The previous Olympic champion will change into the primary lady to put on a inexperienced beret when she is formally appointed to her part-time function within the New Yr.
The super-fit bike owner, who has gained gold twice and was made a CBE by the late Queen, has been recruited to encourage younger girls to think about the Marines as a profession alternative.
In 2015 she switched from biking to horse racing – and gained her first occasion as a jockey the next yr.
Final week the 43-year-old joined rookie commandos on a pressured march throughout Dartmoor, the place she accomplished the 30-mile endurance check after which offered the profitable recruits with their coveted inexperienced berets.
The choice to nominate her comes because the elite corps finds itself the one infantry drive within the UK but to recruit a girl to its ranks.
No less than 5 have handed the Military’s six-week ‘All Arms Commando’ course versus the 36-week Royal Marine check.
Greater than 20 feminine functions have been made to the Navy to affix the 359-year-old corps. Of these, solely two began the course on the Commando Coaching Centre in Lympstone and, regardless of being superb, each failed.
All Royal Marine recruits should cross the bodily demanding nine-month Commando course, regarded by many as probably the most testing infantry number of any unit inside Nato.
The soon-to-be Colonel Pendleton will take up her duties alongside two different ambassadors – Bear Grylls and Colonel Baron Sir Mark Sedwill, the previous Cupboard Secretary who sits as a crossbencher within the Home of Lords.
He’s additionally the President of the Particular Forces Membership.
In her new function, Victoria will attend occasions for each officers and marines as they mark their 360th anniversary subsequent yr.
Her associate Louis Tinsley is a former Particular Forces soldier and a number of other years in the past she took half within the TV collection Who Dares Wins.
A Royal Marines supply mentioned: “Victoria has skilled hardship via her coaching and has represented Nice Britain on the highest stage of sport.
“She is an inspiration to younger women and men.”
Victoria won’t be the primary lady to serve within the Royal Marines. In 1747 Hannah Snell took on the persona of James Grey, wore males’s clothes and joined the Marines, serving on warship HMS Swallow.