An Abingdon teenager who survived 30 weeks of gruelling Royal Marine Commando training has been awarded the coveted Green Beret.
Darren Hayward, 17, a former pupil of Larkmead School, had to pass a tough commando test at the end of his course at the Marines' training centre in Lympstone, Devon.
This included a nine-mile speed march, while carrying 32lb of kit, and another covering 30 miles across Dartmoor, carrying 40lb of equipment, in eight hours.
Marine Hayward said: "Commando training is well known for its intensity, but everything we do is progressive, which enables people with all standards of fitness to achieve the final goal."
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