Royal Marines commando

You can join the Royal Marines Reserve to get some experience of what life is like in the service and to learn new skills at the same time. You'll do the same commando training as the regulars, but over a longer period.

If you're between 13 and 18 years old, you can join the Royal Marines Cadets.

You can apply directly to join the Royal Navy as a commando. You don't need any specific qualifications, but you will need to meet the Navy's eligibility requirements. For example, you must:

• be aged between 16 and 32
• be at least 151.5cm tall (no limit for women)
• pass fitness tests

If your application is accepted, you'll be invited to talk to someone at your local armed forces careers office about what you want to do. You'll then attend an interview and assessment.

Further information

You'll find more details about how to become a commando from the Royal Navy.

You'll need:

• physical fitness and endurance
• persistence and determination
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• concentration skills and quick reactions
• active listening skills and the ability to work in a team
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• thinking and reasoning skills for making quick decisions
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

You'll need to:

• be a UK, Republic of Ireland or Commonwealth citizen
• have a good level of fitness
• pass a medical check
• pass security checks
• pass enhanced background checks

You'll have a specialism like:

• landing craft officer, planning and leading beach assaults
• signals officer, overseeing radio communications
• heavy weapons officer, in charge of weapons deployment and tactics
• weapons training officer, advising on the use of small arms and training snipers
• Special Boat Service (SBS) officer, carrying out special missions
• mountain leader, leading and instructing commando troops in mountain exercises
• intelligence officer, collecting, coordinating and interpreting intelligence reports
• pilot officer, flying aircraft and helicopters
• physical training and sports officer, developing and supervising training
• staff duty officer, dealing with administration, training, planning and logistics

You could work in a warzone, at a military base or on a ship.

Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding and outdoors in all weathers.

You may need to wear a uniform and protective clothing.