ROYAL Mail manager James Holmes has completed one of the toughest armed forces training courses in the world to become a Royal Marine commando.

But the 25-year-old, of Undercliffe, said he will not be giving up his day job despite now being the proud wearer of the infamous Green Beret.

He went through 14 gruelling months of training to officially become a Royal Marines Commando Reservist, one of about only 600 in the country.

He spent the last two weeks at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines in Lympstone, Devon, the home of Royal Marine training where he had to live out in the open in wind-chill temperatures of minus eight proving his roping and abseiling skills as well as carrying out attacks with his unit in driving rain, sleet and snow.

The final tests he needed to pass included an aerial assault course, a nine-mile speed march, the famous Endurance Course and a 30-mile timed march within in eight hours.

The marine training is a complete contrast to his day job at Bradford and Halifax Royal Mail depots making sure up to 50 postmen and women get out on their rounds and deliver all their mail on time.

Mr Holmes, whose step-father was in the Yorkshire Regiment , joined the Leeds Detachment of the Royal Marines Reserve in August 2013 and since then has attended weekly training sessions as well as weekend exercises all over the country.

"When I left school I wanted to join the RAF but I couldn't because I was colour blind so I put the military life on the shelf but there was always something there, then two years ago I decided to go back to it give it another go and that the Royal Marines was the biggest challenge I could go for," he said.

And he added: "I really enjoy my job with the Royal Mail and this challenge with the Royal Marines Reserve gives me a great balance to my life. I'll have to commit to regular training throughout the year but that's what it's all about."

His Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Dowd, said to be a Royal Marine Commando takes 100 per cent commitment and a strong state of mind just to get through the course but then as a trained Commando to be ready to tackle any challenge, anywhere in the world.

"If you have a full time day-job, and you’re joining the Royal Marines Reserve, the standards, commitment and mental preparation is no different to the full time regulars.

"So recruits like James who have been awarded their green beret should feel rightly proud of what they have achieved."

Anyone interested in becoming a Royal Marine Reservist should go along to an open day on Saturday, March 14, between 10am and 5pm at Carlton Barracks in Leeds or visit royalnavy.mod.uk/rmrmerseyside.