The Officer Commanding Royal Marines BRd 2

CHAPTER 14

THE OFFICER COMMANDING ROYAL MARINES

(MOD Sponsor: CINCFLEET(DRM/ACOS(W))

CONTENTS

Para
1401. Responsibility
1402. Duties
1403. Reports
1404. Ships for which the Royal Marines Provide Seagoing Detachments
1405. Tasks and Duties of a Royal Marines Detachment in a Destroyer or Frigate
1406. Pre-embarkation and Pre-joining Training
1407. Military Training
1408. Weapons and Equipment
1409. Accommodation and Stowage of Weapons and Equipment
1410. Yeoman of the Guard
J.1411. Yeoman Warders of the Tower of London

ANNEXES

Annex 14A:

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CHAPTER 14

THE OFFICER COMMANDING ROYAL MARINES

1401. Responsibility

1. Where a Royal Marines Officer has not been duly appointed the Officer Commanding
Royal Marines (OCRM) is normally to be a RN officer selected and appointed by the
Commanding Officer of the ship. Experience has shown that a senior Lieutenant or a
Lieutenant Commander is more suited for the effective and efficient command of a RM
detachment. The OCRM is to act as the RM detachment’s Divisional Officer and is
responsible for the employment, administration, discipline and welfare of the Royal
Marines. The OCRM is responsible to the Captain for the RM detachment.

2. The OCRM is not to command the RM detachment in their primary role unless he is
an RM officer.

3. There is no requirement that the OCRM should be the Officer Commanding the Ship’s
Protection Organisation.

1402. Duties

1. The duties of the OCRM are:

a. Ensuring that the RM detachment maintain a high standard of fitness and

military training so that they are able to carry out any tasks in their primary role.

b. Liaising with other heads of department, who are responsible for the Royal
Marines in their secondary role, to ensure that they are carrying out their
duties correctly and that their duties are rotated between the detachment on a
regular basis.

c. Liaising between other heads of department to allow the Royal Marines to

train as a detachment to ensure that they maintain the necessary skills to carry
out their primary role tasks.

d. Ensuring that he is fully conversant with the following areas of Royal Marines
administration:

(1) Casualty instruction procedures for RMs. (RN Casualty Procedures

BR 8886).
(2) RORRs Report Writing. (BR 1066, Ch 29).
(3) RM Promotions procedures. (B 1066, Ch 29).
(4) Candidates’ training. (Candidates Task Book).
(5) Individual Training Directives (IDTs). (Individual Training Directives
RM)).

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e. Representing the RMs in the detachment at trials and in dealing with

complaints and reports as detailed in BR 1992, Divisional Handbook.

f. Ensuring that correct up to date orders for the issue and return of all RM stores
exist and are adhered to. He is to ensure that a daily muster of weapons and
monthly check of permanent stores is carried out and recorded.

g. Inspecting the RM detachment on a regular basis to ensure that their

weapons, stores and uniforms are clean and serviceable.

h. Ensuring that the traditions and high standards of the corps are maintained by
the detachment at all times especially within the RM barracks.

2. The Detachment Sergeant Major (DSM) is responsible to the OCRM for ensuring that
the above duties are carried out by the RM detachment.

1403. Reports

1. The RM detachment is to carry out its Individual Training Tasks annually. Reports in
confirmation of the foregoing, giving details of the results, are to be forwarded by the
OCRM as detailed in 1403 sub para 2.

2. A report by the OCRM is to be forwarded to DRM (for SO1 ETRM) as at 31 March

annually. The report is to be in the signal format outlined in Individual Training Directives
(RM).

1404. Ships for which the Royal Marines Provide Seagoing Detachments

1. The Royal Marines provide seagoing detachments for the following ships:

a. Nominated destroyers and frigates.

b. The Ice Patrol ship.

c. Assault Ships (LPDs).

