Royal Marine cadets take on the endurance course at Exton

This included running through mud and water, crawling through tunnels and braving the infamous sheep-dip followed by a 5KM run back to Commando Training Centre’s bottom field.

A spokesman for the Royal Marine cadets said: "Needless to say the cadets loved it (mostly) and were rightly proud of themselves for having completed such an achievement – the first cadets ever to do so. RMVCC is open to children between the ages of 10 and 16.

First formed in 1901, it was originally called the Royal Marines boy volunteer cadets it was started as a means of gainfully occupying the sons of the Royal Navy (RN) and Royal Marines (RM) Non-Commissioned Officer(NCOs)

It now consists of around 460 male and female cadets based across the UK from Plymouth in the south to Arbroath in the North. The RMVCC detachment at the Commando Training Centre Lympstone has been running since 1979.

Being based at this esteemed training location grants cadets access to some facilities including the gym, swimming pool, lecture theatres, drill shed and parade ground as well as the training grounds of Woodbury Common.

It runs during term time, twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays between 6.45pm to 9pm. After joining recruits complete a basic training period where they learn skills such as drill techniques, map reading, navigation, first aid, field craft and corps history.

This comes to an end with a pass out parade where friends and family can attend to watch the cadets in action and witness the presentation of awards.

During summer months several weekend camps are held on Woodbury Common and in August the RN and RM VCC get together for a summer camp where cadet units from across the country come together for military style exercises, competitions and lots of fun.

If you have a child interested in joining or would like to become a volunteer adult instructor there is a recruitment evening being held at the Gordon Messenger Centre on Monday 16 September at 7pm.