A YOUNG Chester-le-Street soldier is proudly wearing his green beret after enduring 30 weeks of the hardest initial training in the world.
Former Heritage Comprehensive school pupil Graeme Carr, 23, has now become a Royal Marine Commando.
An Army spokesman said the green beret is the distinctive hallmark of commando troops indicating that those who wear it have passed a gruelling test of endurance and displayed cheerfulness and courage under adversity.
Graeme 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 and that is to finish training as a Royal Marine Commando.
"It's been a fantastic experience for me and I've made some life long friends here.
"The sense of achievement felt by all of us is immense but I know that many more challenges are to come."
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