How to Become a Royal Marines Commando in 2025

The complete guide on how to become a Royal Marines Commando.

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How to Become a Royal Marines Commando in 2025

The complete guide on how to become a Royal Marines Commando.

“”Very good book, bought for my son who expressed an interest in joining Britain’s Finest. Very useful resource for anyone joining the armed forces not just the Corps.” How2become customer”
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BECOME A ROYAL MARINES COMMANDO

The Royal Marines are a fearsome and highly respected unit who abide strictly to the commando values. If you want to join this elite Fight Force then our How To Become A Royal Marines Commando online resource is all that you need! Contained in this resource, you’ll find:

  • Insight tips on how to impress during the selection process
  • Loads of practice aptitude test questions
  • Reasoning test questions and more
  • Essential guidance on how to pass interviews
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The Royal Marines Commando Selection Process

The selection process to become a Royal Marines Commando will normally consist of the following elements:

online application

Stage 1 – ONLINE REGISTRATION & APPLICATION

The first step on your route to join the Royal Marines is to register your interest online, or by contacting your local Armed Forces Careers Office. There you will be required to fill out some basic information, learn about life in the marines and if you wish to proceed you can then submit an online application.

Joining the Royal Marines is a very big decision and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. You will need to consider your choice of career carefully and will be required to complete a short questionnaire that will determine your suitability for joining.

Stage 2 – The Naval Service Defence Aptitude Assessment

The Naval DAA is a series of psychometric tests that are designed to assess your ability to perform to the demands of the Royal Navy and your chosen career. The tests are a tried and tested method of selection and are extremely accurate in assessing a candidate’s suitability.

The pass mark required for each role will vary depending on the requirements for each job. The test itself will normally be carried out at your local Armed Forces Careers Office and will be under strict timed conditions.

The six different testing areas are as follows:

Royal Marines recruit test
AFCO interview

Stage 3 – THE Royal Marines commando interview

The next stage in the process to join is to attend an online interview. These commonly used to be held at your local Armed Forces Careers Office, but the COVID-19 restrictions have seen this replaced by a virtual interview.

During the interview the careers advisor will assess your suitability for a career in the Royal Navy and more specifically the potential to become a Royal Marines Commando.

Stage 4 – Medical and eye test

The next stage of the selection process is to undergo a comprehensive medical and eye examination.

As the role of a Royal Marines Commando is extremely physically demanding it is vital that your are at the optimum health and fitness possible. The medical examination will be undertaken by an MOD approved doctor. You will be contacted and asked to attend one near to your home location.

Royal Marines medical
royal marines fitness test

Stage 5 – THE Royal Marines Fitness Test

One of the toughest elements of the selection process is the fitness test. Being a Royal Marine requires that you are in excellent physical shape and are self-motivated to maintain excellent levels of fitness at all times.

The fitness test will comprise of two 2.4km treadmill runs set at an incline of 2 percent. You must complete the first run under 12 minutes and 30 seconds and the second run under under 10 minutes and 30 seconds. With only a minutes rest between runs, you must ensure you are extremely fit to have any chance of success.

Stage 6 – The potential Royal Marines course (prmc)

The final stage and the most challenging of the selection process is to attend the gruelling and rigorous Potential Royal Marines course.

Held over 4 days, you will be assessed against numerous challenging exercises. You will be pushed to your limits physically and mentally. You will undergo a number of  execises which will assess your strength and endurance. These will involve gym based strength exercises and outdoor endurance runs and marches. You will also undergo a number of team exercises.

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How to Join the Royal Marines: Commonly Asked Questions

Joining the Royal Marines is extremely difficult, both mentally and physically. The recruitment team are looking for certain individuals for this elite force, so to be successful you will need to determined and be able to maintain exceptionally high levels of fitness. You will also need to be able to display the ‘Commando State of Mind’ and be able to pass a number of mental challenges. Only the best very best and committed candidates will pass the selection process and become Royal Marine Commando’s.

To be eligible to join the Royal Marines you will need to be between the ages of 16 and 32 and be a UK, commonwealth or dual nationality citizen. This is open to both men and women. To be successful in joining the marines you will need to pass a challenging selection process which will test you to the limits both mentally and physically. Your height must be no less than 151.5cm and a minimum weight of 65kg or a BMI of 23. On the plus size your BMI cannot exceed 28 unless your waist is less than 94cm.

