TWO teenagers from Nelson have successfully completed the gruelling training required to become a Royal Marine Commando.

Steven Snaith and Christopher Sharmen, both 18 and former pupils of Mansfield High School, have received the coveted Green Beret after finishing 30 weeks of what the Royal Marines describe as the hardest initial training in the world.

The Green Beret is the distinctive hallmark of commando troops indicating that those who wear it have completed a physical test of endurance by displaying the commando qualities of unselfishness, cheerfulness under adversity, courage, determination and high professional standards.

Christopher said: "Commando training is well known for its intensity but everything we do is progressive which enables people with all standards of fitness to achieve the final goal and that is to finish training as a Royal Marine Commando and to be awarded the Green Beret."

Steven said: "It's been a fantastic experience for me and I've made some life long friends among my fellow Royal Marines. The sense of achievement felt by all of us is immense but I know that many more challenges are to come, challenges which we are all well equipped to meet."

The training involved a one and a half mile endurance course across country and through water and tunnels followed by a five and a half mile run back to camp to achieve a marksmanship score on a rifle range, all within 72 minutes.

They had to complete an aerial course set between five to ten metres high among trees, followed by an assault course of a dozen or more obstacles and finished off by climbing a 30 foot wall, all to be completed within 13 minutes.

The third task included marching nine miles on metalled roads carrying full fighting order and weapons weighing 32 pounds, to be completed in 90 minutes and the final task included carrying full fighting order, weapon and safety stores weighing 40 pounds on a 30 mile trek across Dartmoor in eight hours.