Introduction

This article briefly outlines the pass rates and cost of training personnel in the UK Armed Forces Royal Marines and Parachute Regiment (known as Elite Forces in the UK vernacular, Special Forces include the SAS/SBS).

This article outlines:

• Number of applications;
• Number entering Phase 1 training;
• Percentage pass rate for Phase 1/2 training;
• Average age (in years) on completion of training;
• Trained regular strength for a specific time period;
• Trained Regular outflow; and
• Average cost to train.

You can learn more about Royal Marines and Parachute Regiment training @

• Royal Marines.
• All Arms Commando Course (AACC) for non-Royal Marines.
• Parachute Regiment and All Arms Pre-Parachute Selection (AAPPS) courses (The APPSS is for non-Parachute Regiment personnel).
• No. 2 Squadron RAF Regiment (Has its own version of P Company).

Notes and caveats on the various tables outlined below can be found at the end of the article.

Number of Applications

The table below outlines the number of applications to the Regular Royal Marines and Parachute Regiment for 2017 to 2022.

Service	2017/2018	2018/2019	2019/2020	2020/2021	2021/2022
Royal Marines	..	6,980	7,920	9,550	4,840
Officers	..	1,250	1,400	1,590	900
Other Ranks	..	5,740	6,520	7,960	3,930
Parachute Regiment	2,020	3,160	2,520	2,270	1,660
Officers	*	*	*	*	*
Other Ranks	2,020	3,160	2,520	2,740	1,660

Sources:

• RN/RM: Analysis (Navy)
• Army: Capita Reporting and Information Officer and XO Recruiting Group

Number of Regular Personnel Entering Phase 1 Training

The table below outlines the number of Regular personnel entering Phase 1 training to the Royal Marines and Parachute Regiment for 2017 to 2022.

Service	2017/2018	2018/2019	2019/2020	2020/2021	2021/2022
Royal Marines	790	800	950	1,120	1,160
Officers	60	70	60	80	60
Other Ranks	730	730	890	1,040	1,100
Parachute Regiment	320	370	370	390	320
Officers	*	*	*	*	*
Other Ranks	320	370	370	390	320

Sources:

• RN/RM: RN/RM Training Pipeline Manager
• Army: Analysis (Army)

Percentage Success Rates

Percentage Success Rate of Phase 1/2 Training for Regular Royal Marines Personnel

The table below outlines the percentage (%) success rate of Phase 1/2 training to the Royal Marines for 2017 to 2022.

Service	2017/2018	2018/2019	2019/2020	2020/2021	2021/2022
Phase 1 Training
Officers	..	..	..	..	..
Other Ranks	..	..	..	..	..
Phase 2 Training
Officers	58	71	66	50	82
Other Ranks	51	63	39	37	44

Percentage Success Rate of Recruit Training for the Parachute Regiment

• For training years 2019/2020, 2020/2021, and 2021/2022, an average of 395 prospective Paras were tagged as Basic Training starts.
• Of the whole population, within the defined time period, 62.6% of prospective Paras successfully complete Phase 1 training, whilst 31.5% are discharged.
• Off all prospective Paras who commence training, 47% successfully complete Phase 2 ITT and move to Parachute Regiments.
• Discharges are low for Para ITT, at 4%.
• The residual number, who do not successfully complete Phase 2, but can nonetheless be gainfully employed elsewhere in the British Army, are passed to other Cap Badges.

Sources:

• RN/RM: RN/RM Training Pipeline Manager
• Army: ARITC

Average Age (Years) on Completion of Phase 1 Training for Regular Royal Marines and Parachute Regiment Personnel

The table below outlines the average age (years) on completion of Phase 1/2 training to the Royal Marines and Parachute Regiment for 2017 to 2022.

