Intorduction to: AMONGST THE MARINES

[StevenPreece]

hi guys: This is the Introduction to my first Autobiography:

"AMONGST THE MARINES"

The Royal Marines are widely known as one of Britain's finest fighting forces. Marine Commandos are trained to the very highest of standards, and face roles and situations which only the most dedicated and exceptional of troops can handle. Because of this, Marines are a breed apart from regular soldiers, and have their own way of getting things done. This is no less true of their social lives than it is of their hours of service.

This story portrays the social side of an elite soldier's life. It does not focus on the special demands and dangers of battle situations, or the heroics of military glory. Instead, it portrays the private life I experienced as a Royal Marine Commando, after the day's work was complete and the battles were won.

My story begins with a snapshot of Marine life, in describing the reception that lay in store for me - and for all newly trained Marines - at my first Commando Unit in Arbroath. I then go back to describe my childhood and the events leading up to this moment, including my rigorous Marine training at the Commando Training Centre near Exeter. What follows from this point is a blow by blow insider's account of the social life of the marines spanning the seven years of my career. I have it on authority that things are very different in the marines today, and that violence amongst their ranks and other kinds of bad behaviour are no longer tollerated. I can only narrate what happened to me, however, and what life was like there as I found it.

To those outside of Marine culture, these pages will be more than an eye opener. Some may find certain passages of this book both disgusting and disturbing. These episodes, though, give vivid insights into what makes a marine tick. What others would call dangerous and repellant, we marines called entertainment.

I joined the Royal Marines on the 7th February 1983 and served with several different units until 8th May 1990. During this time, I changed from being a quiet, sensible young man into an aggresive fighting machine.

Best Regards

Steven Preece

 

[StevenPreece]

Synopsis

Sorry Guys. I should have posted the synopsis too. Here goes:

Synopsis
Steven Preece was a Royal Marine Commando from 1983 to 1990, serving first at entry-level and then as a lance-corporal. Amongst the Marines is Steven's first-hand account of his years as an elite soldier, focusing directly on the excessive and often shocking lifestyle of the Marines during this time, and the impact this had on his own personality and behaviour. Preece fulfilled his childhood ambition by earning the coveted Green Beret from the Commando Training Centre at Lympstone when he was 18. He was unaware, however, of the brutal rite of passage that awaited him and all the other pieces of skin. (new recruits) at his first Marine commando unit. Violence in the Marines, as Steven discovered, was not limited to the battlefield but a continual part of a pervasive culture of bullying and aggression. It did not take long for Preece to be accepted into this culture and to adopt it as his own. His personality changed beyond recognition from friendly and approachable to hard and unforgiving as he embraced the customs and values of the 45 Commando Unit.
On duty he was fit, committed and loyal, while off duty he displayed a mammoth capacity for drinking, fighting and, when the drink had run out, womanising. On home leave, Steven found it increasingly hard to adapt to civilian life. His drinking sessions in local pubs frequently ended in fights with the locals and even in violence against members of his own family. Preece earned a reputation amongst his fellow Marines for pranks and dangerous behaviour, and his eagerness to accept any challenges from other commandos eventually led him to be court-martialled. To his relief and surprise, however, Preece was fully acquitted by the court. Amongst the Marines is an unflinching expose of the culture of the Marines, from foul practical jokes and rough justice to the off-duty orgies of drink, sex and violence. It is a no-holds-barred account of the many shocking incidents Preece witnessed and participated in, from his first day as a new recruit to his exit from the Marines with his reputation intact and his scores settled once and for all.

Best Wishes

Steven Preece