1.0 Introduction
This article provides an overview of the Royal Marines (RM) School of Physical Training.
2.0 What is the RM School of Physical Training?
The RM School of Physical Training is the institution responsible for the selection and training of Royal Marines personnel in the Physical Training (PT) branch.
3.0 Where is the RM School of Physical Training Located?
The RM School of Physical Training is located at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM).
CTCRM is the principal military training centre for the Royal Marines. It is situated near the villages of Lympstone and Exton, between the city of Exeter, and the town of Exmouth in Devon.
CTCRM delivers new entry training to recruits and officers.
4.0 What is the Role of the RM School of Physical Training?
The role of the RM School of Physical Training includes:
- Design of the RM PTI Syllabus.
- Delivery of initial and career RM PTI courses:
- RM PTI Class 3 Course.
- RM PTI Class 2 Course.
- RM PTI Class 1 Course.
- RM physical education administration and policy.
5.0 Inspector of Physical Training
The Inspector of Physical Training is a Major (OF-3) who is aided by the Assistant Inspector of Physical Training, a Warrant Officer Class One (WO1, OR-9).
The role of these inspectors includes being “responsible for its manning, all aspects of RM PT courses and advising the Inspector of Physical Training Royal Marines on PT policy throughout the Royal Marines.” (Beauchamp, 2018).
6.0 OCS Physical Training Advisor
Since 1972, the United States Marine Corps (USMC) and the Royal Marines have participated in an exchange programme.
The Royal Marines send a Colour Sergeant (OR-7 or E-8 in the USMC) to act as the physical training advisor to the commanding officer of the USMC Officer Candidates School (OCS) (Kuiper, n.d.). The post-holder works directly with the commanding officer to decide the most effective and safest way for OCS students to train and oversees personnel acting as PTI’s.
In return, the USMC sends an infantry-trained gunnery sergeant (OR-7 or E-7) to be the adviser to one of the Royal Marines platoon commanders and helps to administrate one of the platoons of enlisted recruits going through the CTCRM.
7.0 Useful Links
- RM PTI Class 2 Course Pass Out Parade (2015): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DUJE7tEn7Y. Lympstone Division
- RMVCC Cadet PTI Class 2 Course: https://twitter.com/Rmvcc_lympstone?lang=en.
8.0 References
Beauchamp, R. (2018) WO1 Robert ‘Beau’ Beauchamp AIPTRM. Available from World Wide Web: https://royalmarinesassociation.org.uk/news/wo1-robert-beau-beauchamp-aiptrm/. [Accessed: 19 December, 2018].
Kuiper, J.R. (n.d.) British Royal Marine Heads OCS Training. Available from World Wide Web: https://www.mca-marines.org/gazette/british-royal-marine-heads-ocs-training. [Accessed: 19 December, 2018].
