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This Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation Has Been Downloaded from Explore Bristol Research This electronic thesis or dissertation has been downloaded from Explore Bristol Research, http://research-information.bristol.ac.uk Author: Burchell, Mark Anthony Title: An anthropological exploration of discipline and ritual practices among the Royal Marines General rights Access to the thesis is subject to the Creative Commons Attribution - NonCommercial-No Derivatives 4.0 International Public License. A copy of this may be found at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/legalcode This license sets out your rights and the restrictions that apply to your access to the thesis so it is important you read this before proceeding. Take down policy Some pages of this thesis may have been removed for copyright restrictions prior to having it been deposited in Explore Bristol Research. However, if you have discovered material within the thesis that you consider to be unlawful e.g. breaches of copyright (either yours or that of a third party) or any other law, including but not limited to those relating to patent, trademark, confidentiality, data protection, obscenity, defamation, libel, then please contact [email protected] and include the following information in your message: •Your contact details •Bibliographic details for the item, including a URL •An outline nature of the complaint Your claim will be investigated and, where appropriate, the item in question will be removed from public view as soon as possible. An anthropological exploration of discipline and ritual practices among the Royal Marines by Mark Anthony Birchell University of Bristol 2011 Abstract Despite the ever-growing number of publications on Military matters, in-depth studies of its unique cultural practices are still scarce due to their well-kept high perimeter fences. The author, a fonner Royal Marine, was able to return to the Commando Training Centre at Lympstone as an anthropologist to carry out participant observation, following an intake of recruits throughout their gruelling year-long training programme. Focus is on enculturation of the Marine recruits during their training, giving particular attention on the intricate mechanisms that transfonn them from ordinary civilian men into members of what is often regarded as the world's finest elite Commando unit. The ethnography presented in this thesis will provide a key to understanding the complex processes of Military enculturation through a close look at the relationships between disciplinary and punishment practices; violence and masculinity; narratives and personhood; and will explore how these issues become known to the recruits through their practical application of body to physical labour. This thesis represents an attempt to present the so far unexplored social experience of Royal Marines training culture. Dedication and Acknowledgements I would like to acknowledge first and foremost, Dr Dimitrios Theodossopoulos for his unwavering commitment, support, and confidence throughout. I would also like to say a big thank you to my fieldwork participants for their generous contributions, and to Major Moulton and Colonel Taylor O.B.E who arranged clearance, and granted the necessary permissions for my fieldwork to take place. I would like to pay my respects to Adrian Birmingham who was among my participants for a while before achieving his Green Beret but, sadly, lost his life shortly afterwards. I would also like to pay respect to the departure of Major Jonny Rowlands alongside whom I took a place on the Marines Reserve Ski team one year. Jonny was also present during some of my fieldwork. I would like to make a dedication to David Cornwell for presenting himself as a role model when I most needed one. My journey to this point began with his support and belief. And finally, a dedication to my Grandparents June and Arthur. 11 Declaration I declare that the work in this dissertation was carried out in accordance with the Regulations of the University of Bristol. The work is original, except where indicated by special reference in the text, and to the best of my knowledge no part of the dissertation has been submitted for any other academic award. Any views expressed in the dissertation are those of the author. SIGNED., DATE 2Lt/oZ JJ2 111 Contents Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 1 Methodology in the Marines Training Environment.. ........................................................................ 3 Chapter Summaries ............................................................................................................................ 7 Culture Shock and Initial Adaptations to the Regime of Discipline .............................................. 10 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 10 PRC Weekend .................................................................................................................................. 11 Arriving at the Commando Training Centre .................................................................................... 17 A Methodological Complication .......................................................................... '" ......................... 20 The F irst Training Weekend ............................................................................................................ 21 Discussion about Early Group Formation ........................................................................................ 24 Arriving at the Field and Revealing Myself as Ethnographer .......................................................... 26 Discussion about Being Jack and the Isolation Punishment RituaJ... ............................................... 28 Chapter Conclusion ........................................................................................................ , ................. 31 Equalization ........................................................................................................................................ 36 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 36 Recruits as Seeds: Trodden into the Earth ofthe Military Environment... ....................................... 37 When Drill Sergeant Says 'YOU' He Means 'YOU All' ................................................................ 43 The Dreaded Kit and Weapon Inspection ........................................................................................ 46 Afters: The Post-Inspection Body Sacrament .................................................................................. 55 Chapter Conclusion .......................................................................................................................... 57 The Phase of Identification ............................................................................. , .................................. 63 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 63 Extracts from January: We All Get Punished for Each Others' Mistakes ........................................ 64 Extracts from February: A Cold Commitment to Pain ..................................................................... 69 Extracts from March: Fortification of the Group We're Becoming ................................................. 72 Discussion About How Changing Characteristics Mark the Phases of Identity and Group Development ......................................................................................................................... 73 A Surprise Enemy Attack ................................................................................................................. 77 Extracts from April: Specialist Instruction ....................................................................................... 79 Extracts from May and June: We'll Get by With a Little Help from Our Training Team ............... 81 th th 9 , JO & 11 th July: Confirmation Weekend .................................................................................... 82 Chapter Conclusion .......................................................................................................................... 85 The Testing Stage: Exchanging Exhausted Bodies for Excellence ................................................. 89 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 89 Friday Night Arrival and Day One ................................................................................................... 90 Day Two: The first Pass-out Test ..................................................................................................... 91 Thomas ......................................................................................................................................... 93 Jon ................................................................................................................................................ 95 Tris ............................................................................................................................................... 98 After the Obstacles ........................................................................................................................
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