Current Recruitment process

[Training656]

OK, I'll start a list as I see it & add/amend as I obtain more data, so this post will grow.

The first point for RMR guys is to remember that once trained, you are deployable - those who are consistently "unavailable" or do not meet ther annual training commitment together with minimum drill night attendance, even though maybe fully trained Commandos, will find themselves being discharged. The reason for this is that billets are getting fuller and people are still wishing to join - the only way to create billets is to get rid of those who do not continue to commit.

RMR Advantages.

• The potential to earn transferable skills
• Kudos
• Renewable part time employment contract for up to 5 years periods.
• Ability to leave within 90 days (when not deployed or mobilised)
• Ability to serve on full-time regular service contracts of up to 2 or 3 years.
• Ability to choose/volunteer for specific operational tours regardless of parent unit.
• Free gym membership
• Word travel
• Camaraderie
• Free food & accommodation when mobilised & deployed on exercise or on operations, (or on a ship).
• Transferable skills
• Additional specialist training courses to prepare you for specific jobs (first aid, fire-fighting, photography, sniper etc.,)
• World class training to make you best prepared to serve in a hostile or a life-threatening environment fully integrated with your full-time opposite number.
• Free uniform clothing
• Life experience
• Management Experience
• Adventurous Training opportunities wordlwide. (Diving in Cyprus, parachuting in Florida etc)
• Disciplined lifestyle with defined structure
• A well structured career structure with the ability to advance yourself through promotion.
• Annual pay increases
• Forces Discount Scheme- over 500 companies offer service people discount. From Holidays to hirecars to spectacles to solicitors.
• Possibility of training for civilian driving licence (up to HGV standard) after completing RMR Recruit Training.
• Free welfare support to help you look after your family if deployed or mobilised.
• Lifetime familly support network
• Pension & paid leave (if earned whilst operationally deployed).
• More chance of recovering from injury whilst in recruit training do to tempo of scheduled training.
• Holding Troop - enables the individual to physically prepare under supervision for PRMRC - and get paid whilst doing so.
• Opportunity to seamlessly transfer to regular Royal Marine as a trained rank.
• Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS) opportunities for short term employment within regular service units (usually 12 months)
• RMR Disadvantages
• 
  
• Longer Recruit training programme.
• Limited flexibility with regard training programme (two missed weekends = back troop).
• No pay if injured when training or off work.
• Only one Recruit Troop per year in most units.
• Separation/Homesickness.
• Disciplined lifestyle
• High likelihood of serving in a hostile or a life-threatening environment with risk of injury/death
• Worry/anxiety for your Family & Partner
• The potential to be operationaly deployed at minimal notice, thus making it difficult to plan ahead with utter certainty.
• Difficult to maintain a balance with your fulltime employment & keep your employer amenable to the service requirement.
• Trying to balance home life/work/education & maintain fitness in your own time.
• Difficult to remain current (up to date with procedures, systems & equipment).
• No pay to keep yourself fit outside of authorised training periods.
• Specialisations no longer available for RMR - remain GD
• Limited free social time at weekends due to ongoing training commitment.
• High likelihood of being operationally mobilised for 12 months upon passing recruit training.

Updated Feb 2020

Hi Ninja,
I was wondering if you have anywhere I can find information on the RMR joining process, training locations once joined (are the tests done at local areas or down at lympstone), time spent in Lympstone, when the basic fitness assessment is carried out etc.
I can find lots of information on the Regulars but struggling when it comes to the RMR.
Any help is greatly appreciated
Cheers

 

[Aerial]

Hi Ninja,
I was wondering if you have anywhere I can find information on the RMR joining process, training locations once joined (are the tests done at local areas or down at lympstone), time spent in Lympstone, when the basic fitness assessment is carried out etc.
I can find lots of information on the Regulars but struggling when it comes to the RMR.
Any help is greatly appreciated
Cheers

At the moment RMR joining is the same as Regs up until the VPJFT+, but instead of doing a ROP there is an RROP instead. This is conducted over a number of weekends and drill nights, and is held at your local detachment (with a few nights in the field over the weekends).

The RROP includes a progressive fitness assessment (which includes elements done at unit and also home sessions you do in your own time) and will introduce you to some of the basic skills you'll need in Phase 1. There will be a final fitness assessment at the end of the RROP that you will need to pass to start training. Apparently this will consist of an RMFA (beep test, push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups) and something like the Determination Test from PRMC.

In terms of location it doesn't really matter at this stage. Essentially you turn up to your local det and then onward transport to wherever you're training will be providied for you. Some training will take place at the main detachment, with the bulk taking place at local MoD training areas. As you progress though training, it will eventually be focused at Lymptstone.

