Royal Marines Reserve

The Royal Marines Reserve (RMR) is the volunteer reserve component of the United Kingdom's Royal Marines. It exists to reinforce the regular Royal Marines with trained individuals and sub-units when required, while also maintaining a nationwide connection between the military and civilian communities. Unlike a ceremonial or lightly trained auxiliary organization, the RMR prepares its personnel to meet the same fundamental commando standard required of regular Royal Marines. Its members can be civilians with no previous military experience or former regular Royal Marines who return to service as reservists. The reserve's modern institutional origins lie in the Royal Marines Forces Volunteer Reserve, established under the Royal Marines Act 1948. The organization was formally created on 5 November 1948 in London and Glasgow. Initially, many of its members were former wartime personnel whose experience had been gained during the Second World War. Their training was intended to provide additional capacity during the Cold War and in the event of a wider national emergency. Over time, the composition of the force changed, and many current recruits enter directly from civilian life. The RMR is organized around units and detachments distributed across the United Kingdom, allowing it to recruit nationally rather than concentrating solely around the main regular Royal Marines bases. The structure has changed over time as units and detachments have been reorganized. The force has included units in Bristol, the City of London, Merseyside and Scotland, supported by detachments in cities and regions including Plymouth, Poole, Cardiff, Portsmouth, Cambridge, Marlow, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham, Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast and Newcastle upon Tyne. This geographically distributed model supports the RMR's dual purpose: military reinforcement and a continuing relationship with civilian society. Recruit training is conducted alongside civilian employment or other civilian commitments. The initial programme generally takes approximately 12 to 15 months, involving weekly evening training, regular weekends and individual fitness work. Phase 1 introduces fieldcraft, navigation, weapon handling, physical conditioning and field exercises, followed by a confirmation course at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines. Phase 2 develops battle physical training, patrolling, tactics, live-firing skills and amphibious techniques. The culminating Reserve Forces Commando Course includes demanding physical and field assessments, followed by the commando tests. Successful candidates earn the Royal Marines green beret. After qualification, reservists join a commando company and continue with further training. They may develop skills in areas such as assault engineering, landing craft operations, weapons instruction, physical training or swimmer-canoeist work. Phase 3 and subsequent unit training are intended to consolidate the ability to operate with regular Royal Marines formations. Reservists may also undertake periods of Full-Time Reserve Service lasting from short assignments to deployments of up to a year, depending on operational requirements and individual availability. The RMR has supported many of the same modern operational commitments as the regular Royal Marines, including deployments associated with Operation Telic in Iraq and Operation Herrick in Afghanistan. Reservists have also participated in overseas exercises, including Exercise Black Alligator 13 in California with regular personnel from 40 Commando. The force therefore combines a part-time recruiting and training model with the ability to provide personnel for operational, exercise and emergency tasks worldwide. It remains an active element of the United Kingdom's military reserve system rather than a commercial consumer brand.

