Royal Marines officer

As a Royal Marine, you’ll be the front-line fighting force of the Royal Navy, and as an officer you’ll be commanding and leading units of commandos. You can expect to be operating in a wide range of conditions, from tropical jungles to the freezing Arctic.

Also known as:

• Marines officer
• Navy officer (Royal Marines)

Work activities

Royal Marines officers belong to the Royal Navy’s front line fighting force. You’ll be operating at sea, in the air and on land - anywhere from the Arctic Circle to tropical jungles. As an officer, you are in charge of units of commandos. You will be involved in planning, organising, and leading your marines in combat operations. You will train in a wide range of skills, including parachuting, skiing, climbing, mountaineering, and jungle warfare. There are 11 officer specialisations, covering areas such as weapons training, intelligence and physical training. You must be prepared to live and serve anywhere in the UK and overseas. They must also be prepared to work in the most difficult, dangerous (and sometimes life-threatening) conditions.

Personal qualities and skills

As a Royal Marines officer, you will need:

• Leadership skills.
• A high level of physical fitness.
• Stamina and endurance.
• A responsible attitude.
• A sense of adventure.

You will need to:

• Motivate.
• Make decisions.
• Lead by example.
• Impose discipline.
• Be adaptable.
• Accept responsibility.
• Work well as a member of a team.

Pay and opportunities

Your pay will depend on the job you’ve chosen and on your qualifications. Starting salary as a Royal Marines officer will be £27,000 a year, once you’ve finished your initial training at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines. This will rise as you gain experience and take on new roles, rising to around £39,600 – potentially after as little as 26 months.

Hours of work for Royal Marines officers vary depending on operational requirements, but may include shifts, early starts, late finishes, weekend work and working on public holidays. As a Royal Marines officer, you may need to work at short notice, and you should expect to work longer hours during military exercises or on operational missions.

Competition for entry to the Royal Marines is strong.

Royal Marines units are based in Somerset, Devon, Dorset and Scotland. Royal Marines can expect to be deployed anywhere in the world, sometimes at short notice. This can mean extended periods spent away from home.

Where are vacancies advertised?

See the Royal Marines website or visit an Armed Forces Careers Office for the latest recruitment information.

Entry routes and training 

To become a Royal Marines officer, you need to be between the ages of 18 and 25 when you begin your basic training. Women are recruited into all parts of the Royal Marines, all pay scales and role related fitness standards are the same, and unrelated to gender. You can enter the Marines after college/school sixth-form, or after university. The first stage of selection is a recruit test, interview, fitness test and medical examination. The next stage is the Potential Officers Course (POC). The POC lasts for three days and tests potential recruits physically and mentally.

You will train to be a commando as well as learning officer skills. Your leadership will be tested when you lead a troop of about 30 commandos. After successfully completing all your training, you will get your green beret, and become a Royal Marines officer.

There is a clear route of progression and promotion available to officers in the Royal Marines. As an officer, you will usually move appointments every two years, gaining experience in different areas of work.

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act: Some careers in the Royal Marines are exceptions to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This means that you must supply information about any spent or unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings, if asked. This is different from other careers, where you only have to reveal information on unspent convictions if you are asked to.

Qualifications

For entry to the Royal Marines as an officer, the minimum requirement is a minimum of five GCSEs (grades 9-4), including English and maths and a minimum of two A-levels.

Adult opportunities

Age limits apply to this occupation. Entrants must be aged between 18 and 25.

If you are a graduate, your choice of degree subject is unimportant. Alternatives to traditional academic qualifications will be considered on individual merits.

If you have a place or definite offer of a place at university, you may be eligible for a university cadetship. Also, tax-free bursaries are available if you wish to remain a civilian while studying at university. This support is subject to approval.

Related careers

• Armed forces pilot
• Army officer
• RAF officer
• Royal Marines commando
• Royal Navy officer