TWO weeks after becoming a Royal Marine Commando, a 22-year-old is serving in the Gulf.

Michael Graham, from Chester-le-Street, received his Green Beret last month after completing some of the hardest Army training in the world.

Within days Royal Marine Graham was flown out to Kuwait with 45 Commando Unit.

His family believe he is now in Basra, but do not expect to hear from him again until the war is over.

His father, David Graham, said: "He completed his training up at Arbroath in Scotland and after ten days he came back, packed his bags, and was away again.

"I didn't think they would recruit them so soon, but apparently once you've done your training you're out there.

"I suppose there will be older ones who look after them a bit."

Royal Marine Graham, a former pupil of The Hermitage School, so enjoyed his time with the Royal Marine Reserves based on the Tyne, that he jumped at the chance to take up the challenge of training for the marines.

Only eight out of the 30 soldiers who went through the notoriously gruelling training completed it the course successfully.

One of the many tests Royal Marines must pass includes completing an endurance course, negotiating tunnels and various water hazards followed by a five-mile run back to camp where the recruits must achieve a marksmanship score on a rifle range, all within 72 minutes.

His family - he has a brother David, 25 - received a letter from him last Friday.

Proud mum Denise said: "He seemed in high spirits and wanted to say hello to everyone back home in Chester-le-Street."

His father hopes his training will stand him in good stead.

He said: "I know they are well prepared for it. But you don't know what to expect.

"It'll get tricky in Iraq if they get into street fighting. It's going to be a very steep learning curve.

"I'm not expecting to hear anything from him until the troubles are over. We're writing to him, but we don't know if he's getting the letters. You just hope and pray he'll be back soon."