When someone applies to join the Royal Marines, it is generally not because of the salary, but more about the lifestyle and opportunities the role presents. Once your initial training is complete you can expect a salary in excess of £20,000, and with promotion through your career you can earn up to £51,000. Other benefits include an excellent pension, free medical and dental care, six weeks paid annual leave, subsidised accommodation and food and much more.

The training lasts for 32 weeks and will begin at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines at Lympstone, Devon. To have any chance of completing the elite training programme you will need to be in the best physical condition of your life, so be prepared!

join the Royal Marines you will have to undertake a lengthy and difficult selection process. This will see you undertake a number of different assessments to see if you are worthy of wearing the famed green beret of the Royal Marines. The steps to join are outlined below:

  • Submit an online application
  • Undertake the Naval Service Defence Aptitude Assessment
  • Interview
  • Medical and Eye Tests
  • Pre-Joining Fitness Test
  • The Potential Royal Marines Course
  • Formal Offer to join the Royal Marines

A Career in The Royal Marines – Further Information

(CLICK THE BELOW TITLES TO CHANGE TABS)

The Royal Marines are a maritime-focused, amphibious, highly specialised light infantry force who are capable of deploying at short notice anywhere in the world. As the United Kingdom Armed Forces’ specialists in cold weather warfare,the Royal Marines provide lead element expertise in the NATO Northern Flank and are optimised for high altitude operations, with jungle training still carried out when deployments allows.

The selection process for becoming a Royal Marines Commando is extremely tough. There is a very good reason why the Corp has used the strap line “99.9% need not apply” in a recruitment campaign. It is aimed at attracting the right type of person who has the potential to join this elite unit. Being a Royal Marines Commando is about having the right attitude, the right level of professionalism and also the right level of physical and mental fitness.

In order to become a Royal Marine and earn the right to wear the much-coveted Green Beret, you will need to pass a rigorous selection process.

INSIDER TIP 1 – Adopt the correct mental attitude during selection (the Commando State of Mind)

Without the correct state of mind you are not going to pass the PRMC. It is important that you have a ‘can-do’ attitude both in the build-up to the PRMC and also during it. There will be times during the selection process when you want to give up. You will see a number of the other candidates around you dropping out through sheer exhaustion, but you are going to be different. Never give up during selection, even if your body can take no longer.

It is also important that you follow an action plan in the build up to Royal Marines selection, especially when it comes to your fitness preparation. Use an action plan and you will be able to monitor your progress.

If somebody finds a test or assessment easy, it generally means that they have prepared hard for it. If you work hard in the weeks leading up to the PRMC, then you should find that you pass it with very few problems. Yes you will find it tough, but if you’ve trained above the minimum standards that are required, then you will pass with flying colours.

Train hard in the build up to selection, and you will certainly race easy!

The Commando State of Mind

The Commando state of mind is the first thing you will need to develop when preparing for selection. Before you start preparing for the selection process, the interview or even the PRMC, you must learn how important it is to adopt the correct state of mind. If you have it, then you are far more likely to succeed and pass the selection process.

Picture the scene, you are at the PRMC and you are taking part in the assault course. You are totally shattered and your body wants to stop. You’ve simply had enough and you’re not sure that your body can take any more. The majority of other candidates have already stopped and you are desperate to not give in. What do you do?

The problem with this kind of scenario is that it is new to you. Not many of us find ourselves in these kinds of situations ever in our lifetime. Therefore our minds are not tuned to cope with it, and the natural reaction is to quit. Your muscles are telling your mind that they can’t take any more and they send a signal to your brain basically saying enough’s enough!

It’s at this point that you’re going to be different. This is the difference between your average person and a Commando. Regardless of how much you ache, or regardless of how much your body is telling you to quit, your mind will be telling you something completely different. To put it simply, you never give in, even if your body can’t move any further along that assault!

