ROYAL Marines Top Brass are up in arms over plans to change their centuries old ranks and uniforms.
Under shock new proposals Royal Marine officers will have their rank structures removed and replaced with with Royal Navy ranks.
The potential change will also affect the insignia worn on uniforms as senior Navy officers seek to drive the 6,000 strong Royal Marines further into the Royal Navy “fold.”
While the Royal Marines are part of a the Royal Navy they are seen as a distinct unit with a unique identity.
The proposed changes – hatched by the Royal Navy – sparked immediate outrage.
Former Royal Marines officer Major General Julian Thompson who commanded 3 Commando Brigade during the Falklands War, blasted: “This is an absolute disastrous ideas and it is total rubbish.
“The Royal Marines have been with the Navy serving at sea since 1664 dressed as soldiers – which is what we are.
“We are not sailors who pretend to be soldiers.
“It’s absolute nonsense, it would create a ludicrous situation.
“It is utter rubbish and the idea is totally fallacious.
“They haven’t thought it through, we’ve always looked like soldiers for 350 years. It is preposterous.”
Practically the suggested “alignment” Royal Marine Captains will become Lieutenants and Royal Marine Brigadiers will become Commodores.
Under the scheme – which is yet to be approved – the Royal Marines famous green Lovat service dress could have the gold stripes indicating Royal Navy rank stitched to the sleeves.
Further suggestions include giving all Royal Marines newly designed combat fatigues, so they stop looking too similar to the Army.
The major shake-up to the 350 year old Royal Marines will not affect the fabled green beret and would not change the rank or uniform of non-officer Commandos.
The idea has been signed off by the entire senior command of the Royal Navy including the First Sea Lord Tony Radakin and Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Nick Hine and has been passed to the Royal Marines command for consideration.
Insiders reacted with anger to the suggestion – calling it an attack on the Corps’ unique identity.
One raged: “This is a needless assault on Corps identity being dressed up as something else.
“In practice, by disrupting centuries of tradition all it will create is anger.
“It will actually achieve very little.
“It’s very unlikely to improve effectiveness – anyone who needs to know who is in what rank already knows.
“In fact, it’s more likely to be perceived as yet another erosion of identity which could impact negatively on both retention and even recruitment.
“It will cost money to change how the rank is worn on uniforms, so it’s not that.
“Most likely this is a needless vanity project that will somehow be badged as future-proofing the corps. Save the time and money for something useful.
Another source, added: “This is the Royal Navy trying to exert authority on the Royal Marines.”
The suggestion came out in a document marked sensitive asking that “consideration” is given to aligning Royal Marine officer Ranks with the Royal Navy.
The wider document forms a new blue print for the future set up of the Royal Navy, including the Marines.
It is being circulated now among the Royal Navy and Royal Marines for feedback.
Sources in favour of the plan suggested after years of fighting on land in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Royal Marines had to get back to their core business in the Navy, and the rank alignment would help.
For centuries, the Royal Marines have been focussed on beach assaults, landing parties at sea and fighting in the Arctic.
But wars against Al Qaeda and the Taliban left some senior commanders worried their identity was being drawn too closely to the Army and counter terror missions.
They felt the rank change would bring them closer into the Royal Navy’s future plans and could protect them from cuts.
As discussions are still taking place on the suggested changes, no firm plan has been sent to Defence Secretary Ben Wallace.
But an insider, said: “The Defence Secretary’s priority is getting the armed forces ready for the 21st century and dealing with the increasing the day to day threats of a dangerous world.
“He will not be authorising cosmetic changes around rank.”
A Royal Navy spokesperson said: “The Royal Marines are a distinct but integral part of the Royal Navy and work is ongoing to reinforce their role as an effective maritime fighting force.
“There are no plans to change anything that denotes the strong history and identity of the Royal Marines.”
