Basic School - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The Basic School is where all newly commissioned United States Marine Corps

United States Marine Corps

The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...

officers are sent to learn the art and science of being an Officer of Marines. TBS currently lasts 26 weeks. During those 26 weeks, the new officers are given extensive classroom, field, and practical application training on subjects ranging from weapon

Weapon

A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...

s and tactics

Military tactics

Military tactics, the science and art of organizing an army or an air force, are the techniques for using weapons or military units in combination for engaging and defeating an enemy in battle. Changes in philosophy and technology over time have been reflected in changes to military tactics. In...

to leadership

Leadership

Leadership has been described as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task". Other in-depth definitions of leadership have also emerged.-Theories:...

and protocol. Whether commissioned from the Naval Academy

United States Naval Academy

The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...

, NROTC or one of the other Officer Candidate School

Officer Candidate School (U.S. Marine Corps)

The United States Marine Corps Officer Candidates School is the entry-level training for Marine officers, equivalent to recruit training for enlisted Marines. Located at Marine Corps Base Quantico, the school trains, screens, and evaluates potential Marine Corps officers...

(OCS) routes, TBS is the first stop for new Marine officers. During TBS, the officers are selected for a Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) ranging from Infantry

Infantry

Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...

to Military Police

Military police

Military police are police organisations connected with, or part of, the military of a state. The word can have different meanings in different countries, and may refer to:...

to Naval Aviator

United States Naval Aviator

A United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...

. Following TBS, the Officer will attend one or more additional schools to be trained in that particular specialty prior to being assigned to a unit in the Fleet Marine Force

Fleet Marine Force

The United States Fleet Marine Forces are combined general and special purpose forces within the United States Department of the Navy that are designed in engaging offensive amphibious or expeditionary warfare and defensive maritime employment...

. The Basic School is located in Quantico

Quantico

Quantico may refer to:* Quantico , a 2005 science fiction/thriller novel by Greg Bear* Quantico, Maryland, an unincorporated community in Wicomico County, Maryland, United States...

, Virginia

Virginia

The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...

at Camp Barrett, 22 miles west of Marine Corps Base Quantico

Marine Corps Base Quantico

Marine Corps Base Quantico, sometimes abbreviated MCB Quantico, is a major United States Marine Corps training base located near Triangle, Virginia, covering nearly in southern Prince William County, northern Stafford County, and southeastern Fauquier County...

. Each year, over 1,700 new officers are trained to lead Marines.

The course has training in the classroom and in the field. Classroom events include platform instruction, tactical decision games (TDGs), sand table exercises (STEXs) and small group discussions. There are various field events, beginning with fireteam and squad level, moving all the way up to platoon reinforced events. The field events consist of realistic blank-fire training and live fire ranges.

Mission statement

Train and educate newly commissioned or appointed officers in the high standards of professional knowledge, esprit de corps, and leadership in order to prepare them for duty as company grade officers in the operating forces, with particular emphasis on the duties, responsibilities and warfighting skills required of a rifle platoon commander.

Instruction at TBS

The most critical aspect of instruction at The Basic School is the Five Horizontal Themes. They were created to clearly define the expectations of every student officer at TBS. These themes are not only taught to the student officers at The Basic School, but they cross all subordinate units. The purpose for this is consistency, unity of effort and shared vision among all personnel at TBS.

A Man or Woman of Exemplary Character
- Has a clear understanding that a Marine commission brings with it "special trust and confidence" and the highest expectations of the American people.
- Devoted to our Core Values of Honor, Courage and Commitment
- Possesses a moral compass that unerringly points to "do the right thing" - an ethical warrior
Devoted to Leading Marines 24/7
- Embraces the "exceptional and unremitting" responsibility to one's Marines and their families
- Inspires and instills confidence in his/her Marines during times of adversity
- Adheres to and enforces standards regardless of time of day, location or duty status
- Treats all Marines and Sailors with dignity and respect
- Dedicated to a lifetime of study and learning about the profession of arms
Able to Decide, Communicate, and Act in the fog of war
- Can think critically and arrive at an acceptable decision based on sound tactical thinking within their commander's intent
- Communicates clearly both orally and in writing in tactical and administrative situations with emphasis on issuing clear, meaningful orders and guidance
- Has a bias for action - seizes the initiative and acts instead of waiting for the perfect sight picture or direction from higher
- Once action is initiated, acts with boldness and determination
A Warfighter who embraces the Corps's warrior ethos
- A competent combat leader, grounded in the basic infantry skills, and characterized by sound judgment and aggressiveness in execution
- Educated in the fundamentals of maneuver warfare, tactics, combined arms, and the time-tested principles of battle
- Maintains an offensive mindset throughout - proactive, not reactive
Mentally Strong and Physically Tough
- Imbued with a warrior spirit and able to thrive in a complex and chaotic environment and persevere despite the obstacles to mission accomplishment
- Possesses the self-discipline to push past preconceived limits

Phases of Instruction

Phase I (7 Weeks): Individual Skills
- Leadership
- Rifle/Pistol Qualification
- Land Navigation
- Communications
- Combat Lifesaving
- MCMAP (Tan Belt)
- Combat Hunter Mindset

Phase II (6 Weeks): Rifle Squad Leader Skills
- Decision-making
- Combined Arms
- Rifle Squad Tactics/Weapons
- Scouting/Patrolling

