The obstacle courses were graded into three degrees of difficulty and coded yellow, red and black. o The C.N.E.C. do not expect everyone who comes here to attain the highest level, but again the Legion do, and in particular the REP expect nothing less.
Anyone failing to reach the highest level has no place in a commando company and would be moved to other duties within the regiment on our return. o Those who have to drop out through injury get another chance to complete the course at a later date.
This facility is also used by foreign forces including the UK Royal Marines, the S.A.S., and the American Seals. It is acknowledged as being one of the best facilities of its kind in the world. oFrance has two other 'extreme warfare schools'. The jungle warfare school in French Gyanne and a commando training centre in Djibouti, both run by the Legion.
Physically, this was the hardest thing I have ever done. o As at Collioure, instruction started at a walking pace, slowly building our skills and confidence to tackle the most dangerous parts of the course, the 'piste noir'. (Black) o
Again it was all about team work and having total confidence in those around you. o This was not a game and mistakes could easily cost a life or lead to serious injury.Apart from the pure difficulty of the obstacles, the cold was playing a major part by covering everything in a thick coating of ice.
The centre normally closed during the winter months but the Legion is the Legion and here we were. Gloves were normally an option but under these circumstances your skin would have stuck to the cables.
Once you accept that these obstacles are passable and that many have done it before you, it's a question of self
confidence. o As the weeks past, we became more gungho in our approach and the stop watches came out. o This was very physical for me and a real test to see if I could keep up with the youngsters, but there is more than the physical side to being a front line commando. o You can be one of the strongest men in the world but if you don't have the mental aptitude to attack the problems you are faced with, you won't get anywhere. o Stamina also comes into the equation and that was where my age was a definate advantage.As ever, I was finding the obsatcles where arm strength was important, hard going. o Leg strength and balance were not a problem but I knew that I was struggling on some of the tasks.
Early one morning in the middle of the middle of the third week, I was dragged from my bed, ordered to get dressed, had a hood pulled over my head, my hands tagged behind my back, then pulled and pushed along for at least ten minutes.o Outdoors, indoors, out again, I hadn't a clue where I was. o Eventually I was shoved into a room and sat down forceably on a wooden bench. o Even when you know that it is an exercise and that no real harm will come to you, it's hard to take.