Six Royal Marines face court marital over allegations of bullying.
Complaints of ill treatment towards recruits were received at the Commando Training Centre at Lympstone in July and August 2003.
The court martials follow a 16-month inquiry by military police.
A spokesperson told the BBC: “The case is scheduled for a pre-trial review on 17 January and the court martial itself is expected to take place in February.”
Despite the Ministry of Defences’s (MoD) zero-tolerance approach to bullying the problem appears to be growing.
The MoD have recently confirmed another senior rank case.
Cdr David Axon has been removed from command of Devonport-based HMS Somerset over allegations of bullying and intimidation.
Marine recruits endure a 30 week training programme. The course is said to be one of the toughest in the world.
