The Commandant of the Commando Training Centre (CTC) at Lympstone has been shown the facilities at HMS Raleigh used by the trainee Royal Marines.
Colonel (Col) Mike Tanner was invited to HMS Raleigh to be the VIP inspecting officer for the latest passing-out-parade. During a day at the Royal Navy training establishment in Torpoint, Cornwall, he was also briefed on the diverse range of training provided at the base.
He met Royal Navy recruits in their penultimate training week at Jupiter Point, HMS Raleigh’s sea-sense training centre on the River Lynher.
Royal Marine recruits from CTC regularly use the facilities at Jupiter Point to conduct boat safety training and for their final exercise, using the decommissioned minesweeper, Brecon, as their base.
Col Tanner was also shown around HMS Raleigh’s gymnasium, the Royal Marine Band Complex, an accommodation block used by the trainees throughout their 10-week course and was invited to see the establishment’s replenishment-at-sea training facility.
Col Tanner said, “I was deeply impressed with everything I saw at Raleigh, but most especially by the professional quality and vibrancy of the people I talked to, both trainees and trainers; and by their joint desire to get the very best from the training experience. Whilst we already conduct some Royal Marines training at the Raleigh facilities, I will certainly look for further opportunities.”
With 28 years’ experience of being in the Royal Marines, Col Tanner took Command of CTCRM in January 2017.
His varied career has included operations all over the globe and taken him to the United States, firstly as a staff officer in the British Embassy and then as an exchange officer with the US Marine Corps.
Colonel Tanner was awarded the US Bronze Star with Combat Valour decoration for his part in the assault into An Nasiriyah in 2003, the Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service for his time in Iraq in 2005 and the OBE in 2017 for his work transforming Portsmouth Naval Base to be ready for the QE Class Aircraft Carriers.
Col Tanner is a Board Member of the RNRM Charity, Chairman of RNRM Boxing and a former professional rugby player with international caps at England U21 and Combined Services.
