Standish Student Ready for His Toughest Test Yet

Year 11 student Joe Halliwell is celebrating an excellent set of GCSE results while preparing to embark on the next stage of his journey that could see him become a Royal Marine.

While many students are considering college or sixth form, Joe has set his sights on a different challenge. He hopes to begin training at Lympstone Commando Training Centre near Exeter, the home of Royal Marines recruit training.

“It’s five hours away on the train,” Joe said, as he reflected on the next stage of his journey. “It’s 36 weeks of what is described as the longest, hardest military training in the world.”

Candidates can begin the process from the age of 16, making it one of the youngest military entry pathways in Europe. Before reaching Lympstone, recruits must successfully complete the demanding Candidate Preparation Course (CPC), a four-day assessment involving swimming, fitness tests and endurance challenges. “I’ve passed the initial tests,” Joe explained. “Now I have a series of medicals and interview stages coming up.”

Joe’s inspiration came from a former Standish student whose story was featured in the school magazine.

“I was inspired by seeing Josh, who came to Standish, in the Standish Standard. He went to Lympstone too and won the King’s Award. He was one of the youngest there but was put into a leadership role over men much older than him. Seeing him do it and do so well made me realise I could do it too.”

Everyone at Standish is incredibly proud of Joe’s achievements and wishes him every success in the next stages of the selection process. We look forward to hearing about his progress and following his journey as he works towards earning the coveted green beret. Congratulations, Joe, on your GCSE results, and best of luck for the exciting adventure ahead!

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