User blog comment:Samurai234/Three Way Battle: US Marine Recon vs. Royal Marine Commandos vs. French Foreign Legion/@comment-109.145.86.193-20140815103833

I have some experience for this discussion.

I was a royal marine for 8 years. Yes or basic training is 32 weeks. In this time we often train over the weekend so we definitely don't get them off. After training I went to 43 Cdo RM (formerly FPGRM). There I worked with US coastguard, aussie SAS, British SBS, USMC,  Navy seals. I worked on maritime sniper operations, at drug smuggling, anti piracy and anti terrorist.

All RMC that worked with them had consistently better endurance and morale. We were more than capable of holding our own with these elements. Despite our worse weapon systems. (we use mp5 not ump). And on various mountain exercises in the US, Highlands, and UAE we out performed everyone and in some cases had to take the equipment and help the other elements who struggled.

After 3 years as a GD Marine I specialised as almost all RMC do. I became a recce operator, (14 weeks then), sniper (14 weeks), and then a signaller (14 weeks). your example of training been comparably longer for USMC is including their specialising.

I was at 40 Cdo during that time where I went to the gulf,Somalia, Afghan and a few other places. In that time I again worked with other multinational forces. Including the Legion. We actually had a former member of the Legion recently join our troop so relations with them were good but in his own words training with RMC was more challenging with much more demanding ops afterwards.

I then Joined SBS. Where again I have worked with multiple forces. The best of which have been German and Israeli. Who are both well equipped, well trained and intelligent. And we have good relations with them and work together well.

I agree that the UK isn't a major world power now. We are over extended. But our military training, professionalism and ability is still first class.