Wanderlust is in your job description

You will visit places you have not yet heard of, but this is no holiday. You will not be deceived by tourism’s mendacious attractions but instead will have your senses sledgehammered by brutal, unfiltered surroundings. You will see such poverty and suffering that you will return home to feel exasperated by the complaints of those who live within the slothful ignorance of their cosseted existence.

Like sleep? You'll learn to love it

When on operations, discard the concept of time. You are either working or not. When you work, your body is put through such stress and trauma that once you have down time, once administration is complete, sleep becomes your best friend. Take it while you can. You never know when you will next get the chance.

Like food? Read my last

Speed eating becomes a survival instinct; indigestion indicates fulfilling this most important of tasks. When the fatigued body requires refuelling, noxious foodstuffs become epicurean delights. Leaving food is as taboo as having a dirty weapon. Don’t do it.

You will become an aficionado of fancy dress

A Royal Marine’s locker is the chipboard gateway to his soul. It smells of aftershave, shaving foam and toothpaste. As sure it will contain a green beret, it will also be home to Lycra dresses, tutus, togas, superhero capes, and in my case a pantomime camel costume. "Silly rig" - fancy dress - is as much engrained into corps culture as the 28th October anniversary date.