‘Bottom Field’: Royal Marines' most gruelling test?

Rifles ☑️
30ft rope climb ☑️
Carrying troops in a race against the clock ☑️
What is the Royal Marines' infamous 'Bottom Field'?
The Commando Training Centre in Lympstone is notorious among Royal Marines as it is home to one of the most gruelling, yet satisfying, tests of a commando.
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[@matthewford937]

My son just passed out and became a Royal Marine Kings Badgeman! Per Mare Per Terram! This retired infanteer is proud of his son and all the Royal Marines!

[@robhunt-watts8908]

Congratulations. The Kings badgemen are the best of the best. (Former Royal Marine)

[@millennialtrucker6435]

A lad on my intake climbed 29ft of the rope, his arms blowing out and he couldn’t reach the tape/shackle. Slid all the way down, 21lb plus a weapon, tore all the skin off his hands and broke his ankle at the bottom. PTI strolls over, bends over to inspect the screaming mess on the floor, casually says “honking, you need need to get yourself to the med centre fella” such happy memories. I was awful at the regain, failed it more often than I passed it. Trust me, when you start training in November, you learn very quickly to stay dry at all costs 🥶

[@sichere]

I recall the first time I met with the 30 footer and clung for dear life at the 29 too knowing that the next foot would mean the quick way down. I had no idea that it was all about technique as the PTI in his tight top showed us how to do without climbing it and then climbed to the top using just his arms. I managed to wrap the rope tight in my armpit and avoided the burn and broken bones but it took me a while to trust going up there again but I can still come down head first in a controlled manner. I found the regain and monkey bars really easy even when wet but the thing is about the bottom field is that you will be down for as long as they want, which is until everyone is threaders and if that's not enough they'll wait until the tide is out for a mud run mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

[@sichere]

@Rob Wilton I found that out - eventually but the first time was a shock and being a Reserve they certainly didn't spend much time on the instruction - Hurry up and wait !!!

[@millennialtrucker6435]

@Rob Wilton alright “sick bay”

[@millennialtrucker6435]

@Rob Wilton you obviously never experienced “Arms Only….to the top…CLIMB!”

[@yomperone]

I joined Oct 28 so I did mine in That winter right upto July

[@robhunt-watts8908]

I'm 73 and did my Royal Marines training 54 years ago. Yes, it was hard, but fitness is gradually built up over months of exercise. There are injuries and sometimes deaths, but the cause of the high failure rate is men giving up. The mindset is the key, the whole course is designed to push each individual beyond his perceived capabilities and there is no let up to this. Total commitment, unswerving determination and a stubborn refusal to give up and lie down is the key. The successes in my life are a direct result of this.

[@ponymoore6140]

BZ Sprog! I'm 76 and did mine 60

[@auxiliary4023]

The assault course is often sneered at by other forces who've never done it. No 12' walls to stop at the base and rest whilst your mates catch up! Everything is designed to keep you moving and throwing your breathing out of sync. I like to see it hasn't changed since my days. No beasting jackets worn nowadays, which gave you a sick feeling as you reached for it, knowing what laid ahead.

[@1Pompeywhite]

Nowhere near most gruelling. Warm up for real tests almost 3 months later. Endurance was hardest IMHO. Found that and 9miler harder than 30 miler. Tbh

[@jazzflute2465]

Brings back memories, webbing burns, blisters, hands cut to bits, SLR cracking the back of your head 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 21Llb it was a lot more back in the day 83 Would I do it all again, too right I would.

[@irish7460]

Wasn't man enough to try out RM, but I did join the Royal Irish back in 07. Wish I were 21 again mate.

[@jazzflute2465]

@@irish7460 you do what you do mate, not everyone is cut out for HM Royal Marines, horses for courses, you did your bit respect.

[@irish7460]

@@jazzflute2465 Your tellin me. I joined at 18. Watching them lads in those docos, I'd have quit in the first few weeks at that age. Respect to the mad lads in the RM.

[@clipz4238]

Im 16 in military prep collage and wanna join next year do u reckon I should join when I'm older and fitter then I already am whats one big tip for training before applying

[@jazzflute2465]

@@clipz4238 I'm not really sure if there is one really good tip that can prepare you, it's either in you or its not. As for being 16 only you will know if your ready to take the next step, so many people think it's all about fitness believe me it's not. Your mental toughness is the most important and having the right attitude is essential, the Corps will get you fit that's the easy bit. But becoming a member of an elite family money can't get you in, is a great feeling. Best of luck young man.

