The Royal Marines Vision

Think Commando

October 2011
Foreword by the Commandant General Royal Marines Think Commando

The 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review counterparts. We are characterised by
directed the Armed Forces to optimise their nimbleness and resilience. We thrive in
contribution to the 8 National Security Tasks ambiguity. We specialise in manoeuvre and
focusing on PROTECTING the UK’s interests surprise. We routinely prevail against the odds.
whilst SHAPING a stable world. The emphasis These are the qualities that underpin our
will be on prevention and early crisis response. expeditionary nature.

This document explains how the Royal Marines The front lines of danger in the 21st century
can provide the nation’s leaders with military will lie along the global seams and threaten our
options for achieving these strategic effects, national interests in new ways.
pro-actively and with precision. It emphasises
We provide politically flexible, economic,
that this contribution is made possible by the
scalable military options with particular utility
particular and exceptional qualities of our
at the sea/land interface (the littoral), one of
people - Commandos. As the Chief of the
the key seams where complex hybrid threats are
Defence Staff explains:
most likely to emerge; threats which demand
‘In conflicts to come, people will become exceptional powers of analysis, of lateral
our edge. It is intelligent warriors, agile and thinking, of discrimination and incisive action to
thinking people who will improvise and who confront and to overcome.
will seize and hold the initiative.’
Unveiling the Commando Memorial in 1952, The
Throughout our almost 350 years of history we Queen Mother observed that,
have remained a vital, lean and versatile part of
‘The Commandos were raised in urgent clouded
the Royal Navy. We have a war fighting lineage
days; they hardened themselves for battle by sea,
and reputation on sea and on land which is
land or air, in which nothing was certain except
second to none. We are committed across the
the hazards they would face. To them danger
Service’s core roles of International Engagement,
was a spur, and the unknown but a challenge.’
Maritime Security and War Fighting, exploiting
the unique advantages of integrated, poised The Arab Spring is but the latest manifestation
maritime forces. In our philosophy and of the unpredictability of world events. This
practice, we epitomise an efficient, inclusive document describes how we will evolve and
Joint organisation; jointly resourced in our enhance yet further our ability to react to
manpower, equipment, tactics and doctrine. complex, uncertain challenges, and our value to
We are smoothly interoperable and highly the people of these islands.
valued by our American and European

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Our Vision

The Royal Marines will be the UK’s Crisis Response Force of choice.

As prescribed by the Defence Strategic Direction, the Royal Marines will support the
UK’s requirement to PROTECT its national interests, tackle risks before they escalate and
exert global influence (SHAPE). This will be delivered via the 3 key Naval Service roles of
International Engagement, Maritime Security and War Fighting.

Joint and expeditionary in nature the Royal Marines will be:

• Enabled by Joint support (Navy, Army, RAF) and Other Government Departments.

• At the heart of the UK’s input to key military coalition partnerships.

• Resourced to provide a wide range of military options at Very High Readiness.

• Integrated with the Royal Navy’s specialist amphibious ships; focused on utilising their
unique capabilities of amphibious force projection and expeditionary command and control.

The Royal Marines Position Within UK Defence

Campaigning
Royal Marines Commandos
PROTECT
Crisis Response Forces at Very High Readiness

Commando
Commando Commando Commando Multi-Role
Commando Company
Teams Troop(s ) Group Brigade Brigades
Group(s)
(30) (2000) (5200)
Special (200)
Forces

Proactive PREVENT & Responsive PROTECT

Additional Flexibility to deploy appropriate strength for humanitarian intervention, Additional
Specialisation/ training and mentoring, coercion and combat operations. Mass for
Discretion Campaigning

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 Think Commando

Our Mission The Commando Training Centre will:

Commander UK Amphibious Forces will: • Remain the crucible of the Royal Marines; vital to
the selection, training and through-life support
• Provide a 2-star headquarters capable of delivering
of intelligent, agile and robust people with a
operational level command as the Maritime, Land,
compelling, distinct and powerful ethos. Not just a
Joint or National Component command element (a
training establishment it is where Commando DNA is
unique Defence capability).
forged and maintained.
• Be regarded as the first choice alternative to JFHQ in
• Remain at its cost efficient, perfectly situated site.
command of expeditionary operations.
• Deliver innovative world class recruit, officer, command
• Be held at Very High Readiness, with the ability
and specialist training based on a Commando syllabus
to forward deploy. The headquarters will provide
informed continuously by the experiences of 3
scalable command options for both enduring and
Commando Brigade and wider Defence.
contingent operations, with particular emphasis
placed on commanding expeditionary coalition • Continue to be regarded as a Defence exemplar; a
operations and partnerships. pioneering establishment setting the benchmark for
military training, education and development.
3 Commando Brigade will:
• Drive Tactical Force Development.
• Maintain one Commando Group and other force
elements at Very High Readiness in order to deploy The Royal Marines Band Service will:
bespoke, agile force packages rapidly in response to • Generate world class bands committed globally to
security challenges sitting between the roles of the deliver defence diplomacy - an iconic instrument of
UK Special Forces Group and the Army’s Multi-Role UK influence and soft power, which galvanises the
Brigades. moral component of fighting power.
• Be able to deploy forward in order to PROTECT
The Royal Marines Reserves will:
and SHAPE, intervene early in crises, with options
from 8-man teams to the entire Brigade. The staff • Deliver a relevant, integrated and effective
will be capable of commanding separate elements, operational Reserve force focused on exploiting
simultaneously deployed around the world, specialist and valuable civilian skills.
prosecuting different missions.
• Maintain the capability of rapid strategic deployment Our Wider Defence Contribution
by sea or air transport. It will be optimised for • Safeguard the UK’s Nuclear Deterrent.
the maritime/land seam; and expert in harsh • Protect the Royal Navy’s ships.
environments and complex terrain.
• Continue to provide the greatest individual
• Be capable of war fighting for Complex Intervention. contribution to the UK Special Forces Group (the Royal
• Provide an integral but separable element of the Marines at 4.4% of UK military manpower, currently
Response Force Task Group. provide 43% of frontline, ‘badged’ Special Forces).
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The Strategic Context
‘The 21st Century strategic environment is characterised by increasing complexity, volatility, uncertainty and
diversity. Complexity calls for intellectual adaptability; uncertainty calls for practical agility. Adaptability requires
open-minds; Agility requires that Armed Forces should train to be versatile, to have a number of skills.’

Professor Paul Cornish, Head of International Security Programme Chatham House and member of the CDS Advisory Panel. May 2011.

