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Daniel wins his beret

From the archive, first published Friday 4th May 2001.

An assault course was one of the tests marine Daniel Rand had to pass to get his green beret.

Daniel, 25, pictured, has passed out of the Royal Marine training centre after completing a gruelling 30-week programme which culminated in an endurance course involving water hazards, tunnels and shooting on a rifle range, a "Tarzan" assault course set in trees, a nine-mile speed march and navigating a route across Dartmoor.

Daniel, formerly a pupil of Mathew Arnold School, Cumnor Hill, joined the Royal Marines last July.

He said: "It's been a fantastic experience for me and I've made some great friends."

He is now based in Devon.