Phase III (6 Weeks): Rifle Platoon Commander Skills
- Rifle Platoon Tactics
- Convoy Operations
- Engineering
- Crew-served weapons

Phase IV (7 Weeks): Basic MAGTF Officer Skills
- MOUT
- Rifle Platoon (REIN) Tactics
- Force Protection
- Expeditionary Operations (AMFEX)
- Legal/Platoon Cmdr’s Admin

Field Training Exercises (FEXs)

FEX I - A three day evolution that acts as an introduction into infantry squad level tactics. The first two days are blank fire against smaller sized opposing forces and the last day is the live fire attack with automated targets.
- Day 1, 2 - Squad attacks and offensive maneuvers using blank ammunition with a new "squad leader" for each separate attack.
- Day 3 - The students conduct a squad attack at a live fire range. There is a day attack and an illuminated night attack at the range. Artillery simulations are detonated on the range during the conduct of the attack to simulate explosions, artillery
  Artillery
  Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
  
  , and mortars.

Patrol FEX - A two day evolution that focuses on the detailed planning, preparation and conduct of a patrol to include the necessary post-patrol debriefs with the different elements of the command structure.
- Day 1 - Students conduct an initial daytime security patrol, called I-Day.
- Day 2 - Students conduct a daytime security patrol, immediately followed by a nighttime ambush patrol.

FEX II - This is a platoon "pure" FEX, as the platoon has no attachments, detachments, or supporting arms that are not organic to the platoon. This is much like FEX I, but on a larger scale, being a platoon operation instead of a squad operation.
- Day 1, 2 - Students conduct platoon level offensive and defensive operations.
- Day 3 - Students conduct a platoon pure live attack at a live fire range. The attack is broken up into one squad as a support by fire element that suppresses the objective while the other two squads act as a maneuver element and assault the objective by rushes.

FEX III - This is a platoon "reinforced" FEX, as platoon attachments, detachments, and supporting arms become available for the students to utilize. Specifically, students will learn about and utilize mortars, anti-mech, and machine guns during this FEX. FEX III is one entire week of constant day and night operations.
- Day 1 - Movement to Contact and Deliberate Attack
- Day 2 - Night Attack
- Day 3, 4 - Platoon (reinforced) in the Defense

Convoy - This is a two day long FEX that prepares students for operations with motorized vehicles. Reaction to IED
Improvised explosive device
An improvised explosive device , also known as a roadside bomb, is a homemade bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action...

s, ambush
Ambush
An ambush is a long-established military tactic, in which the aggressors take advantage of concealment and the element of surprise to attack an unsuspecting enemy from concealed positions, such as among dense underbrush or behind hilltops...

es, and conducting motorized patrols are all part of this FEX.

MOUT FEX (Military Operation in Urban Terrain) - This is the longest FEX the students go through at The Basic School. This FEX is designed to prepare students for operations in urban terrain, beginning with individual actions and ending with platoon offensive operations in a hostile urban environment.
- Day 1 - Students receive classes in the mock urban towns and do practical application
- Day 2 - Students conduct multiple squad level attacks on fortified enemy positions with SESAMS training rounds.
- Day 3 - Students conduct more SESAMS training, this time squad defensive operations as they are attacked by a platoon size element. Later, students conduct a cordon-and-knock search with motorized vehicles at a nearby village. They also receive vehicle checkpoint (VCP) training with practical application.
- Day 5 - Urban Lane Training is conducted. The students receive classes with practical application on the proper reaction to a sniper, IED discovery procedures, urban patrolling, snap VCP, employing guardian angels, and reaction to a complex ambush.
- Day 6 - Students conduct a squad reinforced urban patrol. Multiple realistic scenarios occur during the patrol using role-players to accurately simulate the "Three Block War
  Three Block War
  The Three Block War is a concept described by U.S. Marine General Charles Krulak in the late 1990s to illustrate the complex spectrum of challenges likely to be faced by soldiers on the modern battlefield. In Krulak's example, soldiers may be required to conduct full scale military action,...
  
  ."

AMFEX (Amphibious Familiarization Exercise) Students spend two days at Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base and Norfolk Naval Base gaining a basic understanding of amphibious ships and their capabilities. The time also gives the students an idea of what life will be like living on a ship while deployed with a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU).

Warrant Officer Basic Course (WOBC)

Marine warrant officers

Warrant Officer (United States)

In the United States military, the rank of warrant officer is rated as an officer above the senior-most enlisted ranks, as well as officer cadets and candidates, but below the officer grade of O-1...

attend a 17-week training regime similar in scope and instruction to the 26-week course required by second lieutenant

Second Lieutenant

Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...

s, which is shortened due to the prior experience possessed by the newly appointed warrant officers. They are assigned to India Company at Camp Barret.

An enlisted Marine can apply for the warrant officer program after serving at least eight years of enlisted service, and reaching the grade of E-5 (Sergeant) for the administrative warrant officer program or after serving at least sixteen years of enlisted service and reaching the grade of E-7 (Gunnery Sergeant

Gunnery Sergeant

Gunnery Sergeant is the seventh enlisted rank in the United States Marine Corps, just above Staff Sergeant and below Master Sergeant and First Sergeant, and is a staff non-commissioned officer...

) for the weapons warrant officer program. If the Marine NCO is selected, he or she is given additional leadership and management training during the Warrant Officer Basic Course.

Mission statement

Instruction at TBS

Phases of Instruction

Field Training Exercises (FEXs)

Warrant Officer Basic Course (WOBC)

See also