[@yomperone]

We had a Pongo Sgt who could not make it over the first wall but I saw him later in Brigade HQ and later as a civvy Blagging everyone about his”Commando” experience

[@sandywilkie564]

I have so much admiration for these young men. Very, very proud of our armed forces.

[@glennj6465]

Well done Marine 👍🏻 No plumb up arse Rupert commentary just straight talking words 💚

[@ponymoore6140]

Been there, done that! And, just for the record, it's a Royal MarineS Commando!

[@TheChooch1964]

probably the fittest you will ever be after bottom field pass out perfectly designed for progressing the strong and weeding out the weak . Loved it back in 1988 . PMPT .

[@briankelly6432]

Awesome

[@manxman8008]

Top Training!

[@samgarrod4781]

I love the head slapping.

[@derekobeirnes482]

Good memories 978 troop

[@Pembroke.]

Looks like a lot of fun - keep going, guys, you can do it!!!!

[@marblerun5149]

can’t wait looks fun

[@nella9115]

You should look forward to it..... Its not fun though... Not at all 😂

[@samg0529]

I saw this happen wondered what the cameras were for

[@empire-classfirenationbatt2691]

It says a lot about the type of men the original commandos were that the same tests are still being used in the modern organisation.

[@uttzy1784]

when was this filmed?

[@robertsmart9432]

It's all about putting them as near too battle field conditions and if you are going to be a front line soldier this is what you need too doo ! This is the basic requirement

[@adamphillips04]

Bottom field + Tarzan…. Good memories 😂

[@chasboyuk]

Mega nods, maximum effort for maximum gain. BZ!!!

[@olivermoore7020]

Does the British military stil use imperial measurements in training and operations? Or is this just for public communication purposes? (As many Brits still think in imperial units). I had to do a conversion on the 21 lbs as that means nothing to me... (it's about 9.5 kg btw).

[@patricktracey7424]

hardest test try the 30 miler across dartmoor.

[@johnsmith-rs2vk]

Hard , very hard . And then comes the 30 miler !

[@kevinward3088]

Respect to the RMC's , from a former maroon lid pongo , earning the coveted Commando Green lid is hard yards ......Sorry about the smell though.

[@RR-pv4dh]

I think every marine would disagree with this and have 2 words for you… 30 miler

[@sichere]

The 30 miler comes at the end of the training and most Nods would consider eating their arm off rather than quitting by that point. The 30 foot rope is introduced at a very early stage and the bottom field is the stick that Staff use repeatedly to beat the civvy out of you.

[@colinscudder4566]

All good doing fireman's lift but none of them are carrying any kit and neither is the potential casualty Which is totally unrealistic unless they intend to ditch all their equipment before they get their mucker back to safety presumably while they are under fire. Sorry to rain on your parade but relevant.

[@JammyDodger45]

@@colinscudder4566 I take it you failed your sniper course. Look again at 1.40, they are all wearing webbing and carrying a weapon. That seems pretty relevant to me.

[@worldtoday9244]

Which boots do the royal marines mostly use.

[@simonw75]

The one in Exeter, however Superdrug is a more popular choice amongst the Nods!

[@hirdy161]

Altbergs for the field, but they're not the same as the ones you buy on civvy Street, military ones are mass produced and not as good. Still good though

[@williebauld1007]

His hair he spends hours on that

[@captainhindsight8779]

Things we often see in the battlefield, like monkey bars 🤣🤣

[@irish7460]

Are you tellin me there weren't monkey bars in the mountains of Afghan? XDXDXD

[@madkabal]

Thinhs you need on the battlefield, upper body strength.

[@iracingrookie3301]

Well actually they use ladders quite a lot Ladders are basically monkey bars

[@christopherbloor3901]

Monkey bars improve grip and upper body strength and endurance, and in a battle, you could very well need to hang or grip on to something for a prolonged period of time.

[@captainhindsight8779]

Thanks for the replies, it was a joke. I was on Herrick 16 and I can assure you there were no monkey bars to be seen, and only thing I needed to hold on long enough to care about grip was the walls of the portaloo whilst I battled 50 degree heat to squeeze one out!

