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Hi all, I've recently left the marines and after discovering how s**t civvy street actually is, instead of re-enlisting in the marines i've decided to apply for the paras as jumping out of planes has always appealed to me and i want a new challenge. It's still early stages but i was wondering if anyone knew if i'd be entitled to wear my commando daggers during training or if after i pass out?I ask this because when i did my marine training an ex para was allowed to still wear his para wings.

Any replies appreciated, cheers.

col2k5 wrote:Hi all, I've recently left the marines and after discovering how s**t civvy street actually is, instead of re-enlisting in the marines i've decided to apply for the paras as jumping out of planes has always appealed to me and i want a new challenge. It's still early stages but i was wondering if anyone knew if i'd be entitled to wear my commando daggers during training or if after i pass out?I ask this because when i did my marine training an ex para was allowed to still wear his para wings.

Any replies appreciated, cheers.

LOL, i think the reason the marine had wings was because you get parachute trained marines aswell, you certainly don't get a half marine/half para, actually i don't know if this is a bite. I'll let someone else answer properly.

Yes of course you get parachute trained marines, not that many though. But he was an ex para i was in training with.

I think the point jimbob is making is that Parachuting is a specialisation not limited to the Parachute Regiment, so a few people within the Corps (as well as other branches of the military) would be able to earn thier wings if thier job required.

Being Commando trained isn't something the Para Reg require, as they have thier own infantry training so to speak...

So I would guess 'no'.
But i'm no expert.

col2k5 wrote:Yes of course you get parachute trained marines, not that many though. But he was an ex para i was in training with.

OK, i may have mis-understood the question slightly, I still think it's a no but i'm sure someone can confirm it.

I think once you've passed the Commando course you were always entitled to wear the dagger aren't you as it's rewarded for passing the course unlike the Green Beret which you can only wear if your attatched to the Commando Brigade. If that is the case then you should be able to but certainly don't quote me on that!

As for wearing wings in the Marines, I think col2k5 an ex-para wearing his wings whenhe joined the marines rather than a marine whos done a jumps course wearing them.

Yes you can wear your commando dagger. Whether this is a good idea during training and P coy is up to you....personally I wouldnt draw attention to myself.

King_duck wrote:Yes you can wear your commando dagger. Whether this is a good idea during training and P coy is up to you....personally I wouldnt draw attention to myself.

Would he have to do P Coy? To the best of my knowledge you have to have passed some sort of 'ardous' course to qualify for attending Brize (not limited to): P Coy, Commando Tests or SF Test week, right off the top of my head.

Cheers for the replies guys,

I was just curious about the matter because of my mate who started marine training and wore his wings from the start, and i read somewhere that you could wear your commando dagger with any other unit but was unsure if this was just the case if you transfered. Yer i'd probably agree with not wearing my dagger until after passing out but saying that my training team loved the lad in my troop who was an ex para always spinning dits and stuff, probably best to just keep my head down and get on with it though.

Spooky wrote: Would he have to do P Coy? To the best of my knowledge you have to have passed some sort of 'ardous' course to qualify for attending Brize (not limited to): P Coy, Commando Tests or SF Test week, right off the top of my head.

Of course he would, everyone joining the Parachute Regiment has to pass P Coy. What you said is true for people wanting to do a jumps course but there is far more to joining the Paras than doing a jumps course and P Coy is a huge part of that.

King_duck wrote:Yes you can wear your commando dagger. Whether this is a good idea during training and P coy is up to you....personally I wouldnt draw attention to myself.

Sorry mate but no you cant.

The Commando Dagger isnt something you earn upon passing the Commando Course (otherwise the RMR would wear it too) - its a symbol to show you serve as part of 3 Commando Brigade, just as a Para (but not 4 Para) wear the Screaming Eagle of 16 Air Assault.

If you were a Paratrooper you would not be part of 3 Commando Brigade and therefore could not wear your commando dagger. Earning and wearing your blue badge of courage (Parachute Wings) is different - its awarded to you for passing the military parachute course and therefore you are entitled to wear it for life, regardless of which Regiment you transfer to.

Cheers

Spenny

Para wings you keep for life don't matter what unit you transfer to, including going into the cadets as adult officers. I think its against queens regulations not to wear the wings if you have been issued with them anyway.

Yeh you have to do P-COY, but i know a guy who was fast tracked to week 10 or summat, he basically knew his shit, as for the dagger I wouldnt wear it, you'll get a slagging.

yeah i knew a lad that was a ex marine and he didnt wear his dagger but did get fast tracked to the platoon ahead and he was only 18/19. top bloke

para, we may be talking about the same guy what platoon were you in when he was there?

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