Cumbernauld lad gains his Green Beret

THOMAS Crawford from Cumbernauld has just received his coveted Green Beret having successfully completed 32 weeks of the hardest initial military training in the world.

Thomas (19), who went to Greenfaulds High School has now become a British Royal Marines Commando. He passed out at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines in Lympstone, Devon, with 123 Troop on July 15.

Thomas has now joined Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines based in HMS Neptune at Faslane.

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He said: “I have wanted to be a Royal Marine all my life and this is a great day for me and my family. The training is hard and challenging which is why I choose the Royal Marines.”

The distinctive hallmark of a Royal Marines Commando is the Green Beret. It indicates to others that the wearer has undergone gruelling and physically demanding tests of endurance, by displaying the Commando qualities of, unselfishness, cheerfulness under adversity, courage, determination and high professional standards.

“It’s been a fantastic experience and it doesn’t stop here when I join Fleet Protection Group I could deploy anywhere in the world and probably will,” he added.

The Royal Marines form 3 Commando Brigade, which is a core component of the United Kingdom’s Joint Rapid Reaction Force. This combined with the new fleet of amphibious ships ensures that the Royal Marines play a major part in safeguarding the United Kingdom’s interests at home and abroad.

Royal Marine Commando Thomas Crawford.

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