What is the role of survival training in the Royal Marines?

Survival training in the Royal Marines primarily focuses on teaching essential skills for navigation and sustenance, which is crucial for any operational context. This type of training equips personnel with the ability to survive in challenging environments, often behind enemy lines or in isolated areas where standard support and resources may not be available.

The training encompasses various survival techniques, including foraging for food, finding and purifying water, navigating using natural landmarks, and using tools or materials found in the environment to enhance survivability. This knowledge is vital for ensuring that Royal Marines can sustain themselves and navigate effectively until they can re-establish communication or rendezvous with their units, which is fundamental to mission success and personal safety.

While physical fitness and technical training are important aspects of a soldier's preparation—contributing to overall effectiveness and readiness—they do not capture the specific intent and focus of survival training like navigation and sustenance skills do. Similarly, urban combat scenarios, while relevant in context, do not align with the primary objectives of survival training in natural or wilderness environments.