All you need to do is turn up at your local det and know that there will be transport to take you somewhere wet, cold and horrible.

 

[Alcatraz]

At the moment RMR joining is the same as Regs up until the VPJFT+, but instead of doing a ROP there is an RROP instead. This is conducted over a number of weekends and drill nights, and is held at your local detachment (with a few nights in the field over the weekends).

The RROP includes a progressive fitness assessment (which includes elements done at unit and also home sessions you do in your own time) and will introduce you to some of the basic skills you'll need in Phase 1. There will be a final fitness assessment at the end of the RROP that you will need to pass to start training. Apparently this will consist of an RMFA (beep test, push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups) and something like the Determination Test from PRMC.

In terms of location it doesn't really matter at this stage. Essentially you turn up to your local det and then onward transport to wherever you're training will be providied for you. Some training will take place at the main detachment, with the bulk taking place at local MoD training areas. As you progress though training, it will eventually be focused at Lymptstone.

All you need to do is turn up at your local det and know that there will be transport to take you somewhere wet, cold and horrible.

This is great insight, as I was under the impression that RROP was conducted at Lympstone across two weekends and then a number of drill nights at your local detachment and I even heard about a one off Saturday being mentioned on some posts on here.

I was really looking forward to conducting it at Lympstone but I didn't understand why it would be conducted Friday night to Sunday on the first weekend and then again a following weekend down there. As it would mean potential RMR recruits travelling from afar (North East and Scotland) have a hell of train journey there and back, only to return again four days later on the following Friday. Whereas previously reserve PRMC would have been only done in one weekend.

Do you know if RROP is currently being undertaken or is this yet to begin?

 

[Aerial]

This is great insight, as I was under the impression that RROP was conducted at Lympstone across two weekends and then a number of drill nights at your local detachment and I even heard about a one off Saturday being mentioned on some posts on here.

I was really looking forward to conducting it at Lympstone but I didn't understand why it would be conducted Friday night to Sunday on the first weekend and then again a following weekend down there. As it would mean potential RMR recruits travelling from afar (North East and Scotland) have a hell of train journey there and back, only to return again four days later on the following Friday. Whereas previously reserve PRMC would have been only done in one weekend.

Do you know if RROP is currently being undertaken or is this yet to begin?

For RMR the start dates for training and locations will differ depending on whether your detachment is London, Bristol, Merseyside or Scotland. As I said, initially training will be undertaken at a local training area and will eventually coalesce around Lymptstone for the latter stages of training. Due to their location, RMR Bristol will spend a lot more time beforehand at CTCRM / Woodbury whereas London will be somewhere like Longmoor or Pirbright.

The London RROP has already started, I think Merseyside work to a similar timetable so may have also started but not sure about the other two.

You've heard correctly, there is an initial one-off Saturday held at the central detachment which is for an intial fitness assessment and is followed by the two field weekends I mentioned plus drill nights. I don't know the location of the RROP field weekends, it may or may not be at Lympstone but it really doesn't matter. Get to your local det at the specified time and all transport to the training will be provided for you.

If you stick in training long enough or are based in Bristol you will get a taste of CTCRM eventually!

 

[thirdtry]

Reference F2F Medical @The guide @Ninja_Stoker

I received an email saying a doctor has been scheduled to review my paperwork next week. However already passed triage and VPJFT. I assume this means a doctor will be using this date to book a medical thereafter?

Thank you

 

[Training656]

At the moment RMR joining is the same as Regs up until the VPJFT+, but instead of doing a ROP there is an RROP instead. This is conducted over a number of weekends and drill nights, and is held at your local detachment (with a few nights in the field over the weekends).

The RROP includes a progressive fitness assessment (which includes elements done at unit and also home sessions you do in your own time) and will introduce you to some of the basic skills you'll need in Phase 1. There will be a final fitness assessment at the end of the RROP that you will need to pass to start training. Apparently this will consist of an RMFA (beep test, push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups) and something like the Determination Test from PRMC.

In terms of location it doesn't really matter at this stage. Essentially you turn up to your local det and then onward transport to wherever you're training will be providied for you. Some training will take place at the main detachment, with the bulk taking place at local MoD training areas. As you progress though training, it will eventually be focused at Lymptstone.

All you need to do is turn up at your local det and know that there will be transport to take you somewhere wet, cold and horrible.

Thank you for the help! Greatly appreciated and is really helpful!

 

[Training656]

For RMR the start dates for training and locations will differ depending on whether your detachment is London, Bristol, Merseyside or Scotland. As I said, initially training will be undertaken at a local training area and will eventually coalesce around Lymptstone for the latter stages of training. Due to their location, RMR Bristol will spend a lot more time beforehand at CTCRM / Woodbury whereas London will be somewhere like Longmoor or Pirbright.

