The Marine Corps Basic School: A Seven-Month Journey of Physical, Academic, and Tactical Challenges for New Officers

The Basic School, located at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, is a rigorous seven-month training program that challenges new United States Marine Corps officers physically, academically, and tactically. Chief video correspondent Graham Flanagan recently spent five days inside the school, observing five different companies going through various stages of training.

One unique aspect of The Basic School is that Marine Corps officers are sometimes required to play the roles of enlisted Marines. This hands-on experience allows them to better understand the tasks that they will be commanding their subordinates to perform in the future. The goal is to ensure that officers have a thorough understanding of each role within the Marine Corps.

During The Basic School’s culminating exercise known as “The War,” students are divided into opposing forces and must use their strategic skills to battle for control of a simulated city. This final test is designed to push students to their limits and prepare them for the challenges they may face in real combat situations.

In addition to American students, The Basic School also hosts service members from other countries like Greece, the Bahamas, and the Netherlands who send their military personnel to train alongside American officers. This diverse environment provides a unique opportunity for international collaboration and learning while strengthening relationships between different military forces and promoting a shared understanding of military strategies and tactics.