24 Commando Engineer Regiment is a unit of the British Army's Royal Engineers

Royal Engineers

The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....

 which supports 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines. It was formed in April 2008. The regiment is one of three British Army

British Army

The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...

 units attached to 3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marines, the others being 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery

29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery

29 Commando Regiment is the Commando-trained unit of the British Army's Royal Artillery. The regiment is under the operational control of 3 Commando Brigade providing artillery support and gunnery observation.- History :...

 and 1st Battalion, The Rifles

The Rifles

The Rifles is the largest regiment of the British Army. Formed in 2007, it consists of five regular and two territorial battalions, plus a number of companies in other TA battalions, Each battalion of the Rifles was formerly an individual battalion of one of the two large regiments of the Light...

.

Location and role

Based in Chivenor, North Devon

Royal Marines Base Chivenor

Royal Marines Base Chivenor is a British military base used primarily by the Royal Marines. It is situated on the northern shore of the Taw estuary, adjacent to the South West Coast Path, on the north coast of Devon, England....

, 24 Commando Engineer Regiment is required to conduct operations across the spectrum of conflict in support of 3 Commando Brigade, meaning that each member must be trained in amphibious assaults, as well as know how to operate in the jungle, across deserts, over mountainous terrain and under arctic conditions.

Organisation

With an establishment of 543 Officers and Soldiers the regiment comprises three Squadrons:

- 54 Commando Headquarters and Support Squadron,

- 56 Commando Field Squadron

- 59 Commando Field Squadron

The attached REME Workshops is also treated as a squadron.

The Commando Course

All individuals who volunteer to join the regiment have the opportunity to complete the nine-week All Arms Commando Course

All Arms Commando Course

The All Arms Commando Course lasts for 9 weeks and is run by the Royal Marines at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines , Lympstone. Members from any of the United Kingdom's Regular Armed Forces and overseas exchange personnel can attend in order to serve with 3 Commando Brigade...

, after receiving pre-course coaching to develop their strength and endurance. Progressive in nature, this pre-course conditioning package focuses upon developing the individual to undertake the arduous activities of the Commando course. The "train-in" not "select-out" ethos of the course, provides the individual with the best chance of success.

The Green Beret

The coveted Green Beret, the distinctive hallmark of Commando trained troops, is worn by the regiment, recognising those who have completed the gruelling and physically demanding tests of endurance, whilst displaying the Commando spirit. On passing the Commando course, other ranks (ORs) wear the Commando Green Beret with a blackened Royal Engineers cap-badge, whilst officers wear the officers' flaming grenade cap-badge with a green base material, sewn onto the Commando Green Beret.

Other Uniform Emblems

Both officers and ORs wear the Commando Dagger badge (a small red dagger on a dark blue background) on the upper left sleeve of both shirt and combat jacket. The Royal Engineers stable belt is differentiated by a Commando Dagger emblem on the clasp. Additionally, the 3 Commando Brigade RM 'flash' is worn on the right arm of shirt and combat jacket - a black Commando Dagger on an olive green square. 'Army Commando' shoulder titles are also worn at the top of each sleeve when issued.

Pre-Existing Units

Prior to the formation of the regiment both 59 Independent Commando Squadron and 131 Independent Commando Squadron (Volunteers) provided support to 3 Commando Brigade.

59 Independent Commando Squadron Royal Engineers

59 Independent Commando Squadron Royal Engineers is the commando-trained, regular, unit of the Corps. Soldiers are drawn from the regular units of the British Army's Corps of Royal Engineers

Royal Engineers

The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....

. The Squadron formed the core of 24 Commando Regiment and is currently based at Barnstaple (RMB Chivenor).

131 Independent Commando Squadron Royal Engineers (Volunteers)

131 Independent Commando Squadron Royal Engineers(V)is the Territorial Army unit affiliated to 24 Commando Engineer Regiment. Since 1978 the unit has been on the order of battle of 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines, providing combat engineer support to the Brigade. This role has seen the Squadron exercise worldwide, often sending small sub-units or individual soldiers to support the Brigade wherever it is training.

External links

• Royal Engineers Museum - Military Engineering Histories (Commando)