Response. The 2011 Arab Spring is a salutary reminder discerning, targeted PREVENT activity will increasingly
that above all we must be prepared for the unexpected. be favoured with engagement on a geographic
If, in the future, the UK is to respond successfully to scale dictated by Britain’s global political and trading
un-predicted, non-discretionary crises then it must interests and interdependencies. We need to grasp
hold uncommitted, flexible force elements at Very better the political value of such proactive military
High Readiness for contingency operations. Such security undertakings and find better ways to resource
contingencies may include: conducting humanitarian them. Credible prevention (trust-building, deterrence,
relief operations; non-combatant evacuations; dealing containment or coercion) relies on credible military
with imminent terrorist attacks and threats to UK forces, as well as cultural understanding and sensitivity.
energy supplies; or focused coercive interventions Embarked across the spectrum of the Royal
(such as limited raiding by specialised forces). Royal Navy’s warships, the Royal Marines offer a
Marines Commandos, maintained at Very High unique capability to poise Commandos at sea.
Readiness, provide a key element of the UK’s They can be forward deployed – indefinitely if
Adaptable Posture, designed for independent, needs be – as a uniquely flexible instrument of
expeditionary, rapid response. foreign policy to deter, engage and to build trust;
switching subtly between these various postures
Hybrid Warfare. In future conflicts, smart adversaries
to convey political intent and to prevent conflict.
will present a simultaneous, hybrid jeopardy -
combining conventional, irregular and high-end Agility. Military agility demands a culture of trust, a
asymmetric threats. Such conflict could involve a range wide variety of skills, and the ability to decentralise
of trans-national, state, group and individual actors, resources and decision making rapidly in order to
capable of co-operating and directing their effects both respond to the unexpected. The Royal Marines ethos
locally and globally. Success within complex hybrid places a premium on initiative and promotes trust
conflict demands the powers of acute situational at all levels of command to enhance practical
analysis, lateral thinking, creativity, nimbleness agility of decision and action. All Royal Marines
and incisive independence of mind synonymous train to be Commandos before specialising in
with Royal Marines; inculcated from the outset in one of 28 skills ranging from Combat Intelligence
Commando training and fostered thereafter. Analyst to Special Forces Operator. They are
all multi-environment trained. Together, this
Conflict in the Global Seams. The front lines of
provides exceptional organisational agility to
danger in the 21st century lie within populations
adapt to changing circumstances.
at the global seams; environmentally (between sea
and land); culturally (between different ethnicities, Partnerships. SDSR 2010 made clear that the UK
groupings and religions) and at resource gradients government wishes to develop existing and create new
(between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’). This is pre- international partnerships. The Royal Marines will
eminently the world of the Royal Marines. The Royal strengthen existing relationships with the likes of
Marines will continue to modify and develop the USMC (the Royal Marines partner of choice)
their capabilities to face hybrid threats in these and within the UK/NL Landing Force. It can be
seams, particularly those that emerge in an urban the vector to develop and lead new partnerships
and/or littoral context, where the majority of the such as with France within the recently agreed
world’s population lives and where political and Combined Joint Expeditionary Force.
economic activity is increasingly concentrated.
UK Defence Resources and Funding. A real increase
Prevention. As a rule of thumb, preventing conflict in UK Defence spending is unlikely before 2015. The
is a thousand times cheaper than engaging in it. Royal Marines will continue to demonstrate that
In financial austerity, it is logical to assume that they are a highly cost efficient organisation.

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Royal Marines Activity in 2011 Think Commando

I
J K B
H

Global Security
Concerns C
A D
Extreme Poverty F E
Crime and Terrorism
M
Political Instability
Ungoverned Space Global Trade Routes and Choke Points
Major Oil Region Primary European Trade Route to Asia
Emerging Natural Primary Energy Route to Europe
Resouce Exploration Strategic Choke Point

SHAPE Spectrum of Military Activity PROTECT

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Humanitarian Promoting Security Combat Operations

A Libya. E Somali Coast . Fleet Protection J Albania. The Lead Commando

• Royal Marines Force Protection teams Group boarding teams embarked Group (as part of RFTG)
enabled a non-combatant evacuation on RFA FORT VICTORIA provided a UK conducted cross-training with UK
operation with HMS CUMBERLAND. counter-piracy surge. 6 7 Embassy and Albanian
• Royal Marines Intelligence specialists Commandos. 3
supported Attack Helicopter strike F Somaliland. A Royal Marines Boat
operations from HMS OCEAN. Group conducted capacity building with K Arabian Gulf. Lead Commando
• Royal Marines Boat Group provided HMG Somaliland Coastguard. 3 Group conducted partnered
with post-conflict options. 6 8 training and key leader
G UK- NL Partnership. engagement with KSA, UAE and
B Afghanistan. UK Defence Oman. 5
Combined exercises conducted in the Dutch
Main Effort. Core and leadership Antilles with long - term partners the Royal
of Task Force Helmand provided Netherlands Marine Corps - a precursor to L Straits of Hormuz. Fleet
by 3 Commando Brigade Protection Group boarding teams
Dutch forces taking part in counter-piracy
integrated with US Marines. 9 conducted Maritime Security
operations off Somalia. 8
Operations (Counter-Terrorism/
C N African Coast. Lead H UK Stand-by. As a standing -Piracy/-Narcotics). 7
Commando Group embarked on
commitment, Fleet Standby Rifle
Response Force Task Group amphibious M Indian Ocean. HQ Commander
Squadron & F Squadron Special Forces
shipping stood by for humanitarian UK Amphibious Forces provided
Support Group remain at Very High
operations in Libya and possible the 2-star Command HQ for EU naval
Readiness to provide support to
non-combatant evacuation operations in
Fleet ships and UK Special Forces. 4 forces pursuing counter -piracy
Lebanon and Syria. 2 operations to protect shipping and
I Nuclear Protection. Fleet uphold international law. 6 7
D Yemen. Response Force Protection Group provides
Task Group poised at sea to permanent dedicated response
support a potential non-combatant forces for the nuclear deterrent. 4
evacuation operation. 5

