This will be interesting to read if any clear facts of the case come out...

No fast-roping, no simulated shooting, but presumably the "asbestos gloves" mentioned in the report are O.K. Ah well, makes a change from kid gloves and cotton wool...........................

Having fast roped and abseiled I can tell you they are not the same thing. But there are similarities and any full trained marine will have done both. For the sake of speed and weight of equipment, the techniques and materials used during combat are quite different to those used in industrial roped access. The difference often being if you let go of the rope in the military.....your dead or seriously injured! I have been to the Edinburgh Military Tattoo this year and witnessed one of the Marines stumble and lose his footing as he started his descent. The Royal Marines are very fit, highly trained and very brave but they are still human and not infalable. If a Marine were to go down in Afganistan we may end up sending a fully manned medical evacuation team in a helicopter to attempt to save him. Why risk his or her life here just for the sake of your entertainment? As for the actual boarding party demonstration? I've seen cadets do better but everyone I saw on deck was in No;8's so I don't think they were Marines.