PASS THE ROYAL MARINES RECRUITMENT PROCESS

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We guarantee that our How To Become a Royal Marines Commando online resources will teach you how to navigate the different elements of the selection process. The package contains pages of recruitment information which will guide you through each of the different elements of selection, including the application form, the  interview, the recruit tests, PRMC and the fitness tests.

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PASS THE ROYAL MARINES COMMANDO RECRUITMENT PROCESS

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We guarantee that our How to Become a Royal Marines Commando online resources will teach you how to navigate the different elements of the selection process successfully. The package contains pages of recruitment information, tests, and top tips which will guide you through each of the different elements of selection, including the application form, the interview, PRMC and the RT tests.

Start Preparing Now 👉

Adopt the Commando State of Mind during the selection process and your chances of success will increase greatly

In order to help you successfully pass the Royal Marines Commando selection process we will supply you with a comprehensive guide that covers every single element of selection. Our ‘How to become a Royal Marines Commando’online resource will teach you how to adopt the correct state of mind for becoming a Commando, it will teach you how to pass the Royal Navy DAA, it will teach you how to pass the interview and it will also prepare you fully for the Potential Royal Marines Course (PRMC).

Pass the Royal Marines Selection Process. First Time.

Crafted for everyone, no matter your skill level or background, this guide was made to help you achieve one goal: to join the Royal Marines.

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?

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Pass the Royal Marines Commando Selection Process. First Time.

Crafted for everyone, no matter your skill level or background, these resources were made to help you achieve one goal: to join the Royal Marines.

Customer Success Stories

Having helped 1,000s of aspiring army applicants for over 16 years, it is no wonder our customers love us…

“Really good resource Thank you.” – Paul A. – TrustPilot

“Spot on. If you are thinking of applying or are purely interested in what kind of prep a potential RM recruit is required of.. Buy this guide now.” – How2Become customer

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“Very good book, bought for my son who expressed an interest in joining Britain’s Finest. Very useful resource for anyone joining the armed forces not just the Corps” – How2Become customer

“Absolutely recommend how2become.com when it comes to gauging yourself to see if you need help when preparing for your interview.” – How2Become customer

“Great resource if you want to get into the Royal Marines. Full of useful information and tips to help you through the process.” – How2Become customer

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN YOUR CAREER PACK?

Complete guidance to ensure you pass the ENTIRE Royal Marines recruitment process

Insider advice on how to complete the application form, including sample questions and answers

Previously successful application form responses that you can use to develop your own winning application

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Revealed – Tips to help you successfully pass the PRMC

Discover exactly how you are assessed throughout the entire selection process (hint: understanding this will allow you to know exactly how the assessors want you to act at every stage)

A complete breakdown of the recruit tests and how you MUST prepare if you wish to succeed

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Sample interview questions and guidance on how to answer each one of them

Practice questions and answers for the recruit tests. Practice the same skills you’ll be tested on so you enter your tests fully prepared

The importance of ensuring you meet the minimum eligibility requirements (and understanding life as a Royal Marines Commando)

Time-saving strategies and score-boosting methods verified by our panel of Armed Forces recruitment experts

How to get fit and be able to pass the fitness tests and medical test

PLUS…BONUSES!

BONUS #1

150-Page Interview Skills Insider’s Guide

FOR A LIMITED PERIOD ONLY we are able to give you our powerful 150+ page ‘Interview Skills’ downloadable resource free of charge.  It is the perfect guide to help you prepare for the tough commando interview!

Interview Skilss | Sample Interview Questions and Answers Guide How2Become
  • All of the most common (and not so common) interview questions you are likely to face, broken down.
  • Full and detailed answers to every question – ensure you always have the perfect answer!
  • How to use the STAR method to come up with your own winning answers that match the experience, values, and skills the interview assessor is looking for.
  • Created by interview panel experts and packed full of insider advice.

Important: This insider’s guide cannot be purchased individually anywhere else and is exclusively available as a limited-time bonus!

Worth £9.99, Yours FREE

BONUS #2

How to Get Marine Fit: Insider’s Guide

A concise online guide to show you how you can get “Marine fit” and see results quickly to ensure you pass the fitness test – even without a gym membership!

