Tameside Sea Cadets - Marine Cadets visit Lympstone for Royal Marine Training

Marine Cadets visit Royal Marine Base Lympstone in Dorset - 06th June 2007

Over the last two weeks or so, members of Tameside Sea Cadets Marine Cadet Detachment attended Basic and Intermediate training courses at the Commando Training Centre for Royal Marines (CTCRM) at Lympstone in Devon.

Recruit McCabe and Marine Cadet 2nd Class Rowbottom attended the first (basic course) on the 20th May. The course included Landing Craft Acquaint at Royal Marines Poole in Dorset, Weapon Handling Skills, Field Exercise and Drill on the parade square at CTC with a Royal Marine Drill Leader (DL).

An added bonus for the cadet was a ride back to the Commando Training Centre from Poole in a Sea King Helicopter.

On the 27th May a further four cadets Marine Cadets 1st Class Parkinson, Sanderson & Townley along with Marine Cadet 2nd Class Lobb attended the Intermediate course at the Commando Training Centre for Royal Marines in Devon. After arriving on Sunday it was straight to work drawing their kit from stores. The next day the cadets took part in a Yomp across Woodbury Common and drummed back in Lympstone to commemorate the Falklands War 25 year anniversary. Once back at Lympstone they took part in Weapon handling tests. On Tuesday the cadets headed to Poole harbour for Amphibious training in Ribs (Rigid Inflatable Raiders) followed by live firing on the shooting ranges.

On Wednesday the cadets had a full uniform (Blues) inspection followed by some drill on the parade square then stood proud for their photo outside the officers mess (see below). Later that day was Heavy Weapons and Mortars acquaint and then in the evening a Night Navigation exercise which included an ambush firing blank rounds.

Thursday saw the cadets in the classroom on the history of the Royal Marines, learning useful knots and finding out who the Victoria Cross winners were. This was followed by a visit to the Royal Marines museum on their final day before returning home

The Yomp conducted on Monday as explained above was part of a commemorative tribute to the 25^th anniversary of the Falklands war in which Royal Marines yomped with full kit the 60 mile across East Falkland from there landing at San Carlos to eventual victory at Port Stanley.

The cadets completed the 10 mile Yomp with kit and were drummed into Lympstone. This is an honour normally only given to the Kings squad after the completion of the second commando test (the 9 mile speed march) when they become the senior troop in training. Many of the staff at Commando Training Centre stopped work and came out to salute the Cadet troop which again is the tradition given to the kings squad as they are drummed into centre.