[@angloaust1575]

One wonders if the marines of Nelson's day went thru all this!

[@JammyDodger45]

They weren't Commandos.

[@yomperone]

No they were all ships detachments

[@h7283]

Nobody did until WW2

[@anthonyprice-brown8043]

Of course...a lot of them complained about poor internet reception at CTC though!

[@dickdastardly5534]

Here hold my beer 😁

[@8ballphil150]

piece of cake . lol. pirbright back in the 70s . now that was hard . assault course over a mile long . plus heartbreak hill and the sand hill . march and shoot . = 3 mile run , assault course and shoot on the range . no rest .

[@williambelford9661]

The most gruelling test is, without a doubt, the 30 miler. Been there, done that, got the Beret.

[@richardnixon4345]

and then you woke up and Mum told you to stop pulling yourself

[@williambelford9661]

@@richardnixon4345 I got my Beret in 1980, when did you get yours?

[@richardnixon4345]

I have something that is held in higher esteem than that. The Burger King paper crown hat for employee of the month. Took 20 years work at " the king" to achieve that. A lot longer and tougher than walking 30 miles and making a few bed packs

[@budte]

@@richardnixon4345 so....no then.

[@johnmontgomery4923]

Our regular troops do this. So it couldn´t be that grueling.

[@JammyDodger45]

Which regular troops?

[@Pax.Britannica]

Ah yes, let's just ignore the 30 miler & the endurance course, and ask "Is this the most grueling test" so we mislead people who don't know better into being interested in our video 🙄

[@patshiels5429]

And don’t forget the Army commando’s

[@deankirk3710]

No, let’s forget them

[@patshiels5429]

@@deankirk3710 why’s that then remember the motto United we Conquer

[@glenquagmire9737]

@Stanly Stud elite infantry that is but now they have the commando role again

[@nella9115]

@Stanly Stud i think i can smell a bitter pongo

[@atae7185]

Army commando’s? You mean 24; engineers that have spent a few weeks at CTC and have done some physical tests and now work for the corps and will never undertake an amphibious assault, vertical assault or engage with the enemy at close quarters! Same with 29, both are not commandos and you know it, it’s just a pretty badge you all like to wear, I’ve got more respect for the RAF Reg🤣

[@davidseals4898]

Thank god Queen and Country it not Amanda Owens farming lives narrating. They would all ignore he

[@davidseals4898]

Sorry had to. God Queen Country 💪🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🙏🕺

[@bertiewooster3326]

But we have female marinas!

[@philiplight12]

No

[@JammyDodger45]

There are female members of the Royal Marines Band Service but no female Royal Marines Commandos.

[@evelinemarquesdasilva6000]

It's thing beautiful men ❤, well done that the best. 😀🤪🤪❤❤

[@kodiak64]

A person carry? Not a man carry? Has Justin Trudeau been writing the script?

[@peakexperience]

Looks like a doss compaired with The Trainaisium and other P Coy assault courses.

[@jazzflute2465]

🤣🤣🤣🤣 Give ya heed a wobble Mr Bitter

[@benkelly2190]

Airborne all the way!

[@jazzflute2465]

@@benkelly2190 do us all a favour and go and embarras yourself somewhere else Percy.

[@benkelly2190]

@@jazzflute2465 anything for you twinkle toes🥳

[@jazzflute2465]

@@benkelly2190 I should think so as well 😉

[@ardshielcomplex8917]

Seriously, just normal Infantry training in the Australian Infantry Corps.

[@bennathan7353]

I was ex Royal, we had a couple of aussie recons on exercise with us good soldiers but they couldn’t do the physical tests. That said, this bottom field pass out is week 20 out of 32, it’s not difficult compared to the rest such as the mandatory yomp on final ex, with full kit weighing over 50kg or the endurance course

[@atae7185]

Is that the Australian infantry corps that doesn’t actually engage in combat? Don’t make me laugh!

[@sichere]

There is nothing "normal" about the bottom field, once you are on it.

[@atae7185]

@@sichere pays to be a winner, around the 6foot wall and back to me, go!, to the top climb!…….”I can’t do it corporal!!!!! Hahahaaaaa! Happy days, and what has made us the men we are today!

[@sichere]

@@atae7185 Warm up time 🤣🤣🤣