I have mentioned on these boards before that the military had made no use of the troops that train at the Mountain Warfare School here. I thought that once we went into Afghanistan that these folks would be amongst the first called up. At the very least I would think that the officers and senior non-coms from the school could go overseas to do a quicky course for those about to go into Afghanistan.
I've hiked and ski'd cross country terrain like this. Let me tell you, its not easy. 'Specially with a rucksack and a weapon. Then you add in people shooting at you.
Our guys are giving it their all. No matter what kind of questions any of us may have of this engagement, our men (and women) are going 110%
The 650-man 45 Royal Marine Commando, also known as the Mountain and Arctic Warfare cadre.
Wrong. 45 RM CDO is one of three Royal marine Commando battalions, the other two being 40 and 42 battalions. Other units, Also under the RM umbrella are the SBS (Special Boat Squadron), Commachio group (I believe this units role has now been swallowed up by the SBS), a specialist coxwain squadron, and the Mountain & Arctic Warfare cadre. 45 CDO and the M & A W Cadre are two completely separate units. All Royal Marine Commando units go through high standard Mountain and Arctic training in Norway and Scotland, but the standards required from the M & A W cadre go way, way beyond that. Training at the CTCRM (Commando Training Centre-Royal Marines) lasts for 30 weeks, and does involve mountain warfare skills (along with other warfare skills) i.e basic climbing and abseiling skills, but not cliff assaults. The Commando course is the basis course for all those wishing to join one of the 3 CDO Battalions, and has a pass rate of about 40%. When these Marines have had at least 3Yrs experience with there Rifle company's, then, and only then can they even consider applying for training with the Specialist units within the RMs, namely the SBS and the M&A W cadre (only marines can join the SBS. Soldiers from the army can go through M & A W cadre training, but only marines serve on the cadre). Bear in mind, the quality of men that have passed the CTCRM, the pass rates of both the SBS and the M & A W cadre are less than 10%, probably closer to, if not less than 5%.
Passing basic training isn't easy : A recruit has to traverse 30 miles of Dartmoor crags with full back gear in seven hours.
The 30 miler is the final test in the Commando course, it forms part of test week, similar to SEALS BUD/S hell week. The 30 miler is one of many tests in the final week, the rest being elaborate assault courses (one aptly named the Tarzan course) and a 48hr continuous battle. The 30 miler is carried out a few times during training for the Cadre, but purely as part of the training programme to push the students to further distances with heavier weight. The cadre goes through 2 phases - ML1 and ML2. The combined course run to about 18 months, and involves agent running in Norway, and a lot of time spent above 10,000ft and in temps less than -40'C. The purpose of the cadre was to provide deep penetration recce patrols into Russian Siberia and to organize partizans in Finland, Sweden and Norway, if the Soviets did ever try to invade. The final ML test is a 300km march/ski which involves passing through a series of handler agents, one of whom hands you to the enemy, then its resistance to interrogation, escape and evasion. Again, 45 CDO, although very highly trained, is not the Mountain and Arctic Warfare cadre. The cadre only has around 30-40 men, not 650.
"They train the entire unit, not individuals; their NCOs are empowered or trusted to do more......"
CTCRM trains the unit, but M & A W cadre does tend to be for the individual. NCOs in the British armed forces (including the army) on the whole have more experience and responsibilities than there US counterparts, and are generally older. I was amazed by the first US army sergeant I met when I came to the US, he looked like he'd only been out of school 5 minutes, I asked him how old he was, he was 22 yrs old and a sergeant 1st class. You'd be lucky to see a 22 yr old Corporal in the British army, let alone sergeant. Promotion is a lot harder to earn in the British army.
Den
Considering some of the weapons we're using, there isn't much left to see.