearly the paras, because we are actually part of the army :-) In order to go straight into Para reg you have to apply and do a POC, which is not impossible, but has a different emphasis than Marines POC. You would then go to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, and your final acceptance would only be in week 22 of this. Following that, you would do P company, or pre-para, which is a four week selection course. As opposed to the marines course, which emphasises heavy loads and a slower paces, p coy "tabbing" is furiously fast, and therefore with slightly lower weights. Finally, there is also the ordeal of milling to go through, which is a test of aggression. You get a set of boxing gloves, and a partner of approximately equal size and on the word go you have a minute to extract blood and snot. No points for style or fancy footwork. Bearing in mind that as a potential officer, you will be on the all-arms course, and so you will be pitted against nco's who'd like nothing better than to mash you.

The rewards are however immense. Nowhere else in the British army will you find a better set of soldiers, although they do seem to fight each other just as much as any enemies.

As for the cabbage outfit; well, in the hindsight, I've got to admit that they're good. Less aggressive, but with a different culture. But rather like with cats and dogs, you are either one or the other. If you like ships or something, then go for the RM, if you are an army man, with strength, character, a sense of humour and a bit of spirit, then go for Para-reg.

Good luck guys

[XS]

You are no doubt of unbiased opinion. http://www.specialoperations.com/ubboard/smile.gif

A former instructor of mine, who in a past life was a pathfinder for 1 Para immediately dismissed the RM saying "Why would you want to join them when they are Navy?"

If I can shed any light on this subject, I have recently left the Australian Army, and am in the process of heading across to the RM to (finally) get my Commission. The administration for a foreign applicant is a joy to undertake. http://www.specialoperations.com/ubboard/frown.gif

If I can help ask away, or fire off an email.