Navy

Commandos Hone Dawn Assault Skills

Against a background of morning mist from the Welsh Valleys a steely group of Royal Marines laid in wait, ready to attack, as part of an early morning exercise called Alpha Fury.

Led by the Corporals of 40 Commando, this was a chance for the Taunton-based Marines to practise their skills at living and fighting in the field before the next phase of their careers.

Acting at least one rank higher than normal, the exercise is a precursor to the Junior Command Course with the Corporals getting to experience the demands expected of their Command team.

In severe wet weather conditions, the Marines were inserted at the edge of the exercise area and expected to ‘yomp’ (fast paced walk) to small covert camps in the woodlands, also known as ‘harbour positions’.

From here 40 Commando went back to basics practising field craft, administrating kit and conducting sentry duties whilst they waited for the right time to attack.

Corporals of 40 Commando camp in the woods

Using intelligence gathered by patrols, the Corporals wrote and delivered a set of orders that outlined the objectives of their future mission. Under the darkness of night, 40 Commando were packed up ready to assault at first light.

Corporal Thomas Hunt, one of the juniors helping run the exercise said:

“It’s good to get back to our green skills, and the younger Marines have definitely benefitted from the extra responsibilities of learning to do the job one rank up. It helps us all have a wider understanding of how we work as a team under pressure.”

40 Commando Royal Marines have recently completed Exercise Cougar 14, which saw the whole unit deploy to the Gulf for four months as the UK’s Response Force Task Group (RFTG) on HMS Bulwark.

Ready at the break of dawn

Having handed over their element of Lead Commando Group to 45 Commando, the unit is now supplying short term training teams and force protection teams to warships on operations around the globe.