Initial Military Training | The Bands of HM Royal Marines

[@davidharris4062]

I wish Chris Terrill would do a series on the RM Band service, from initial application to completion of training

[@Sam-ch9mn]

I was a GD marine in the 1970s and have only just realised from this video that our bandies took fieldcraft and weapons training. Makes me even more proud of you. Best military band in the world - some might even say the best band in the world, full stop.

[@brownbear2419]

Time to train new Royal Marines Band Members. Lads and Lassies to be Royal Marines for Life.

[@deniseshephard3347]

Thank you for this insight into the hard graft that is needed but also the camaraderie that is needed

[@parkin8595]

Fair play, they described things accurately. Good delineation and contrast between the Royal Marines Band Service and the training they do over 13 weeks, and the taster sessions they were given to see what the 36 week Royal Marines Commando training is like. Seemed very positive and most of all, supportive of the Royal Marines commandos.

[@Hal-zf4fv]

Well done all and I i wish you all the best of luck within the royal marines bands.

[@cheyennethompson1013]

it's an honor to serve and still join you all to give my all to this proper cause as a reserve volunteer please thanks thank you from cheyenne thompson 22yrs old uk.

[@nicholasdavies6264]

Well done all of you! Hope you have long and enjoyable careers .

[@laurapayne5732]

I am loving this, it was my dream to Join this band, but sadly I am too old. I love watching these. Please keep them coming!

[@eliselawless5410]

I think you could do reserves I would check if u can

[@harrywebsters2318]

@@eliselawless5410 RMR doesn't have a band.

[@user-zy9yg2eu5t]

I joined the band at 52 years old. They probably just told you that you are too old because they didn't want to tell you that you are rubbish at guitar

[@laurapayne5732]

@@user-zy9yg2eu5t of course I am rubbish at guitar..... I don't play guitar.... lol.... and they didn't tell me.... I figured at 46... I was too old.

[@harrywebsters2318]

@@user-zy9yg2eu5t you joined the RMBS at 52 years old... What as, a Sodexo worker?

[@translunar1]

Really enjoying these films about RM Band Service recruitment and training. Thank you!

[@Hobbes22]

me too.

[@tonyalways7174]

I served at Deal for a couple of years in the mid 80s seeing the Bandies up close for the first time. They’re chalk and cheese from the average Bootneck but I had the greatest respect for them watching the hours and hours of music practice and drill often until late into the night. Great to see them at CTC so maybe each part of the Corps will feel closer to the other because at Deal it was starting to feel like they were drifting away from each other. Per mare Per Terram 👍🏻

[@595goldy]

True, I served my last 6 months for the closure of Deal Barracks in the mid 90s. They still had to go out on live firing exercises while down there, The PW used to use some of the lads on provost to help out, Very different, great bunch of people.

[@ilTroubadori]

Yeah I joined in '74 definitely felt separate even though we shared the same building..

[@donalddodson7365]

Nice touch having the future Band personnel do initial military training together. The U. S. Army trains everyone in the same Basic Combat Training, then scatters the graduates to their advanced training (or in my case On The Job Training - OJT). (433rd & 36th Army [AG] Bands and 4th Infantry Division Band, 1968-1971.

[@andrewj9831]

Donald, Now the Army recruits tend to do their BCT at locations based on their MOS (Jobs) for the most part. Fort Benning is Infantry (combat field), Fort Jackson does non-combat MOS are the two bigger ones out of the 5 they have.

[@donalddodson7365]

@@andrewj9831 Thank you for your update. I wonder if this will perpetuate the errors non-combat arms MOS's had in the US Gulf War? I recognize it costs more to train all Recruits to at least competent warriors, regardless of MOS. On Christmas Day 1969 the Viet Cong decided to take advantage of the American's truce. The 4th Infantry Division Band put down our instruments and picked up our M-16's, and we were placed on the perimeter of FB Beaver shoulder to shoulder with "real" combat arms soldiers. In those days, every US Army soldier received the same Basic Combat Training, no matter what their AIT or OJT was to be.

[@andrewj9831]

@@donalddodson7365 I'm not saying that basic training is different. I was just pointing out that the same MOS recruits, would likely start basic training at the same location. It's my understanding that all services (Army, Navy, USMC, AF, USCG) send certain MOS to the same location for school. Because of that certain MOS's # will spike during BCT. Thank You for your Service!

[@alantoon5708]

In the U.S. Army basic is around ten weeks (I think, I retired 7 1/2 years ago), then the School of Music is 10 weeks. One of my Specialists auditioned for and made the USMC Commandant's Own. He had to go to Boot Camp at Parris Island, then to Camp Geiger for infantry training. It is great to see young people excelling in their training 👏.

