When can I join?

[Aldo]

I'm 16, 17 in a few months and I'm joining the marines with the hope of going onto SAS or SBS, but is the minimum 3 years service before you can apply from when you join or from your 18th birthday? It's not too drastic if it is but I'd just like to know where I stand.

Cheers

[combat-engineer]

I think its 3 years mate.
Just pass that walk in the park marines/commando course first ...

[Aldo]

Just pass that walk in the park marines/commando course first ...

Easy mushy peasy. More like a day on the beach than a training course

I think its 3 years mate.

But from my 18th birthday or from when I join/pass out

[rabby]

It's 3 years of military experience, nothing to do with how old you are.

[Cronkilla]

If your serious about joining the 'elite' id keep it to yourself. Dont tell the recruiter,your parents,friends,PRMC candidates,your troop,anyone in the marines once your in. The reason for this is because nobody will take you seriously untill your badged and still you have to do some work to make them take you seriously. This was advice from someone who i chatted to over a pint who is currently doing selection.

[Bruce McDonald]

Yes its always wise to be "The Quiet Soldier".

~Bruce~

[chunky from york]

Good advice Cronk, also you will find yourself at the wrong end of a lot of 'beastings' if you let slip that whatever unit you are serving in isn't relly good enough for you.

Also depends on maturity and age and maturity do not always go hand in hand.

[Aldo]

Thanks for the advice, I'll keep it in mind.

[Nimbard]

Ok got back from the CTC in lymstone last week and from speaking to a corpral there you have to serve 18months in the Marines to be able to apply to join any SF

[Aldo]

Ok got back from the CTC in lymstone last week and from speaking to a corpral there you have to serve 18months in the Marines to be able to apply to join any SF

Really?! cool, you going to have a go yourself?

[Nimbard]

Now that would be telling and still have to get through the PRMC and 30 weeks training yet.. all in good time though

[para001]

Yes its always wise to be "The Quiet Soldier".

~Bruce~

lol i got my weekley report the other week before xmas (week12) and the pl sgt said i was one of the top 3 in the section but i come across as "The Quiet Soldier". a silent assasion he said.. lol

[james_m]

You guys are living in a dream world!

Royal Marines training walk in the park..ha...we'll see

You guys are a joke and you play too many computer games!

[mercury]

Whats wrong with dreams ?

BTW I spent 9 years as "The quiet soldier" and its not always a good thing

[Guest]

Mercury,

But surely if a lad turned up to depot, and was loud mouthed and generally got the attention of his staff too often, he would be in the sh*t. Is it not better therefore to be the grey man from day 1. Not meaning to say you need to be boring for the rest of your life, but to know when to keep your mouth shut and how to act in certain situations is key i would have thought.

For example, you obviously would never want to draw attention to yourself in a bad way in depot/training. You would never want to attract ANY sort of attention to yourself on selection, yet in battalion or down the pub you can be yourself.