September 2012 I joined the Royal Marines and began what would be the toughest journey of my life.
By far the toughest part of the entire 32 weeks training was the sheer mental resilience that was needed. From wet and dry routine, sleep deprivation, lack of food, cold, wet weather and the need to be constantly switched on.
The only thing driving me to the end of the basic training was that “green lid”. So close yet so far.
Towards the end of training is the “commando tests”. The endurance course, 9 mile speed march, Tarzan assault course and the 30 miler.
This is the culmination of the longest and toughest training programme on the planet and I was nearing the end, as an original. Out of 62 lads that’s joined only myself and 7 others remained as originals, along with other recruits that had been back trooped to our troop having failed certain elements of training.
The endurance course is a 2 mile cross country run in full kit, through water, tunnels filled with water, the sheep dip where you become fully submerged followed by a 4 mile run back to the range where you must land at least 6/10 on target. All to be completed in 73 minutes.
I began the test and completed the 2 miles as fast as I could! During the 4 mile run back I fell over hard Cutting my hands and elbows. I carried on because I was so close to that green beret. I felt like I left absolutely nothing in the tank and my heart and lungs were beating out of my chest. I had come in with a time of 70 minutes and 14 seconds. I was happy with that. But then came the bad news…….
Because I’d fallen over, my muzzle had gotten clogged up with mud, I had to strip my rifle and pull the barrel through to ensure it was clear. This added a 3 minute penalty to my overall time. My final time was 73 minutes and 14 seconds. Meaning I’d failed by 14 seconds. I was absolutely gutted. I had to try and remain positive and confident as I had a re-run. Little did I know that the re-run was the day AFTER the 30 miler which was less than ideal.
I completed the 9 mile speed march and Tarzan assault course and passed them both. Now came the big one. The 30 miler across Dartmoor.
An early start and 30 miles ahead of me I dug out blind and pushed through what I thought was hardest test I’d ever do and it should have been, but I knew I had the endurance course the day after.
Following the completion of the 30 miler I watched all the recruits get handed their green berets by the 35th commandant of the US marines general AMOS.
I watched on the flank as I had not yet earned that right.
As I got back to the rooms, my body was, all things considered feeling ok. But this could have just been adrenaline and the fear of failing.
As I woke up for the morning of the re-run of the endurance course my body felt ok, I thought this was weird as I’d just put my body through hell the day before.
I lined up at the start line of my re-run and I was nervous as I’d given my all on the first run and ran it in 70 minutes and 14 seconds, less than 3 minutes to spare and I had all the fatigue from the previous tests. I knew that the only thing standing between me and a green lid was this one test. I had to give it everything.
My section commander run it with me in light order, I had 31lbs and a rifle. As I took my first step, my body crumbled and the pain was excruciating. But I had to push through. I gave it everything.
At some points my section commander couldn’t keep up.
I competed my re-run in 64 minutes flat. I genuinely couldn’t believe the time. It was at this point I realised that the body will fail far before the mind, and that the “state of mind” I’d seen on the adverts was a real thing.
I passed out and spent 7 year serving in the Royal Marines before joining the emergency services and launching a coffee brand that supplies speciality grade coffee to the emergency services and military…
Breach and Brew Coffee Co.
HARD TARGET JOURNAL CONTRIBUTOR
Written by: Breach & Brew Coffee Co.
Former Royal Marine and emergency service worker passionate about supplying specialty grade coffee to those in demanding jobs
Instagram: @breachandbrewco
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