[@kirad2234]

US army basic is now 9 weeks. British army basic is 14 weeks, Royal Marines basic is 32 weeks, Royal navy is 10 weeks and Royal Air Force is 10 weeks too mate. Officer training is usually 2.5x the length of regular basic training, for example, Royal Marines Officer Training is 65 weeks

[@JustinSane50]

@@kirad2234 *64

[@baronedipiemonte3990]

I'm a veteran and never understood people "looking down" on the band members. They did/have to go through the same basic training like everyone else. The "band" is their specialty just like any other MOS or Rating.

[@kirad2234]

@@baronedipiemonte3990 the Royal Marines band don't go through the full 32 weeks Basic training that regular marines do, they'll typically go through 15 weeks basic training, not combat centric, but will cover basic combat skills, fitness, fieldcraft, but focus mainly on the whole music side of it, history and DRILL. I think most people forget that at the end of the day, these band members can still be called upon in war

[@baronedipiemonte3990]

@@kirad2234 Most certainly. And from what I have seen on KZbin, not every applicant is accepted. I noted on one video that besides the musical auditioning, they also had to participate in a physical fitness challenge as well. Is that only for the RM Band applicants, or anyone who wants to become a RM ? I would probably not take a band member (or cook or clerk) on a Special Op, but I think they'd be able to hold down the fort while we're gone. Otherwise just grab anyone off the street who can play an instrument and frock them in a uniform. Any one of them can sure as hell march and drill better than me. But in Intel and Combat Security we had little use or need for that anyway...

[@josephm8292]

That lad with the glasses was soo gorgeous 😍 I can't wait to join the RN eye candy everywhere.

[@katerinakemp5701]

🤣🤣🤣

[@mrpusser0348]

Good to see their CTCRM experience A bit kinder than mine 😂😂🤦‍♂️

[@brianmcd9492]

Great insight, no Hollywood movie shouting, or stressing the mind,very organised. People learn more in a happy environment.They are, smart and tough soldiers👍

[@imranzazai7404]

Nice training centre.

[@dandemann123]

Excellent insight and viewing, thank you.

[@nigelbradshaw8266]

If band staff are required to serve as medics Instead of combat staff when and where do they do their medical training?

[@Bootneck-RMC]

They are not medics, but will be stretcher bearers and possibly assist trained medics. That's not to say that they can't train later on and become medics.

[@Andrew.Stuart]

@@Bootneck-RMC Yep when I was in training the Infantry band had specialised training as strecher bearers.

[@peterdavy6110]

Going back to Victorian times, Marine and Army Bandsmen (& women) are stretcher bearers.

[@coreywilliams1454]

They undergo basic medical training if they're required to deploy, which various bands did in Iraq and Afghan, they're effectively stretcher bearers and do basic first aid.

[@colin10ten83]

Very interesting piece of film.

[@jamesstead4448]

I hope the young lads and lasses have a read of these comments. Well done, stand tall and be very proud of yourselves and enjoy every single day.

[@e.vosaigon4261]

90000

[@madchef_302]

Still cant decide if i want to do this or engineering in the RN

[@philcraigie8449]

Good to see the training still starts at CTCRM, that was a hard fought battle to bring that in!

[@historex54tamiya]

And that was thanks to Maj M Dowrick! I was his DMj

[@mjspice100]

Do they earn the right to their Green beret at the end of this training or is that only for regular marines?

[@louisparker-gorman9812]

The Band Service do not wear the Green Beret as they have not passed the Commando part of the military training. The Commandos and Band Service both carry out the same Initial Military Training (First 14 weeks) which the Commandos take further in the remaining 18 weeks of training. The Band Service instead wear black berets as shown in the video which have the same globe and laurel as commando berets. Hope this helps!

[@katerinakemp5701]

🥰🥰🥰no more words needed.

[@RylanCosgrove-l4m]

Are the band trained commandos?

[@MartinRodriguez-ox7vh]

Even If They Are Magnificent Musicians, They Are Royal Marines First And Foremost For In The Immortal Words Of The 38th Commandant Of The [ United States] Marine Corps General Alfred M. Gray, USMC, " ' Every Marine, A Rifleman First. ' " OOH RAH 🇬🇧👑⚓‼️

[@Jim-nt7xy]

Are there any female royal marines, other than the musicians?

[@NirvanTauckoor]

Of course mate!

[@markanthony4655]

Question. In a combat zone, are the RM Band members used as medics, stretcher bearers, etc as well as knowing basic infantry/weapons skills. ? The reason I ask is that I have never seen a female RM Commando.

