COWLERSLEY man Andrew Tracey has successfully completed 32 gruelling weeks of training to become a Royal Marine Commando.
Andrew, 20, a former pupil of Royal Hall High School at Paddock, passed out with 900 Troop at the Royal Marines Commando Training Centre in Lympstone, Devon.
He said: "I've always set myself high standards, which is why I joined the Royal Marines.
"If you're thinking of a life in the military be the best, be a Royal Marines Commando.
"The training was hard - but I didn't expect anything less.
"Everything we did was progressive and that means everyone can achieve a final goal, as long as they believe in themselves and their own ability".
Andrew will be joining the Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines, based in Helensburgh on the Clyde estuary in western Scotland.
He added: "The Marines play a major role in safeguarding the UK's interests at home and abroad. That's a lot of responsibility, but I've been trained to make it happen."
