As the recruits reach the end of training, thoughts turn to life beyond Lympstone. A familiar face, Corporal `Froggy' Chauffour, returns to prepare the troop for a final pass-out parade, and four contenders compete for the coveted King's Badge award, which the winner will carry with them throughout their career. Meanwhile, retiring Troop Commander `Ginge' Booth contemplates a future beyond the Royal Marines after 28 years of service.
The recruits are within touching distance of their green berets, but first they must face Lympstone's ultimate challenge - the famous commando tests - four gruelling physical exercises attempted over five consecutive days. The members of 169 troop are a tight-knit group who have pushed through 30 weeks of training together. They're desperate to finish the course as one, but not everybody will make it