[@shaunmcmillan6791]

Yes they are, one female is/was going through Commando training but I’m not sure what’s happened to her

[@595goldy]

@@shaunmcmillan6791 I believe she done the all arms course & was a triathlete, they are still waiting for the first woman to pass the full course.

[@shaunmcmillan6791]

@@595goldy she wasn’t RM, but did the All Arms course.

[@595goldy]

@@shaunmcmillan6791 I know

[@kalle911]

If shit truly hits the fan it's "all hands on deck"-type of situation. Even clerks and cooks get to do their bit, for what it's worth. But why would the band be sent to a combat zone in the first place.

[@jamesross1799]

It can't be like my grandads Royal marine commando training at achnacarry. Just can't be if girls can do it.

[@youtubeaccount6910]

How come you have to train as a soldier if u are just in the band?

[@capnpugwash822]

coz you don't get into the Royal Marines just because you like the uniform... when necessary they act as Medics/ stretcher bearers ... soldiers first .. great musicians second

[@allano937]

Members of the band are medics and as Royal marine band members they will deploy to conflict zones with the combat troops. They need the same military standards as the combatants to keep up in the battlefield and as enemy rarely distinguish between bandsmen and commando the band members need to be able to defend themselves.

[@davidking909]

Just like the members of our armed forces , they are sailors,marines, soldiers, airmen,coast guardmens first ,musicians second

[@harrywebsters2318]

Band members undergo a basic military syllabus, exactly the same as every other member of the armed forces. They're secondary role is to assist in logistical support for Role 2 medical facilities - to that end they're not Medical Assistants and that role is still with RMMA's and RNMA's. They act more in a supportive role as orderlies and drivers. They are not forward deployed and so are only required to have a basic 14 week initial training course. Again, not knocking them as they are great at what they do.

[@youtubeaccount6910]

​@@harrywebsters2318 Thanks so much! I didn't know this

[@mehitabel1290]

"We got to TRY the commando course.." Must say, if I were a regular trainee commando, I would really resent these guys!

[@derekswingler9595]

No,not on, everyone has their place. The gunners and SBA’s are as much part of a Commando unit as band’s personal.

[@mardoniomarques3757]

👏👏❤️❤️

[@jamesross1799]

He did it in 42

[@derekfreeman5642]

Great video. The recruits who are being interviewed make the training sound really fluffy. Looks tough to me. We’re very proud of our forces.

[@AndrewRichards1993]

I can confirm as one of the 1/20 band troop who did not make it to the end. It is tough. This video makes it look all good and fluffy. In reality it's tough and at times it majorly sucks. But still have major respect for the service. It wasn't meant to be. Gutted, as they're a really great bunch of guys and girls in the troop. Top tip... Don't worry about the music side. Worry about the never ending kit musters, ironing and work on your nav. (They're probably more important than fitness, if you have a basic level of fitness you'll be fine) probably should practice ironing your bed and never sleeping. That will get you ready for training.

[@harrywebsters2318]

In comparison to the lads going through both Recruit Training and the AACC they're treated with kid gloves - and that's not meant as a dig. But again, the end product is a band member so training is tailored to that.

[@JammyDodger45]

@@AndrewRichards1993 - You did well just getting in, it's ultra competitive. What's your new plan buddy?

[@wordlog860]

Weird? Every US Marine is a Rifleman. Granted I'm none of them, But I always thought if I wanted to play band in the army/navy/corps I'd have to go through basic like everyone else (no thanks). As a contractor and listening to stories, I decided correctly =p

[@chesslerbooks]

Just like the US Marines, everybody is a rifleman (or woman). You never know when the bad guys will find a way to attack the rear areas. Eg, The Battle of the Bulge.

[@davidharris1562]

BZ to you all

[@Hal-zf4fv]

Even these guys basic is harder than the RAF

[@bunkerhousing]

Seems to be an everyone passed situation, which perhaps is okay, this is musicians after all. Musicians with a twist.

[@Joshua78b]

stood still on the bottom field 🤨

[@stephencrosbie8399]

Good luck to all those men and women who have joined up. It's a wonderful life, enjoy.

[@Anglo-Brit]

Oh dear.. Lovely little woman, an elite fighting force, I think not.

[@cheyennethompson1013]

I would be honored to be by the female army reserves heroes and females heroes side and fallen also die by their side aswell as a reserves volunteer to join you and the females reserves volunteer just like rising captain marvel and fallen captain marvel aswell please thanks thank you from cheyenne thompson 22yrs old uk.

[@Leaffordes]

Why doesn't women have to shave their hair? Or can men choose to put their hair up like the girls?

[@thelimatheou]

Oxygen thieves, but we love ya!