Mountaineering unit

[sammy571819]

Hey guys, just wondering if any of you know if there is a specialised mountaineering unit in the Royal Marines because I read something about it a while ago but i cant remember. I thought I remember it being a specialised unit like the SBS which you can join after being in the Marines or am I getting confused with another regiment. Cheers

[cosmo]

i think they are called "Mountain Leaders"

[dalo]

I heard mountain leader training isnt far off SAS training, is this true?

[MCD EASTERBROOK]

Very tough work

[El Prez]

Do a search under 'Mountain and Arctic Warfare Cadre' or M&AW.
Often abbreviated to ML's, Mountain Leaders. There was a TV series about them many moons ago, it may be one of Discovery's regular films.

[HotShot]

The TV series for it looked great, and 1 part sticks in my head.

They had to swim through ice cold water...I literally mean they had just took a chunk of top layer ice off, revealing the water below. They had to swim 25m in this, then while still in the water, say their name, rank and serial number, coherantly, before climbing out.

[Artist]

Every M&AW trained Marine has to do that.

You Cut out some ice in a Fjord/Lake and then jump in it wearing all your kit, use your ski poles to gain purchase then climb out. But not before you have said your name, rank and number. They didnt swim through it either. You try swimming wearing a set of Pussers Planks! (Skis)

The M&AW Cadre are based at Stonehouse in Plymouth. But, all Cdo Units have ML's within them.

Royal likes to Mix n Match so you never stay in one unit for more than 2/3 years although there are exceptions to the rule. As there are only 6000 Bootnecks you tend to join a unit and know a fair proportion of those already serving in your new unit.

Artist

[sammy571819]

Cheers guys, i remember now that i saw a bit of that program on the discovery channel because i remember one of the guys in the water was unable to state his name and rank because he was so cold and going into shock, sounds pretty tough!!!!

[42]

those gucci bastards

[Artist]

42!

For Shame they are super dooper peeps so they are!

Like it Royal. Succinct and straight to the point. Made Oie Laff ye did.

Artist

[Feb 02]

I know the guy pretty well who had a little trouble speaking while in the water, it was so funny to see him doing 'so well', he did pass the course, it was a few years ago now about 2000 if I can remember rightly.

Bloody hard 8 month course and thats just the start of it all.....

[El Prez]

I was duty heli driver for casevac of any frozen/heart attack cases when they did the oggin jump. I was sat there quite happily waiting for one of them to spoil my day, when it was pointed out to me that I had not partaken of this particular exercise and 'now' might be the expedient time.
Looking totally cool calm and collected I pointed out that I was there in order to take them to Hospital..............who would take my frozen arse to hospital if it all went tits up?
Quickly wound up the gazellicopter and whoooooooshed away.

[slaphead_17]

I’m 17 and applying for the marines at the end of this month and when I read through the specializations in the RM information booklet I have got. I just knew that’s what I want to do (Mountain leader) but it’s so hard to find information on it, (wish id seen that program on it) never mind I’m shore ill find out when I do it. lol