Consistent Operational Relevance

Unit 05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11

40 Commando West Africa Afghan Afghan Afghan/Med Afghan Afghan/Med/Libya

CAF 2 Star HQ Iraq Afghan Afghan/Iraq Iraq Iraq/Counter-piracy Counter-piracy

‘Where possible, we suffocated or strangled the insurgency by removing its expression. Whilst we avoided the many playground
fights on offer, we relentlessly targeted the real bullies; when we did so, the terms, times and places were of our choosing.’
CO 45 Commando, October 2011, post Op HERRICK 14

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The Commando Distinction
The trusted quality of the Royal Marines Commandos is internationally renowned.
Their distinction as a military force is the product of 3 key characteristics:

Versatility
They can be reinforced or withdrawn from a region at lower
Amphibious and Air Mobile - Expeditionary - Multi- political risk than land based options and may operate
Role / Multi-Environment - Modular - Political Choice freely without need of host nation support. In contrast,
land and air based theatre entry options need a secure third
Whether forward deployed at sea, or at readiness in the party base from which to launch – this inevitably imposes
UK, the ability to project a Commando force provides constraints, with political and financial implications.
a mosaic of political options. They can be discreetly
manoeuvred either to achieve surprise or overtly to Maritime-based land forces provide the perfect building
demonstrate national will. They are able to operate in block for alliances with other coalition partners, especially
urban, desert, arctic and jungle environments, leading USA, France and Australia. Commando forces can be
Defence in many aspects of this multi-dimensional training. projected by any means available and in any sized grouping,
Once embarked, Royal Marines leverage the unique, potent from small teams of expert advisors to the entire force.
naval capability of latent sovereign British presence off They can deliver or enable soft or hard effects and switch
any coast, anywhere. They can reassure, partner, contain, between the two effortlessly. If required, they can contribute
threaten or coerce, without actually setting foot ashore. forces to enduring land campaigns, as they do today.

Value They retain an exceptionally lean ‘tooth to tail’ ratio,

with over 70% of the Corps committed to operationally
A Small Force - Lean ‘Tooth to Tail’ Ratio - Broad deployable units. They routinely innovate to enhance
Utility - Adaptive Once Deployed effectiveness and efficiency, in such areas as: Trauma Risk
Management (TRiM), Viking All Terrain Vehicle, Enhanced
Value is an expression of utility versus cost. Commandos Urban Combat Training, Teach-Coach-Mentor, Synthetic
provide a distinct capability between the Special Forces Training, and Hunter and Hasler Rehabilitation Companies.
Group and the Army’s Multi-Role Brigades, making a
disproportionate contribution to Defence with respect to The Royal Navy’s amphibious ships need no major spending
their size, cost and share of the operational burden. As a for over a decade. Despite their proven quality and greater
Maritime Force trained to deploy anywhere and at Very utility, a Royal Marines Commando costs less to train per
High Readiness to do so – they regularly display this utility. year of service, than his Army infantry counterpart.