The Royal Marines Reserve traces its institutional history to the Royal Marines Forces Volunteer Reserve, created under the Royal Marines Act 1948. It was formally established on 5 November 1948 during a parade at the Honourable Artillery Company's Artillery Ground in London. The site carried historical significance because the Royal Marines themselves had been formed there in 1664. The early reserve was largely composed of former wartime personnel, including Royal Marines and other hostilities-only members who had gained experience during the Second World War. Its principal strategic purpose was to provide trained reinforcement for the Corps during the Cold War and in a national emergency. The organization gradually developed from a force primarily populated by former servicemen into a reserve that also recruits civilians without previous military experience. That change made the transition into commando service more extensive for many recruits, requiring a structured programme of military, physical and field training. The RMR retained the expectation that its personnel would meet the same essential commando standard as regular Royal Marines rather than receiving a separate, reduced qualification. Its mission has three connected parts: reinforcing the Royal Marines with individuals and sub-units wherever required; sustaining a nationwide relationship between the military and civilian communities; and providing infrastructure that could help strengthen or replace regular forces during a national emergency. The geographic distribution of units and detachments reflects this mission. RMR organizations have been based in or near major population centres, with smaller detachments supporting local recruitment and training. The structure has not been static: units and detachments have been amalgamated or closed as the reserve system has been reorganized. By the post-2013 structure described in reference material, the principal units were located in Bristol, the City of London, Merseyside and Scotland, with a broad network of detachments across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Recruitment and training are designed around service alongside civilian life. The initial training period generally lasts 12 to 15 months and combines one evening each week with approximately two weekends each month, supplemented by personal fitness work. Phase 1 covers individual military skills, including fieldcraft, navigation, weapon training, physical preparation and field exercises. Recruits then attend a confirmation course at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines, where their skills are assessed against the required standard. Phase 2 introduces more advanced battle physical training, fieldcraft and tactical instruction. Recruits progress from basic patrolling to reconnaissance, observation, fighting patrols and ambushes. They undertake live-firing training with regular Royal Marines and receive instruction in amphibious operations. The Reserve Forces Commando Course brings the programme together through demanding physical and field tests, including loaded marches, a field exercise and the commando tests. Those who pass receive the green beret and join a commando company. Training does not end with the green beret. Phase 3 and later company training develop the ability to operate as part of a troop and commando unit. Reservists continue practicing weapons, first aid, signals, chemical, biological and nuclear defence procedures, fieldcraft, amphibious raiding and operations in built-up areas. Qualified personnel can pursue specialist trades such as assault engineer, landing craft operator, skills-at-arms instructor, physical training instructor or swimmer-canoeist. Depending on service needs and personal availability, reservists may serve on Full-Time Reserve Service with regular Royal Marines units for periods ranging from weeks to as much as a year. The RMR has contributed personnel to major modern deployments involving the regular Royal Marines, including Operation Telic and Operation Herrick. It has also participated in international exercises, such as Exercise Black Alligator 13 in California alongside 40 Commando. The reserve's history consequently combines domestic civic presence, demanding professional training and practical augmentation of the regular Corps during exercises, crises and overseas operations.

• 2013

  Reserve unit structure reorganized

  [1]Royal Marines Reserveen.wikipedia.org

  A restructuring described in reference material consolidated the organization around four principal UK units and their detachments.

• 2008

  Reserve member receives the George Cross

  [1]Royal Marines Reserveen.wikipedia.org

  Lance Corporal Matthew Croucher, a Royal Marines reservist serving with 40 Commando in Afghanistan, was awarded the George Cross for protecting fellow Marines from a grenade blast.

• 1948

  Royal Marines Forces Volunteer Reserve established

  [1]Royal Marines Reserveen.wikipedia.org

  The reserve's predecessor was created under the Royal Marines Act 1948 and formally inaugurated on 5 November in London.

A nationally distributed, professionally trained volunteer reserve that provides commando-qualified personnel and sub-units to reinforce the regular Royal Marines while linking the armed forces with civilian communities.

• Volunteer military reserve · 1948

  Royal Marines Reserve service

  The RMR provides a route for civilians and former regular Royal Marines to serve part time while remaining connected to civilian employment or other commitments. Its trained personnel can reinforce regular Royal Marines units during exercises, operations and national emergencies.

• Military training and qualification

  Reserve Forces Commando Course

  The Reserve Forces Commando Course is the culminating qualification for recruits. It follows progressive physical, fieldcraft, tactical, live-firing and amphibious training and includes loaded movement, field endurance and the commando tests. Successful candidates receive the Royal Marines green beret.

• 2013Exercise Black Alligator 13

  United States · United Kingdom

  Royal Marines reservists took part in a live-firing exercise in California with regular personnel from 40 Commando.

  Source
• Operation Telic

  Iraq · United Kingdom

  Royal Marines reservists participated in deployments associated with Operation Telic alongside regular Royal Marines personnel.

  Source
• Operation Herrick

  Afghanistan · United Kingdom

  The reserve contributed personnel to the Royal Marines' operational involvement in Afghanistan under Operation Herrick.

  Source

1. 1Royal Marines Reserveen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Royal Marines Reserve careers informationroyalnavy.mod.uk