This picture was taken during my 6 weeks of basic training at Deal (Kent) April - May 1969. I'm second row down & third in from the right. I actually did 8 weeks in total because I was back squaded once, due to an inability to get to grips with the use of my rifle. When I joined the new squad it just clicked and I sailed through. We then went to Lympstone (Devon) where we had to jog every where we went. As I considered myself to be a pretty good runner anyway that did'nt bother me to much. The result was though,that besides eating constantly, we would sometimes get very tired and would make the most of all the sleep we could get. The training here at Lympstone was designed to last for 20 wks, culminating with the completion of the Commando Course to aquire the Green Beret and pass out as a fully qualified Royal Marine Commando. I chose though to take the option (given when joining) of being able to leave at the end of 3 Months training with a payement of £20. The alternative given was to serve for 9yrs + 3yrs as a reservist. It's easy to look back and say, what if Il'd stayed, but thats not something that Il'd normally dwell on at all. You have to make a choice at the time, and then move on.