  • Crafted with the fitness benchmark levels required of a Royal Marines recruit in mind, this guide provides an insider insight to the army fitness regimes you can follow.
  • Your very own “Marines fit” workout regime created by former emergency service staff.
  • Full technique diagrams, workout timetables and regime templates you can implement right away!

Important: This insider’s guide cannot be purchased individually anywhere else and is available exclusively as a bonus with this resource.

Worth £9.99, Yours FREE

BONUS #3

PLUS…30-Day Free Subscription Trial To The Online Royal Marines Commando Testing Platform!

As well as life-time access to the Royal Marines career resource, this product also includes a 30-day free trial to Online Royal Marines Commando Testing Platform (usually £9.99 + vat per month).

Online Royal Navy Testing Platform Subscription
    • 100s of questions on each element of the test to help boost your scores!
    • Practice all of thetest questions under timed conditions using our online testing suite.
    • Instant online access.
    • Compatible on mobiles, tablets and computers.
    • Scores are tracked so you can focus on areas that need improvement.

Important: This powerful free trial costs £9.99 + vat every month for everyone else! You will get unrestricted access to all of the quick-win strategies to give you the advantage right away.

Worth £9.99, Yours FREE for 30-days*

*We want you to know: This is a subscription service that is charged at just £5.95 + vat per month after the 30-day trial expires. No minimum term. If you cancel before the 30-day trial ends, you will not be charged. Please see our terms for full details.

TOPICS AND INFORMATION INCLUDED WITHIN THIS GUIDE INCLUDE

HOW TO PASS THE ROYAL MARINES SELECTION PROCESS

  • We will teach you how to prepare effectively for the Royal Marines selection process.
  • The guide includes essential insider tips on how to pass the Potential Royal Marines Commando Course.
  • Lots of sample Royal Navy DAA test questions.
  • Numerical test questions to help you prepare and pass with high scores.
  • Plenty of sample reasoning test examples.
  • How to approach the Mechanical Comprehension tests.

HOW TO PASS THE commando interview

  • The history of the Royal Marines and why you need to learn it.
  • Preparing properly for the interview and how to create the right impression at the ACA.
  • Sample responses to the interview questions that you can use during your interview.
  • Developing the Commando state of mind in order to achieve success.

 

HOW TO PASS THE potential royal marine course

  • Tips from those who’ve passed the PRMC and what they went through.
  • How to conduct yourself in order to achieve a ‘Pass’ grade that will get you onto the Royal Marines training course at Lympstone.
  • Preparing effectively to pass first time with no injuries or failure marks.
  • What you need to know about the PRMC and how you can pass it.
  • How to demonstrate the right qualities at the PRMC.
  • The bleep test and how to pass it.
  • Preparing for the physical tests.
  • Teamwork skills.
Contents

220-page How to Become a Royal Marines Commando Online Career Guide (Lifetime access)

46-minute Royal Marines Commando Interview Coaching Video (Lifetime access)

140-page Royal Navy Defence Aptitude Assessment Tests Online Workbook (Lifetime access)

150-Page Interview Skills Online Guide (Lifetime access)

How to Get Army Fit Insider’s Online Guide (Lifetime access)

30-Day Free Trial to the Online Armed Forces testing suite. Thereafter just £5.95 plus VAT per month (Monthly Service)

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Features

You don’t just get advice on what to do. We will show you exactly how to pass the Royal Marines recruitment process.

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Your Guide To Success.

Our best-selling commando recruitment guide in a compact, accessible, online format to hold your hand throughout the entire selection process.

Created By Experts. Made For You.

With over 16 years’ of history behind us, we are the leaders in recruitment advice. So whether you want to understand the scoring criteria, learn what must go on your application form, recognise what not to say at the interviews, or practice and pass recruit tests, you can access it all at your finger tips, today.

