On Course With The Commandos

131 Independent Commando Squadron is a specialist unit of the Army Reserve. Their role is to provide engineer support to 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines, an internationally-renowned rapid deployment force which specialises in amphibious operations and mountain and cold weather warfare.

Army Reserve Commando Trainees are all expected to complete the cross-country element of the Endurance Course, as part of their build-up training for the Reserve Forces Commando Course.

The six-mile Endurance Course involves carrying 14.5kg of equipment, including rifle, and has to be completed in under 73 minutes. You have to memorise your way around the route and there is a qualifying range shoot at the end; you only pass the Endurance Course if you pass the shoot.

Note that this film concentrates on the cross-country element; if you want to see the four-mile road-run you'll have to join up and do it yourself. Also, it doesn’t show the four-mile march from Lympstone to the start-point at Woodbury Common, conducted in your own time and independent of the test itself.