Posted: 05/04/11
Students get tough on commando training
Public services students at West Nottinghamshire College have returned from intensive commando training with the Royal Marines.
The group of ten level 2 and 3 students spent a week in Exmouth at the Lympstone-based commando training centre – and the highest-achieving students have been invited back to camp for a three-day intensive course.
Students were issued with combat gear for the week and were up each day at 6.45am for drill practice.
During the training they took part in a three-mile endurance course which included crawling through streams and tunnels and facing The 'Sheep-Dip' – a totally submerged tunnel.
Other commando activities included fitness training, shelter-building in woodlands and lectures on weapon training, where students saw the kind of weapons that Royal Marines are using in Afghanistan.
The group also heard about life as a Royal Marine, learned about career options and saw a demonstration of a helicopter landing.
Tutor James Winning said: “Every student worked really hard and supported each other well during this intensive week’s training. They were a credit to each other.
“I think they found it harder than they first expected it to be but I am very proud of their dedication to the course.”
On the final day of the course students were given feedback of their week’s activities and given certificates of achievement. Three students who achieved A and B grades have been welcomed back to camp for a special three-day intensive training course. If successful, they will be offered the chance to go on to a further 33-week course of training.
