Former rower Philippa Birch is making an attempt to change into the primary feminine within the Royal Marines’ 350-year historical past

The Royal Marines have drafted in American ‘GI Jane’ instructors to coach the primary girl to tackle its gruelling recruits course.

United States Marine Corps instructors will mentor former worldwide rower Philippa Birch who, as The Mail on Sunday has beforehand revealed, is making an attempt to change into the primary feminine within the Royal Marines’ 350-year historical past.

Ms Birch, 25, is anticipated to begin coaching on April 29 after she handed the robust coaching course for potential recruits this yr.

In keeping with defence sources, Royal Marine prime brass consider having feminine instructors as a part of Ms Birch’s coaching group will enhance her probabilities of success.

Her historic bid follows then Prime Minister David Cameron’s choice in 2016 to raise a centuries-old ban on girls serving in close-combat roles. In America, the USMC allowed girls to hitch preventing items in 2013 and since then about 100 females have certified as frontline troopers.

A few of these girls might be seconded to the Royal Marines from later this month.

Final evening, a supply stated: ‘As having a feminine recruit is unknown territory for the Royal Marines, the bosses have introduced in feminine instructors from the USMC, which is just a few years forward of us.

‘Hopefully, Philippa Birch and different girls who try the recruits course will bond with the GI Janes and their presence will increase morale.

‘There might be darkish moments for Philippa throughout her coaching and he or she goes the place no girl has gone earlier than in a bid to win a Inexperienced Beret. However she’s very match, clever and decided.’

U.S. Marines Captain Elizabeth Jackson, 27, of Hamden, Connecticut (left) of the Civil Affairs Group of third Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment strikes to provide well being care lessons on the Naw Zad Ladies’s Centre in Naw Zad district in Helmand province, Afghanistan READ Jon Rahm storms into lead at Gamers Championship

GI Jane was a 1997 movie starring Demi Moore a couple of girl who makes an attempt to hitch a US Particular Forces unit.

Final evening, a Ministry of Defence spokesman confirmed it had established a coaching relationship with the USMC and that girls have been ‘prone to be concerned in that’, including: ‘The requirements to be a Royal Marine Commando would be the similar for girls as males and the coaching might be an identical.’