Warrant Officer First Class Marc Wicks

UK Royal Marines
Command Sergeant Major
North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Marc Wicks was born in Devon and educated at Audley Park Secondary Modern School in Torquay. He joined the Royal Marines Commandos in March 1983. After successfully completing training he was drafted to 42 Commando in Plymouth. He completed numerous tours in Norway and was selected to become a Military Ski Instructor. In 1984 he deployed to Northern Ireland with 42 Commando Royal Marines, on OP BANNER. He was then drafted to Comacchio Group Royal Marines.

In 1987 he attended the Junior Command Course at Commando Training Center Royal Marines, where on completion of this course he returned to Scotland and was promoted to Corporal. He then volunteered to return to Northern Ireland to work on OP INTERNET. He spent over two years on this tour and was subsequently awarded the GOCNI Commendation for his efforts.

In 1991 he decided to become a Physical Training Instructor and after sixteen weeks on course he graduated as the top student and was awarded the Straghan Trophy. He immediately became a recruit troop PTI, and passed two troops out of training.

On successful completion of the Senior Command Course he attended the Joint Services Remedial Instructor Course in London at the Queen Elizabeth Medical Hospital. He was then drafted to 42 Commando where he took up his position as a Troop Sergeant. During his time at 42 Commando he served in Norway and on his return was placed as the Unit Physical Training Instructor.

He then attended a Physical Training Instructor First Class Course. Where once again he graduated as the top student and received the Kelland Trophy. On completion of this course he took over as the head of department of the remedial instructors. He was then chosen to become a Staff Physical Training Instructor, responsible for the selection, administration, training and conduct of physical training instructor courses. After two exhilarating years, he was selected in 1998 to become the Physical Training Advisor at Officer Candidate School, USMC, in Quantico, Virginia, where he was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for his services. In 2000 he returned to the UK and attended the Advance Command Course. He was promoted to Warrant Officer 2nd Class and took over at 3 Commando Brigades Headquarters and Signals Squadron as the Squadron Sergeant Major. When the unit was renamed to the United Kingdom Landing Force Command Support Group he changed roles and became the Brigade Reconnaissance Force Sergeant Major where he served in the Oman. Afterwards he became the Logistics Squadron Sergeant Major and deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq on OP JACANA and TELIC.

In 2003 WO2 Wicks became the Physical Training Troop Sergeant Major and Chief Instructor at the Commando Training Centre, Royal Marines. After successfully passing the Regimental Sergeant Majors (RSM) Board and completing the subsequent course, he was appointed as the RSM of 42 Commando Royal Marines in March 2005. During his tenure as the RSM of 42 Commando Royal Marines he completed numerous exercises, deployed to Norway and served in Afghanistan on OP HERRICK 5 with the United Kingdom Task Force in the Province of Helmand. On his return from operations he was assigned as the RSM of Command Support Training, where he was responsible for the training of all future Warrant Officers in the Royal Marine Corps and subsequently assumed the role of the RSM of the CTCRM. He then assumed the position of the HQ 3 Cdo Bde RSM where once again he deployed on operations to Afghanistan, as the Brigade RSM. He was then selected to serve as the RM Corps RSM, the most senior position within the enlisted ranks of the Royal Marines. Currently, he is serving as the Command Sergeant Major at the NATO Headquarters Supreme Allied Commander Transformation.

He has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his service to date and represented both Corps and Great Britain in the sport of Dragon boating and remains as fit and healthy as time allows.

WO1 (RSM) M Wicks RM is married to Eileen, has two daughters Shannon and Alexandra and still has a home in the South West of England.

Current as of September 2011

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