The Global Marine Corps Basic School: A Seven-Month Odyssey for Future Commanders

The Marine Corps Basic School is a rigorous seven-month program designed to train newly commissioned second lieutenants. This program challenges officers physically, academically, and tactically to prepare them for the leadership roles they will undertake in the future. Chief video correspondent Graham Flanagan spent five days inside The Basic School at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, observing five different companies in various stages of training.

During their time at The Basic School, Marine Corps officers are trained to lead enlisted Marines in combat scenarios. This includes taking on the roles of enlisted Marines themselves to gain firsthand experience in the tasks they will later delegate to their subordinates. The climax of the program is ‘The War’, where students are divided into opposing forces and must strategically battle to seize and defend a city.

In addition to American service members, The Basic School also hosts officers from countries like Greece, the Bahamas, and the Netherlands. This diversity in attendance adds an international perspective to the training program. Through their experiences at The Basic School, these officers gain valuable insights into the intense and comprehensive training that new Marine Corps officers undergo as they prepare for leadership roles in combat zones around the world.