Service	2017/2018	2018/2019	2019/2020	2020/2021	2021/2022
Royal Marines
Officers	..	24	24	24	24
Other Ranks	..	21	21	21	21
Parachute Regiment
Officers	25	24	24	24	24
Other Ranks	20	20	21	20	20

Sources:

• RN/RM: Analysis (Navy)
• Army: Analysis (Army)

Trained (Royal Marines) and Trade Trained (Parachute Regiment) Personnel

The table below outlines the Regular trained (Royal Marines) and trade trained (Parachute Regiment) personnel for 01 July 2018 to 01 July 2022

Service	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022
Royal Marines	6,310	6,070	5,850	5,890	5,820
Officers	740	750	760	760	770
Other Ranks	5,570	5,320	5,090	5,130	5,050
Parachute Regiment	1,910	1,890	1,920	1,950	1,890
Officers	250	260	260	280	280
Other Ranks	1,660	1,630	1,660	1,670	1,610

Sources:

• RN/RM: Analysis (Navy)
• Army: Analysis (Army)

Trained (Royal Marines) and Trade Trained (Parachute Regiment) Outflow Personnel

The table below outlines the Regular trained (Royal Marines) and trade trained (Parachute Regiment) outflows for 30 June 2018 to 30 June 2022

Service	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022
Royal Marines	670	620	510	390	500
Officers	60	40	40	40	50
Other Ranks	610	590	470	350	450
Parachute Regiment	220	180	140	120	190
Officers	20	20	20	20	20
Other Ranks	200	160	120	110	170

Sources:

• RN/RM: Analysis (Navy)
• Army: Analysis (Army)

Average Cost to Train Officers and Other Ranks in Phase 1 and 2

The table below outlines the average cost (in £) attributable to individual Royal Marines Officers and Other Ranks successfully completing Phase 1 and 2 training combined by financial year.

	2017/2018	2018/2019	2019/2020	2020/2021	2021/2022
Officers	276,260	285,830	289,520	293,810	300,080
Phase 1 Training	163,390	169,210	171,600	174,280	177,990
Phase 2 Training	112,860	116,630	117,920	119,540	122,090
Other Ranks	126,490	132,300	133,690	145,590	148,460
Recruit Orientation Phase	..	..	..	9,600	9,600
Phase 1 Training	65,670	68,660	69,400	70,540	72,020
Phase 2 Training	60,820	63,640	64,290	65,450	66,830

The table below outlines the average cost (£) of Phase 1 and 2 Training for the Parachute Regiment by financial year.

Phase of Training	Financial Year	Total Cost for Successful Trainees (£)
Phase1/2 Combined	2017/2018	98,520
Phase 1/2 Combined	2018/2019	93,140
Phase 1/2 Combined	2019/2020	63,100
Phase 1 and Phase 2	2020/2021	29,160 and 38,160 (67,320)
Phase 1 and Phase 2	2021/2022	56,050 and 37,340 (93,390)

Sources:

• RN/RM: Headquarters Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM) Lympstone
• Army: ARTIC

Notes and Caveats

1. Army figures are for the Regular Army only and therefore exclude Gurkhas, Full Time Reserve Service, Mobilised Reserves, Army Reserve, and all other Reserves, but includes those personnel that have transferred from GURTAM to UKTAP.
2. Army figures are for all Parachute Regiment personnel regardless of where they may be serving.
3. Army figures exclude officers with a paid rank of Colonel and above, regardless of antecedent Arm/Service. Figures exclude other ranks serving in senior soldier continuity posts, regardless of antecedent Arm/Service.
4. In accordance with Data Protection Act and MOD obligations in relation to the protection of confidentiality when handling personal data, data have been rounded o the nearest 10. When rounding to the nearest 10, numbers ending in 5 have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias.
5. The financial year runs from 01 April to 31 March.
6. Trained strength comprises military personnel who have completed Phase 1 and Phase 2 for Royal Marines and the Army prior to 01 October 2016. Following the change in definition of Army trained strength from 01 October 2016, untrained strength for the Army comprises of personnel who have yet to complete Phase 1 training.
7. Symbol definitions:
   • * = not applicable.
   • .. = not available.
   • _ = zero.

Reference

FOI 2022/09959 dated 11 October 2022.