2. The tasks, duties and administrative matters appropriate to these detachments are set
out in the following articles.

1405. Tasks and Duties of a Royal Marines Detachment in a Destroyer or Frigate

1. The tasks and duties of a Royal Marines detachment when embarked in a destroyer
or frigate are as follows:

a. Primary Purpose:

(1) Providing the military specialist element in the protection of ships against
terrorist infiltration and attack.
(2) Providing military knowledge, specialist skills and tactical advice for
ships’ landing parties for MACA operations.

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(3) Providing the Royal Marines element of boarding parties.

(4) Providing the expertise for the use of basic manpacked communications.
(5) Operating inflatable raiding craft (IRC) - Gemini.
(6) Carrying out minor ceremonial within the limitation of the size of the
detachment.

b. Secondary Purpose. Carrying out Warfare Branch duties and ships’ common
tasks when not engaged in the primary task.

c. Manning. Royal Marines detachments are provided in substitution for Royal

Navy ratings. Details of affected billets are contained in ships’ quarter bills.

d. Ship’s Duties. Detachments are to be employed in harbour and at sea when

in cruising watches, on continuation training and general ship’s duties. In
addition, some marines are trained as coxswains of inflatable raiding craft and
to carry out daily maintenance of 40 hp outboard engines.

e. Royal Marines detachments on special duties are borne in addition to the

normal complement and are exempt ship’s duties when in harbour.

1406. Pre-embarkation and Pre-joining Training

1. Pre-embarkation training (PET) is co-ordinated by HQ, 1 Assault Group Royal

Marines. Ranks drafted to a Ships Detachment will be automatically placed on all PET
courses applicable to their particular Scheme of Compliment line number. On completion
of these courses the Detachment will form up for an administrative week as directed by 1
Assault Group Royal Marines, prior to attending the following collective training courses:

a. Basic Sea Survival Course.

b. Ship’s Protection Organisation Course.

c. Seamanship Course.

Any further individual or collective training required by each ship is to be carried out as pre-
joining training arranged by the ship with the appropriate training establishment.

1407. Military Training

1. Every opportunity is to be taken to land detachments for military training ashore and
time is to be allowed for military training on board. Such training should include:

a. Ship security and ship protection duties.

b. Weapon training, including the annual personal weapon assessment and field
firing.

c. Fieldcraft, tactics and map reading.

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d. Physical fitness and endurance.

e. Leadership training for non-commissioned officers and candidates for

promotion.

2. It should be the aim to complete the following military training as a minimum:

a. Twenty-four days training ashore each year.

b. The equivalent of two full days on board each month.

3. A record of military training carried out is to be maintained and a summary included in

the six-monthly report.

1408. Weapons and Equipment

1. Detachment equipment tables are issued by FLEET Headquarters.

1409. Accommodation and Stowage of Weapons and Equipment

1. On destroyers and frigates and Corporal and Marines are to be accommodated on the
same mess deck.

2. Any necessary modifications to accommodate the detachment should be effected

before the detachment joins.

3. Ships’ outfits of small arms are to be adjusted to allow stowage of Royal Marines
weapons.

4. A dedicated store for all RM equipment and stores is to be provided.

1410. Yeoman of the Guard

1. Candidates for appointment are to be serving or discharged warrant officers, or senior

NCOs, of the Royal Marines, Regular Army or Royal Air Force who have completed at
least 22 years pensionable service.

2. Details of conditions and method of application are contained in Annex 14A.

Commanding Officers are to bring this regulation to the notice of eligible candidates at
regular intervals.

J.1411. Yeoman Warders of the Tower of London

1. The Constable of the Tower of London is the authority for appointing Yeoman
Warders. Candidates for appointment are to be former warrant officers or senior NCOs
above the rank of sergeant or equivalent of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, British Regular
Army or Royal Air Force. In very exceptional circumstances of distinguished service,
sergeants or equivalent may be considered. This appointment is the reward for deserving,
gallant and meritorious service.

2. Details of conditions and method of application are contained in Annex 14A.

Commanding Officers are to bring this regulation to the notice of eligible candidates at
regular intervals.

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