[quote]They just didn’t ‘quit the Royal Marines’, like prospective SEALS who ‘ring the bell’ and go back to their regular units (or SF who don’t meke it through Robin Sage, or guys with Ranger School, etc.)
They’re allowed to quit the military and go home. Again they’re quitting not flunking out or failing any tests.[/quote]
The SAS and (presumably) the SEALS are units you apply to join having already served some time in a regular branch.
The Royal Marines is not a special forces unit, it is a ‘regular’ unit that people apply to join straight from civvy street. Therefore, there is no unit to return to in most cases if you flunk out of Royal Marine selection and training.
Again, the Royal Marines are a sub-special forces elite light infantry force, they want people who are highly motivated and determined. If you don’t want to be there, it is no loss to them if you quit, because they are the kind of military unit that doesn’t want quitters in its ranks...
This is how they advertise for recruits, if it gives you some idea of who they want to apply in the first place:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUcaM_0ztbM
“The SAS and (presumably) the SEALS are units you apply to join having already served some time in a regular branch.”
Nope. No “regular” time required. In fact, many units throughout the DoD prefer that you never step foot into another unit only to learn bad habits they then have to unlearn.