The Royal Navy’s initial training establishments, which turn civilians into sailors and Royal Marines, have received a positive ‘health check’ from inspectors.

A team of four officers visited training establishments across the three Services, including Commando Training Centre RM in Lympstone, HMS Raleigh at Torpoint and the RN engineering school HMS Sultan in Gosport, to see what progress had been made in both training and looking after new additions to the ranks.

The inspection team spoke to or received questionnaires from 584 sailor and RM trainees, plus 55 instructors – and were generally impressed by the level of training and support.

Common themes affecting recruits include homesickness, the initial shock of military life and problems of personal relationships.

The team says it found no evidence of systematic bullying – indeed, recruits often found the training regime less restrictive and harsh than they had expected.

Three out of four trainees believe they will still be in the Forces in a decade’s time.

CTCRM wins particular praise for the spiritual and moral support recruits are offered, as well as impressive physiotherapy facilities to help injured trainees.

The officers found trainee engineers at Sultan were unhappy at committing to eight years’ service before they had spent any meaningful time at sea.

On the other hand, HMS Sultan was picked out as being an establishment which demonstrated best practice in matters where allegations are made by recruits and trainees.

And the team found examples in some military establishments – the establishments or which Service they cover is not specified – of recruits who had failed mandated tests but were passed on to the next phase of training or even the front line.

Among changes the inspectors would like to see are a ‘fourth meal’ at around 9pm – already provided at Lympstone, which is regularly cited for its examples of good practice.

“Considerable progress has been made in the initial training regime,” the report concludes.

“The majority of recruits we interviewed were positive about their future in the Armed Forces.

“The training was exemplified by the quote of one recruit at Lympstone: ‘If I achieve nothing else with my life, at least I will be able to say that I was a Royal Marine.’”

Welcoming the report’s publication, Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram said it concluded that “significant progress” has been made in implementing the initial recommendations.

“The Ministry of Defence has always taken its duty of care very seriously, and are well aware of the particular welfare needs of all recruits and trainees,” he said.

“This report is an important element of our ongoing strategy to improve the way in which we manage and care for our young people in initial training.

“I am pleased the report finds that considerable energy, imagination and leadership are being employed in order to improve the training regime.”

On areas where the report identifies the need for further work, the minister said: “We are now taking these matters forward and progress in implementing the recommendations will be reviewed regularly.”