REMOTE OPERATIONS · NUMBER SERIES
THE REAL TESTS
Six challenges from the British military. Three are tests soldiers and Royal Marines commandos have to pass. Three are sessions they got for fitness, for fun, or for getting it wrong. Same distance. Same clock. You choose the load.
YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE ELITE TO START.
Every challenge has four levels, so you can start where you are and progress when earned. Some people will start at Beginner. Others will attempt Commando immediately. Both belong here.
Complete them in any order, on your own time, on your own ground. Honor system. No judges. No shortcuts. No excuses. Distance, load and time must be met exactly. Load is measured dry. The clock does not stop unless stated. Running is allowed. Outdoors only. Treadmills are allowed only for deployed military or other special circumstances, and you must email Gregg@GreenBeretFitness.com for a decision before you start. Miss the standard and it does not count. If you claim it, you earned it.
MILE
FROM THE BARRACKS
Burpees on the minute while you cover the ground. A session from Gregg's time in the British Army, used for fitness, for fun, and as punishment when someone got it wrong.
One mile. Rising demand. No relief. Cover 1 mile. Every minute on the minute, stop wherever you are and do burpees: 1 in minute 1, 2 in minute 2, adding one each minute until the mile is done. The clock never stops.
BEGINNER · No ruck
INTERMEDIATE · 10 lbs, ruck off for burpees
ADVANCED · 20 lbs, ruck off for burpees
COMMANDO · 30 lbs, ruck off for burpees
THREE
FROM THE BARRACKS
Three miles on the hour, adding weight each time until you miss it. A barracks session built to find out who stops first.
Three miles at a time, until failure. Complete 3-mile blocks, each inside 1 hour. A new block starts on the hour. Add 10 lbs after each block. Five blocks (15 miles) earns the patch. Keep going as long as you can; the event ends when you miss the hour.
BEGINNER · Start at 0 lbs
INTERMEDIATE · Start at 10 lbs
ADVANCED · Start at 20 lbs
COMMANDO · Start at 30 lbs
SIX
FROM THE BARRACKS
Six miles with stops for thrusters, sit-ups and push-ups. The session that turned an easy march into a lesson.
Six miles under constant interruption. Ruck 6 miles. Every 6 minutes, stop and do 6 thrusters, 6 sit-ups and 6 push-ups. Thrusters are done holding the ruck. Push-ups are done wearing the ruck at Commando level only.
BEGINNER · 10 lbs
INTERMEDIATE · 20 lbs
ADVANCED · 30 lbs
COMMANDO · 36 lbs
EIGHT
THE ORIGINAL
The British Army's 8-mile loaded march. Infantry soldiers carry 25 kg (55 lbs) including rifle and helmet and must finish inside 2 hours. Commando level matches that standard.
Eight miles. Controlled pace under load. Ruck 8 miles inside 2 hours at a consistent pace. Commando must finish between 1:50 and 1:55: arrive on time and ready to keep working.
BEGINNER · 33 lbs, 2 hours
INTERMEDIATE · 44 lbs, 2 hours
ADVANCED · 55 lbs, 2 hours
COMMANDO · 55 lbs, 1:50 to 1:55
NINE
THE ORIGINAL
A Royal Marines commando test: 9 miles as a formed body in 90 minutes, about 6 mph, in fighting order with a rifle. Commando level carries 31 lbs, close to what a recruit carries.
Nine miles. Fixed pace. No margin. Ruck 9 miles inside your level's time, holding pace from start to finish. Miss the time and it does not count.
BEGINNER · 10 lbs, 2 hours
INTERMEDIATE · 15 lbs, 1 hour 45 minutes
ADVANCED · 20 lbs, 1 hour 30 minutes
COMMANDO · 31 lbs, 1 hour 30 minutes
TWELVE
THE ORIGINAL
The All Arms Commando Course 12-mile load carry: at night, 69 lbs plus a rifle, inside 4 hours. Gregg McLeod passed it in 2010 on the way to his green beret. Commando level is the same test: 80 lbs, after dark, 4 hours.
Twelve miles. The final test. Ruck 12 miles inside 4 hours. Commando is done at night: start at least 30 minutes after local sunset and finish before sunrise.
BEGINNER · 33 lbs
INTERMEDIATE · 44 lbs
ADVANCED · 55 lbs
COMMANDO · 80 lbs, at night
THE REAL STANDARD
Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced keep the distance and the clock and lighten the load. Commando is the real thing.
SKULL AND DAGGER
Complete all six at Commando level. The first 20 people to do it on integrity receive the Skull and Dagger patch. 2 of 20 claimed. No names. To claim, email proof of all six to Gregg@GreenBeretFitness.com. The patch ships once Gregg approves.