Students turn Royal Marines

The nine students after completing the cross country confidence course. Front to back: Vilius Balciunas, Aaron Anderson, Alex Jordan, Jasper Kiragga, Elliot Mottershead, Chris Hurst, Ryan Law, Tony Riley, Christian Harold

Students became Royal Marines for a week when they took part in a programme designed to showcase what it is like to be a marine.

The nine students spent five days at the Royal Marines Training Centre at Lympstone. During the week they were put through their paces, taking part in a series of gruelling activities and tests designed to measure fitness, determination, teamwork and leadership skills.

The students certainly enjoyed the challenges, which included the famous Royal Marines cross country confidence course. The programme offered them the chance to see for themselves what life as a Royal Marine was like – a career that all of the students who attended the course are keen to develop.

Terry Morley, Centre Director for Sports and Public Services at Hopwood Hall College, said: “We have a fantastic partnership with all the Armed and Civilian Services and it shows that with the will and determination anything is possible. Once all our students complete their Sports and Uniformed Public Services courses at Hopwood Hall College they are both physically and mentally prepared to take on any challenge.”

The group impressed the organisers, with one Royal Marine Sergeant commenting that the group were a real credit to the College and one of the best groups of students he had ever seen. Chief Petty Officer Jo Stephenson from the Armed Forces Careers Office in Manchester said she was really impressed with the standard of the students’ ability and would be more than happy when they join the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.