The London RROP has already started, I think Merseyside work to a similar timetable so may have also started but not sure about the other two.

You've heard correctly, there is an initial one-off Saturday held at the central detachment which is for an intial fitness assessment and is followed by the two field weekends I mentioned plus drill nights. I don't know the location of the RROP field weekends, it may or may not be at Lympstone but it really doesn't matter. Get to your local det at the specified time and all transport to the training will be provided for you.

If you stick in training long enough or are based in Bristol you will get a taste of CTCRM eventually!

Hi, is there anywhere to find out when the uptake of recruits in scotland is as I am waiting on my medical results to do my vPJFT+ and wondering if I will still get on this year?
Cheers

 

[Aerial]

Hi, is there anywhere to find out when the uptake of recruits in scotland is as I am waiting on my medical results to do my vPJFT+ and wondering if I will still get on this year?
Cheers

If you haven't been given a contact from your AFCO yet your best bet would be contacting them directly via their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RMRScotland/

 

[Training656]

If you haven't been given a contact from your AFCO yet your best bet would be contacting them directly via their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RMRScotland/

Brilliant, thank you!

 

[Ninja_Stoker]

Reference F2F Medical @The guide @Ninja_Stoker

I received an email saying a doctor has been scheduled to review my paperwork next week. However already passed triage and VPJFT. I assume this means a doctor will be using this date to book a medical thereafter?

Thank you

Once triage is completed, ie: any queries have the required responses to enable a 'paper review', a slot is allocated for the Medical Examiner to look at the information provided and then determine whether the applicant is medically unfit or fit to proceed. If deemed fit to proceed at the paper review stage, the F2F medical can then be booked. The F2F medical is needed to complete the elements that can only be completed in person, such as checking the tattoo proforma, hearing test, colour perception, height, weight, physiology, Beighton test, blood pressure, etc.

 

[thirdtry]

Once triage is completed, ie: any queries have the required responses to enable a 'paper review', a slot is allocated for the Medical Examiner to look at the information provided and then determine whether the applicant is medically unfit or fit to proceed. If deemed fit to proceed at the paper review stage, the F2F medical can then be booked. The F2F medical is needed to complete the elements that can only be completed in person, such as checking the tattoo proforma, hearing test, colour perception, height, weight, physiology, Beighton test, blood pressure, etc.

Interesting. They did a paper review last month to lift my TMU which allowed me to then complete vPJFT, so peculiar that they would do another one now whilst awaiting F2F booking.
Thanks

 

[Training656]

Thank y

At the moment RMR joining is the same as Regs up until the VPJFT+, but instead of doing a ROP there is an RROP instead. This is conducted over a number of weekends and drill nights, and is held at your local detachment (with a few nights in the field over the weekends).

The RROP includes a progressive fitness assessment (which includes elements done at unit and also home sessions you do in your own time) and will introduce you to some of the basic skills you'll need in Phase 1. There will be a final fitness assessment at the end of the RROP that you will need to pass to start training. Apparently this will consist of an RMFA (beep test, push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups) and something like the Determination Test from PRMC.

In terms of location it doesn't really matter at this stage. Essentially you turn up to your local det and then onward transport to wherever you're training will be providied for you. Some training will take place at the main detachment, with the bulk taking place at local MoD training areas. As you progress though training, it will eventually be focused at Lymptstone.

All you need to do is turn up at your local det and know that there will be transport to take you somewhere wet, cold and horrible.

thank you very much for the info! Great help

 

[Training656]

Interesting. They did a paper review last month to lift my TMU which allowed me to then complete vPJFT, so peculiar that they would do another one now whilst awaiting F2F booking.
Thanks
[/QUOTE
hi, I was wondering how long it took to sort your paper work when made TMU? As I am currently waiting and the letter was sent to my doctor 3 weeks ago?

 

[thirdtry]

Honestly it's down to your doctor mate. Mine was whole separate issue because my doctor had retired and the new one dragged it out for 3 months because of a money dispute! But likewise if you have a good doctor they might do it ASAP.

Honestly how long's a piece of string is the answer. But can't harm to make a polite enquiry on the phone to your GP!

 

[Training656]

Honestly it's down to your doctor mate. Mine was whole separate issue because my doctor had retired and the new one dragged it out for 3 months because of a money dispute! But likewise if you have a good doctor they might do it ASAP.

Honestly how long's a piece of string is the answer. But can't harm to make a polite enquiry on the phone to your GP!

Ah, nightmare! I thought it could be a lengthy process anyways!
thank you!