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✓ SILVER Access to the UK’s No.1 Royal Marines Commando Careers Guide and Bonuses
✓ 220-page How to Become a Royal Marines Commando Online Career Guide (Lifetime access)
✓ 46-minute Royal Marines Commando Interview Coaching Video (Lifetime access)
140-page Royal Navy Defence Aptitude Assessment Online Workbook (Lifetime access)
✓ 150-Page Interview Skills Online Guide (Lifetime access)
✓ How to Get Royal Marine Fit Insider's Online Guide (Lifetime access)
✓ 30-Day Free Trial to the Online Royal Marines Testing Platform. Thereafter just £5.95 plus VAT per month (Monthly Service)?
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions

Simply put, this training works and is proven to help people like you to successfully join the Royal Marines. As a lifetime access member, you will not only benefit from our flagship ‘How to Become a Royal Marine Commando’ guide (which has sold 1,000s of copies) but you’ll also get access to a dynamic portal of content that we update frequently with all the very latest information, practice material, and strategies that are helping people across UK to join the armed forces. With 1,000s of customers frequently thanking us for the career success we have helped them gain, and 16 years’ experience in providing recruitment and assessment centre training, you can rest assured knowing you are getting the best training material on the market.

This resource is our flagship career guide, designed to help anyone looking to join the marines and overcome the gruelling selection process.

It is ideal for those just staring out at the application stage, who want an “over-the-shoulder” guide to passing each stage of the process.

If you have already begun the selection process, then you’ll be able to pick up this guide from the exact stage you are at and follow the step-by-step guidance to passing the recruit tests, interviews, PRMC, fitness tests and more with confidence.

Whatever stage of the process you are at, you can be confident you’ll have all the strategies and tools you need to succeed.

Yes! With the ‘How to Become a Royal Marines Commando’ guide you will be able to access training that has been helping applicants successfully become marines with  for over a decade.

At How2Become.com we like to do things a little differently. Instead of just giving you access to guides which explain how the selection process works, and what you need to do to pass, we teach you HOW to do it also. For example, we don’t just provide you with sample interview questions, we provide winning sample responses and step-by-step guidance on how to create your own successful answers. Whether you are thinking about applying, or you are half way through the selection process, this guide will ‘hold your hand’ step-by-step. Here is a full list of everything you will get within this resource.

You will get unlimited access to all of the content contained within these resources with no time restrictions! We understand that applying to join the Royal Marines can be a long and stressful experience, that is why we want to take away that worry – you will get access whenever you need, whether it’s just for a week, or for a year, you will have full access to the resource whenever you need it. You will also have access to all future updates we make to this guide, ensuring you are getting the latest guidance.

When we launched How2Become.com we wanted to ensure our content would help as many people as possible no matter where they are, and we are achieving just that! We sell our resources to every country in the world, with 1,000s of customers in the USA, UK, India, Australia, Africa and more! All of our content is either written or spoken in English, with the content designed to be as universal as possible unless otherwise stated. Our resource is designed specifically for the Royal Marines Commando selection process. We also have a specific resource if you are applying as a Royal Marines Officer. If you can’t see a guide you need in our huge catalogue, then just let us know and we will help if we can!

Whichever option you choose, you can be confident you are getting the latest and highest quality training to become a Royal Marines Commando. All packages contain our flagship guides: ‘How to Become a Royal Marines Commando’ career guide, interview video and the bonuses listed on this page.

The Gold package contains everything in Silver plus our Royal Navy Recruit Tests online workbook.

As soon as your order is complete you will be able to access all of the guides, training resources via your How2Become account! You can use any smart phone, PC, Mac, or tablet to access your materials.

Yes, absolutely! We get 100s of testimonials and comments each month from those that have used our training, thanking us for the help it has given them.

Having created recruitment guides for the last 16 years, we know how often selection processes change. That is why we keep close ties to those “in the know” and we regularly update our content. You will get the latest and best strategies to enable you to join the Royal Marines. The resources are also relevant for all standard non-officer roles.

WHY BUY WITH HOW2BECOME?

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EXCLUSIVE FREE BONUSES

Firstly, these guides are created by us and our team of experts – we have all the answers to your questions and will help you succeed (like we’ve been doing for the last 16 years), we update our material frequently and you can contact us at any time with any questions you have.

Secondly, we provide exclusive bonuses with all our products that you won’t find anywhere else. These bonuses include free guides, powerful online testing suites and more!

Finally, our guides and training just work. Take a look at our TrustPilot page where you will see our rating of 4.9/5. There, our customers share their positive buying experiences and more importantly the time-saving success our resources have given them (hint: they are now serving with Royal Marines).

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