The Basic School

The Basic School
Unit name	The Basic School
Country	United States
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Type	Training
Role	Officer training
Command structure	Marine Corps Base Quantico
Garrison	Virginia

The Basic School is a training institution for newly commissioned officers of the United States Marine Corps, located at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. The school is designed to provide foundational training in leadership, tactics, and Marine Corps doctrine, preparing officers for their future roles as leaders in the United States Marine Corps. The curriculum is based on the principles of Expeditionary Warfare, which emphasizes the importance of speed, surprise, and violence of action, as demonstrated by General James Mattis during the Battle of Fallujah. The school's training is also influenced by the National Security Strategy and the Marine Corps Vision and Strategy 2025.

Introduction

The Basic School is a critical component of the United States Marine Corps' officer training program, which also includes the Officer Candidates School and the Marine Corps University. The school's mission is to train newly commissioned officers in the skills and knowledge necessary to lead Marine Corps units, as outlined in the Marine Corps Doctrine Publication 1. The training is designed to be challenging and immersive, with a focus on practical application of theoretical concepts, similar to the training provided by the United States Army Ranger School and the United States Navy SEALs. The school's faculty includes experienced Marine Corps officers, many of whom have served in combat roles, such as General John Kelly and General Joseph Dunford.

History

The Basic School was established in 1915 as the Marine Corps Schools, with the goal of providing advanced training to Marine Corps officers. Over the years, the school has undergone several transformations, including a major overhaul in the 1980s, which introduced the current curriculum and training methodology, influenced by the Goldwater-Nichols Act and the Cohen Report. The school has played a significant role in the development of Marine Corps doctrine, including the development of the Expeditionary Warfare concept, which was influenced by the Gulf War and the War in Afghanistan. Many notable Marine Corps officers have attended the school, including General Chesty Puller, General Lewis Puller, and General P.X. Kelley, who later became the Commandant of the Marine Corps.

Curriculum

The curriculum at The Basic School is designed to provide a comprehensive education in Marine Corps doctrine, tactics, and leadership. The training includes instruction in subjects such as Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures, Map Reading, and First Aid, as well as more advanced topics such as Expeditionary Warfare and Urban Warfare, which are influenced by the National Defense Authorization Act and the Quadrennial Defense Review. The school also places a strong emphasis on physical fitness and combat training, with students participating in regular Physical Fitness Tests and Combat Training Exercises, similar to those conducted by the United States Army Special Forces and the United States Air Force Special Operations Command. The curriculum is constantly evolving to reflect the changing nature of modern warfare, as seen in the War in Iraq and the War in Afghanistan, and is influenced by the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory and the Office of Naval Research.

Organization

The Basic School is organized into several companies, each of which is responsible for training a cohort of students. The school is led by a commanding officer, who is typically a Marine Corps colonel, and is supported by a staff of experienced officers and enlisted personnel, including Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeants and First Sergeants. The school is also supported by a range of external organizations, including the Marine Corps University and the Naval War College, which provide additional training and educational resources, such as the Marine Corps Command and Staff College and the Joint Forces Staff College. The school's organization is influenced by the Goldwater-Nichols Act and the Department of Defense's Joint Professional Military Education system.

Notable_Alumni

The Basic School has a long list of notable alumni, including many distinguished Marine Corps officers, such as General James Amos, General John Kelly, and General Joseph Dunford, who have gone on to serve in senior leadership roles, including the Commandant of the Marine Corps and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Other notable alumni include Medal of Honor recipients, such as Chesty Puller and Lee E. Phillips, as well as Navy Cross recipients, such as General Matthew Axelrod and General Lawrence Nicholson. The school's alumni have served in a range of conflicts, including World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the War on Terror, and have been influenced by the National Security Strategy and the Marine Corps Vision and Strategy 2025.

Training_Methods

The training methods used at The Basic School are designed to be challenging and immersive, with a focus on practical application of theoretical concepts. The school uses a range of training methods, including classroom instruction, field exercises, and simulations, similar to those used by the United States Army's National Training Center and the United States Navy's Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center. The school also places a strong emphasis on leadership development, with students participating in a range of leadership exercises and assessments, such as the Leadership Reaction Course and the Officer Leadership Course, which are influenced by the Marine Corps Leadership Development program and the Joint Professional Military Education system. The training is designed to prepare students for the challenges of leading Marine Corps units in combat, as seen in the Battle of Iwo Jima and the Battle of Fallujah, and is influenced by the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory and the Office of Naval Research.

Category:United States Marine Corps schools