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 Think Commando

Excellence And once deployed, their Commando training ensures that

they thrive in complex, confused situations. Where necessary,
Commando Ethos - Trusted and Respected - Fighting Commandos will fight ferociously but regard focused
Spirit - Intellectual Nimbleness violence as a last resort. It is this Excellence that ensures that
the Royal Marine is so well suited for the Special Forces.
Excellence mitigates risk. Quality expands choice. The quality
of Royal Marines Commandos ensures an effective first The quality of Commandos provides political assurance.
response and dynamic, ethical adaptation to unforeseen This is the reason why, time after time, the Royal Marines
world events. Headlines like “We are sending a team of have been the first British ground forces committed
British Commandos to…” send a very strong message to to operations - in the Falklands, Sierra Leone, Iraq and
adversaries and friends alike that the UK is responding Afghanistan. And more recently why they poised off
seriously to a situation by sending an elite capability. the Libyan coast. This Excellence is engendered at the
Commando selection ensures that almost half of all recruits Commando Training Centre, itself rated by OFSTED as
are qualified to join any of the Services as officers. Many the best recruit training establishment in the UK and
hold degrees. Commando training is such that on the day of internationally renowned for offering some of the most
completion men are ready to deploy into combat. Many do. progressive military training in the world.

7
Next Steps
The Royal Marines will reconfigure, to best deliver expeditionary force options. The following
notes provide broad planning guidance for achieving this, which will be developed, prioritised,
sequenced and delivered through a campaign plan.

Command Responsibilities • Equipment. Commando forces will optimise for

rapid global deployment. Common equipments,
• Commandant General Royal Marines will marinised where essential, must be efficiently
be accountable through the Navy Board to tailored to ensure that these forces can be
the Defence Board and Joint Force Command swiftly projected at distance. A balance between
for delivering this vision, assisted by the Royal force protection, mass and deployability will
Marines Strategy Group. In future, Commander be achieved to leverage Very High Readiness
UK Amphibious Forces will provide oversight and expeditionary operations. Command and
assurance of all such forces, whilst retaining the control systems must be configured for multiple,
agility to deploy in a command capacity. separated groupings and tasks.
• Commander 3 Commando Brigade will be • Logistics. Future agile operations will demand
the Royal Marines 1-star operational commander innovative logistic support. The advantages of
in the land or maritime environment; tailor sea-based logistics need to be exploited further,
deployable force packages to requirement; particularly in the context of the Response Force
and be both the UK’s 1-star Land Component Task Group.
Commander and alternative Joint Task Force
• Commando Doctrine. The priority will be to
Commander of choice.
develop Joint doctrine for complex operations in
• Deputy Commandant General Royal Marines the global seams.
will primarily focus on future capability
• Training. Commando training will remain at the
generation and manage the delivery of this vision.
heart of the Royal Marines’ ability to generate
• Commandant Commando Training Centre a trusted and distinct capability for the UK.
remains responsible for the delivery of all Royal The Commando Training Centre engenders a
Marines individual training (including Reservist unique ethos, rigour and individuality. Lessons
training) and increasingly, for specific Royal Navy and insights from military operations, industry
individual training. He will be supported by and academia will be quickly integrated into
Commander 3 Commando Brigade in delivering individual and collective training. Training will
Tactical Force Development; and by the Deputy focus on operating in the harshest of
Commandant General in delivering ‘through-life’ environments in which the UK is likely
organisations - the Royal Marines Cadets and to have significant interest.
Royal Marines Association (Veterans) - as well as
• Personnel/Infrastructure. In line
sports, heritage, charity and welfare activities.
with Government policy, the Royal
Restructuring Marines will seek to concentrate
its units in the South West of
• Information. Information focus will be England in order to maximise
enhanced to enable Commando forces to better the efficiencies of a reduced
understand the operational environment, conduct geographical footprint whilst
discriminating military action and win the enhancing the quality of life
information battle. of its people and their families.
• Organisation. In line with Defence requirements, Whole Force Management
3 Commando Brigade will deliver a Lead will be developed to integrate
Commando Group of up to 1800 men at Very better the Reserve and Regular
High Readiness and the remainder of the units and to optimise the ability of
Brigade at High Readiness. Unit organisation and Royal Marines to flex between the
structures will be re-examined to maximise future Regulars and the Reserves.
expeditionary effect.

