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Jason is happy to admit that when he first started at SRC Bede Sixth Form, he felt a bit lost and wasn’t sure what he wanted to do. He’d followed his friends there and found himself on the Public Services Level 2 programme almost by accident. But it was during his first course that he was introduced to the Royal Marines on an acquaintance day, and he started to feel like that might be the route for him.



Now, just a couple of years later, Jason has completed his Royal Marines Commando training and credits SRC Bede and his teachers with helping him get there.
“The teachers come from a mixture of military and other public service backgrounds, and all have an amazing work ethic. They can identify those who really want to and will thrive, and the course offers an amazing amount of opportunities.”

Jason, a former student of St Michael’s Catholic Academy, is particularly grateful to some of his tutors who made extra time to coach him and help him prepare for the Royal Marines, including offering him personal training sessions to improve his fitness and strength:
“They all have the best outlook on life, and there’s always a point to everything they do or ask you to do. I wouldn’t have been at the standard I was without their support.”

The Public Services courses taught Jason skills that he has used throughout his training. Navigation, for instance, plays a huge part in a Royal Marine’s work, and when he began his training he found that he was already familiar with navigation equipment after using it during his studying. Jason points out too how some of the more fun activities on the course had a hidden purpose, like abseiling and rock climbing, which involve skills and techniques used in real-life service.

Royal Marine Commando training is split into Phases 1, 2, and 3, each comprising of different skills. “I had my own idea beforehand about what the training would be like, but no one really knows what to expect and there are a lot of surprises,” Jason said. Some of the most surprising things he experienced were the level of discipline expected of recruits, and how they practise combat exercises. “We were exposed to the elements, living on rations – the only way to practise a scenario is to actually do it. The discipline was surprising in that you’d be expected to have the right amount of polish on your boots, or have presented your uniform the perfect way for instance, but the purpose behind that is to build up your ability to function in any situation.”

Looking to the future, Jason hasn’t yet got any firm plans on what he wants to specialise in, but he’s considering joining one of the motor teams, or perhaps going into physical training.

When asked what advice he would give to anyone considering Bede, he said:
“Don’t look at it like doing a course at college – it’s a very fun and good place to be, not a chore at all. It’s a nice working environment, where everyone has a good work ethic and wants to do well and get something out of it.”

For anyone thinking about doing something similar to him, he said: “Pick the right course! The Public Services programme is perfect for anyone thinking of joining a military or blue light service. The opportunities presented for students are fantastic, you really get a good insight into life in different services. Also, be open – people can sometimes have tunnel vision, but if you’re open to other things you might find exactly what you want.”




Are you interested in studying at SRC Bede Sixth Form? Click the link below to find out more about the courses Jason did:
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