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Im wanting to become and officer in either the marines or the paras but I don't know which one I should go for. I'm still only 16 and starting A levels next year but I'd just like your views on the lifestyle on the two regiments/forces. I'm under the impression the Marines are the toughest non SAS/SBS troops Britain has. What is the difference between the two lifestyles once your in? Who sees most active service?

Also, I am wondering if I need a degree after my A levels. I know the official line is 5 GCSE's A-C and 2 A Levels A-E but is this how it really in practise?

Lodgi use the search facility on the site, the questions you've asked have been covered fairly comprehensively already so all the info u need should be about somewhere!

Maverick is right, this has been covered well already, and the guys here will give you good un-bias advice , I also want to be an officer, and have chosen the Para’s, if they’ll have me that is.

Considering most of the people on this site are either serving marines, ex marines, or marine wannabe's my advise to you is to listen to what they have to say, but also look around the links at the bottom. google search under british parachute regiment also brings up some good info.

As for A levels or degree's both should suffice although degrees are better than A levels anywhere, but you will still have to meet their criteria to get in degree or no degree!!! As far as I know there is an recruiting officer who posts on here from time to time ( I think ) !!! He may have more info, but the ones I spoke to said A levels were fine...

Hope that helps

lew

If you look at what you have to do to become a para ie the selection tests you will see that they are nothing compared to the gruelling POC or PRMC. Which would lead me think that the marines are the best, with a wider range of skills, greater fitness and more respect world over! No offence to any paras!

Apparently a lot of paras are wannabe marines who failed selection! (I dont know this for a fact!)

Apparently a lot of paras are wannabe marines who failed selection! (I dont know this for a fact!)

Dangerous, young sir, dangerous! Anything that is 'none fact' will be savaged on this message board.

agentkitson, that last quote you made is a pile of bullsh*t .

Mav and Lew are right.

This has been covered in depth, quite recently, and there is some good advice on the forum.

Unfortunately, the Para Regt 'recruiter', turned out to be a 'Walter', was found out to be a school boy stirring the proverbial, and sent on his way!

Read up all you can on both organisations, and I guarantee one or the other will have more appeal. That's the outfit you should go for.

Please don't let this thread turn into yet another 'them and us' battle. We don't need it.

You need A Levels to become an officer, but a degree you dont. Whats the point of going to university for 3/4 years to specialise in a subject which has no relevance within the Marines? Your ony 16, so you have a couple of years to decide (considering your waiting untill your 18 at least).
Get fit, get up to date on your maths and English skills and read a lot about the Marines.

My impression has always been that the Para's are the elite of the army (not including the SAS), while the Marines are the elite of all the regiments withing the British forces.

The Marines are classified as a Special Force, while the SBS is an elite within an elite. If you want to join the SAS, you can serve in the Marines or the Army. For the SBS, you need 3 years in the Marines only.

The Marines provide one of the longest basic training courses in the world, so theoretically, the Marines are better trained. You need to be fitter to be a marine and it is harder to get into than it s for the paras. The Marines are also amphibious, while the Paras operate in the air and on the ground.

Put it this way, about 75% of the SAS is made up of former Paratroopers. But that 75% is not eligable to join the SBS.

As for the comment that most Paras are rejected Marine wannabes, that is false. Afterall, people apply to be in the Cleaning and Catering Corps! However, if the Marines wont have me, the Paras are my backup.

One question. Why is everybody also interested in the Royal Green Jackets? Is it a good regiment or do you just want to follow in the footsteps of Andy McNab?

I know everyone talks about the royals having the longest basic training in the world, as far as we know, but how long is the Para’s basic training I think I read somewhere that it was 28 weeks can someone clarify please.

Because if this is the case surely there isn’t much difference in the standard???

(DISCLAIMER) please don’t confuse this as a who is the best question of any way shape or form


lew

Here, discussion settled:-

eh

OOoo i didnt know they were recruiting too??? What style of press ups do they use??? Do you have to have a degree? What level do you need on thebleep test?? etc etc....

I agree with Count. But for the purposes of most discussions like this, para's are just as good as the Royal Marines, they simply have different roles. If you want to discuss in more detail which is better than the other in some way, there's already a thread for that so can we keep it there please. Now to continue the random slogan/picture competition thingy Count started (whether he knew it or not)...

K thanks for your wise words. Btw...how long before the POC or Para equivalent should I start training. I keep myself quite fit now with sports and running but when should I start proper training? Also, I know are both good soldiers but what I really want to know if who have the best laugh? I would hate to join the marines just because they have harder entrance standards but if its boring I dont wanna join it...