Army Commando badge current issue

[RBJ MIlitaria]

Attached are 2 photos of the Army Commando qualified trade badge , "the red fighting knive"
This is worn by suitably qualified men who have passed the All Arms Commando course.
Interestingly the store lable on the rear states

"869-5496 RM COMM FIGHTING KNIVE ERB "

but this badge is NOT worn by Royal Marine Commandos who come under RN and RM dress regulations. Royal Marines do not wear this badge as the green beret is the distinction of being commando qualified. Royal Navy ratings wear the green beret with the relevent beret badge for thier rate, and a cuff badge of a commando dagger (not this pattern) when in Number one uniform. On combat clothing a shoulder title Royal Navy Commando is worn black lettering on olive green

[Mike Jackson]

Whether or not it is still the case I don't know, but as originally stated successful completion of the Commando Course did not in itself qualify one to wear the FS badge; one also had to serve a tour of duty in a Commando Unit. The original intention was to provide a badge that could be worn in perpetuity by all qualified Army ranks on their return to, for example, a non-Commando RA or RE unit at the end of their tour (as was the case with qualified parachutists on leaving an airborne unit). The design was chosen because there were in the early 70s large stocks of 3 Cdo Bde formations signs available at no cost.
3 Cdo Bde 02.jpg

[grey_green_acorn]

A few more examples in my album
http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...hp?albumid=878

Section AT-6 Part of DMC CB lists:
Insignia Organisational Sleeve Commando Dagger
NSN 8566-99-869-5496 UK/SC/4981 @ 24747
Description: Badge Qualification. Commando. Royal Marines. Cloth. Embroidered. 100% Polyester. Red embroidery (Fighting Knife, pointing upwards) on black
Additional information: Specialist badge Commando trained.

Tim

[Mike_2817]

Originally Posted by Mike Jackson

Whether or not it is still the case I don't know, but as originally stated successful completion of the Commando Course did not in itself qualify one to wear the FS badge; one also had to serve a tour of duty in a Commando Unit.

Indeed, this is to stop 'Badge Collecting' within the forces as it costs to train soldiers up.

Generally speaking you cannot get on a 'Badged' course (P Coy followed by Basic Parachute Course, All Arms Commando, SAS Selection and a few others ) unless you have voluntered for a tour with selected unit if you pass the course, meaning you could not just do a course to earn the badge and RTU afterwards.

Also unlike 16 Air Assualt Brigade, you cannot be posted to 3 Commando Brigade without first completing the course

[Mike Jackson]

Originally Posted by Mike_2817

Indeed, this is to stop 'Badge Collecting' within the forces as it costs to train soldiers up.

Generally speaking you cannot get on a 'Badged' course (P Coy followed by Basic Parachute Course, All Arms Commando, SAS Selection and a few others ) unless you have voluntered for a tour with selected unit if you pass the course, meaning you could not just do a course to earn the badge and RTU afterwards.

Also unlike 13 Air Assualt Brigade, you cannot be posted to 3 Commando Brigade without first completing the course

Unlucky for some. I think it's 16 Air Assault Brigade. Mike

[Mike_2817]

A Minor Typo - Thanks for pointing it out - I have amended my copy

[tedwardland]

Hello guys

The commando dagger has been worn by the Royal Marines and that was in the late 90s. I'm told that it was a brigade commanders thing!!! So maybe it was produced from that time.

Bj have you seen a RM comando title? Went out but then withdrawn due to spelling mistake.

To serve with 3 commando brigade you didn't have to have completed the commando cse. You could wear the formation badge (some tried not too due to banter) But not the dagger or the green beret. We had RE. RLC. AGC, REME with us with the converted blue beret!!!
In 16 air assault the non para trained would wear the maroon beret. Screaming eagle and possibly the stable belt.

While in Kosovo it was great pleasure running with a 9 para RE friend past the medics camp and there would be a female on the gate wearing a maroon beret. This was of cause before the catouloge commando did her courses haha

[tedwardland]

Sorry forgot to mention. There has been the odd occasion where people have completed the commando cse and not gone straight into the commando unit. A lot was the old boy network. OC or SSM (ex 59) who had some lads who were keen to join or wanted a challenge. They would speak to the admin officer and get them on the cse (if it wasn't full) They would then go back to unit and hope for the best + wear the dagger. I had a recce sgt who did his commando cse but never served. Also a REME lad who was seen with his dagger and the brigade commander asked why he didn't wear his beret. When he explained there wasn't a place available the commander got the RSM to get his details. Within a week he was with 59.

[54Bty]

During 1997 it was decided that 3 Cdo Bde would wear the old Commando Formation sign, a red fighting knife (dagger) on a BLACK background. The badge produced was in red thread on black twill with a black merrowed edge, as shown in post 1. This was again changed back to a similar version of the 1996-1997 badge of a black knife on an Olive Green square.

The Army Commando qualification badge is similar but the background is dark BLUE and does not have a merrowed edge.

Unfortunately those responsible for the cataloguing of the badges made a mistake, it was pointed out to them, but it has been continued with both badges having a similar description. The correct qualification badge is listed in the Army section of the JSP and the incorrect entry is in the RN section just before the correct and current Formation Badge.

I hope that the above makes sense and helps.

Marc