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Afterword by the Commandant General Royal Marines Think Commando

I hope that this document explains the human “There’s been a change of plan Stevie,” he
qualities of Royal Marines Commandos, and shouts. “You have to attack a totally different
how they can be employed in the future to target, about 10 kilometres from the one we
provide a special edge in preventing and when planned.” Stevie looks at his boss, a big, toothy
necessary fighting conflicts. I would like to smile lighting up his camouflaged face. “No
conclude with a story of one such character - worries, Sir, I knew it was too good to be true!”
‘Stevie,’ a 24 year old ‘Bootneck’ Corporal. It And with that, he pulls out a pen to write down
is the night of the 20th of March 2003, and the new grid reference.
he is a few miles off the coast of Iraq’s Al Faw As Napoleon said of the Royal Marines, ‘What
peninsular. As he silently leads his 8-man assault could be done with a hundred thousand men
section across the flight deck of HMS ARK such as these?’
ROYAL to the waiting Sea King helicopter, he
notes the fires on the horizon as Tomahawk
missiles strike their targets. The Second Gulf War
had begun.

This is the moment he has rehearsed

exhaustively for 2 months. He knows every
building at his target intimately – has drawn
them, modelled them and mentally inhabited
them. But as the aircraft door begins to slide
shut, his Company Commander appears.

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The Royal Marines at a Glance

• The Royal Marines provide Commando contingent forces at Very High Readiness.
• They thrive in complex operations at the global seams of risk, uncertainty and threat.
• Their operational flexibility ensures that they provide excellent value to the UK.

Roles Tasks
• Commando Forces: Very High-Readiness, elite • Crisis prevention and deterrence.
forces, capable of rapid deployment. • Mentoring and training.
• Amphibious Troops: Which can be discreetly • Crisis response.
projected from the sea to conduct operations on • Stabilisation and peace-support.
land. • Humanitarian operations.
• Maritime Security: Providing a unique maritime • Non-combatant evacuation operations.
security capability, expert at ship to ship operations. • Maritime Interdiction Operations e.g. counter-piracy.
• Contribution to enduring land campaigns.
Contingency Forces • Nuclear protection.
• Commander UK Amphibious Forces: A 2-star • Complex Intervention.
expeditionary HQ, designed to command UK or
multi-national operations. Committed Forces
• 3 Commando Brigade: UK’s Commando force. • Fleet Protection Group: Permanently provides the
Can be deployed in packages from 8 to 5200. This security for the UK’s nuclear deterrent and deployed
Brigade contains the following elements: RN ships. Contains specialists capable of ship
interdiction and assault and maritime sniping.
• Brigade HQ – specialist command & planning staff.
• 40, 42 and 45 Commandos - 700-man fighting units. • 1 Assault Group: Specialist unit, expert in
• 30 Commando Information Exploitation Group. amphibious warfare. Provides Landing Craft and small
• 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery. boat detachments to deployed amphibious ships.
• 24 Commando Regiment Royal Engineers.
Operational Support
• Commando Logistic Regiment.
• Commando Training Centre: Conducts all
• 539 Assault Squadron: Specialist amphibious and
Commando training and specialist Royal Navy
protected mobility (Viking) unit.
individual pre-deployment
• Royal Marines Reserves: Reservists serve training. Oversees the
Versatility
alongside Regulars as equals. training and development
of Landing Craft and Commando
• Royal Marines Band Service: Renowned for the
the Viking All Terrain Excellence Value
world’s finest military bands, they are also trained to
Vehicle.
be medical orderlies for military operations.

For more information about the Royal Marines please contact the office of the Deputy Commandant General.
www.royalnavy.mod.uk/royalmarines Telephone : 02392 625416 Email FLEET-CAPLLMCOORDSO2@mod.uk