The Basic school marine corps base quantico , VA

1. The Basic schoolmarine corps base quantico, VA 2ndLt Blackwell

2. The Basic School • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaqQ832CeT0 • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MALaF5giVrE&NR=1 The Basic School, Quantico, VA

3. What to bring • Everything on the packing list, plus: • All uniforms, including sword items • Many sets of rank insignia • Flashlights, cammie paint, heater pads and all other field related gear • Padlocks • Computer, printer, scanner / copier • Warming layers • Extra uniform items to give away to roommates • Professional reading material • Coffee maker The Basic School, Quantico, VA

4. TBS Scoring Breakdown • Leadership: Platoon, Company, and Tactical billets; command evaluations (done by your peers) • Squad-level done at halfway point • Platoon-level done at end of POI • SPC rating counts for 90% of overall rating • Leadership grade counts for 22% of total grade • Academics: ~11 Phase Exams distributed throughout the period of instruction (POI), two graded orders, two “surprise” exams (likely at night during FEX / after final E-course) • Military Skills: PFT, rifle range, pistol range, day and night land navigation, radio (PRC 119) test, weapons (M2, MK19, M240B, M249) disassembly and assembly testing • Constant observation The Basic School, Quantico, VA

5. Checking In: What to Expect • One week of in-processing • Lots of paperwork • Redundancy • Lost forms and documents • Late nights • Redundancy • Green jackets of death • Creative interpretation of USMC uniform and naval letter format regulations • Redundancy The Basic School, Quantico, VA

6. Checking in: What to expect • Barracks are at full capacity; expect 6+ persons to a room • Special emphasis on hygiene and cleanliness (read: field days) • Annotate barracks discrepancies when checking in • Phase exams occur throughout POI; ensure you are consistently up on your publications • 70% to pass • 75% or lower is marginal and may result in placement on supervised individual study program (SISP) • Below 75% academic GPA at end of POI will result in full recycle The Basic School, Quantico, VA

7. Zero Week • Swim qual • PFT • Arrive in top physical shape: cutoff for Alpha company pickup was around 240 PFT • 100 crunches and 20 pullups is standard • 20:00 minute PFT is in bottom 10% of company • Armory issue • Gear issue: ensure you have ALL GEAR The Basic School, Quantico, VA

8. Weeks 1-2: Rifle and Pistol Qual • Mandatory breakfasts • Early mornings / late nights • Humps to and from the range (2.2 miles each way) • Supplements, hydration, stretching • Attrition will occur due to range weeks The Basic School, Quantico, VA

9. Weeks 3-4: MCMAP & 3-Mile conditioning hump • Tan belt qualification • Grey-green-brown maintenance • First conditioning hump – come conditioned • Sort out gear issues early The Basic School, Quantico, VA

10. Week 5: Initial Uniform Inspection • Bring ALL uniform items • PX is located on base; uniform shop is downstairs • Marine Shop is an (expensive) option, but you can find uniform items for less • Convert your enlisted uniforms; first, ENSURE THAT THEY FIT The Basic School, Quantico, VA

11. Week 6: Land Nav I • Take time to do the calculations correctly the first time. Check and double-check • Ensure compass is accurate; use backup compass if possible • NO MATRICES • Land nav failures have remedial on Saturdays • Electrical tape your hand guards The Basic School, Quantico, VA

12. Week 7: 6 mile hump, Squad FEX • Ensure your boots are broken in • Prepare for blisters • Mandatory chow is mandatory for a reason • Enjoy introduction to weapons • Fam fire of M203, M249, M240B, and AT-4 simulator • Sign up for auxiliary weapons (SAW or M203) if you wish; be aware of collateral duties (weapons maintenance) • A lot of state-of-the art equipment; ensure you get hands-on experience, you may never touch it again (PAS-22, TOW sights) The Basic School, Quantico, VA

13. Week 8: FEX I • Five days, four nights in the field • Squad-level attack and defense tactics • Pack all required items • Recommended additional items include heater pads, pocket chow, bug spray • Tarp, not poncho • Bungee cords are worth their weight in gold • Pull lanyard on the gun line; don’t drink the “hero’s shot” The Basic School, Quantico, VA

14. Week 9: MOS mixer; 9-mile hump • Ensure all MOSs that you are interested in are represented. If not, track down their representatives in the Bull Pen • Ask all the questions that you need answered • Be wary of the “sale” • Ensure you are prepared for the hump The Basic School, Quantico, VA

15. Week 10: Patrol FEX, Final Land Nav • 800+ yard legs in TA-16 • There is no LZ Owl • Use good attack points (stream and road intersections if possible) • Keep legs a short as possible; this mitigates margin of error • There is no LZ Owl! • Early mornings / late nights on Patrol FEX • Ensure you are studied up on your patrol orders The Basic School, Quantico, VA

16. Week 11: CBRN Familiarization • Gas chamber • MOPP familiarization • “Iron man” competition an option The Basic School, Quantico, VA

17. Week 13: FEX II and R-11 • FEX II: Three days, two nights in the field • Final day: 5 miles hump with full gear back to Camp Barrett • Platoon defense and attack • Billet holders: Pick a Navigator that you trust • Bring your knee pads for R-11 The Basic School, Quantico, VA

18. Week 14-15: 12 mile hump, Day and Night land nav final remedial, MOS submission • Hydration and nutrition • Pass final land nav or you will do it with another company • Final MOS submission on MyMos The Basic School, Quantico, VA

19. Week 15-16: FEX III, MOS selection, 15 mile hump • FEX III: Four days, three nights in the field • Platoon-sized attack, platoon sized defense • Night-time attacks • CBRN defense • MOS selection: some will be happy, some disappointed, some a little bit sad • 15-mile hump: be hydrated, be rested, be chocked up on supplements • Two stress fractures, four 12+ square inch blisters • Two remedial hump persons from Fox company • 15-mile hump is a graduation requirement The Basic School, Quantico, VA

20. Week 17: Convoy Ops • Platoon-sized element in 10-vehicle convoy • Use your vehicle assets to your advantage • Don’t make your Marines move on foot longer than is necessary • Don’t abandon your Marines The Basic School, Quantico, VA

21. How to disembark a 7-ton • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJux5KzYG5Q The Basic School, Quantico, VA

22. Week 23: Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) • Longest field evolution (five days, four nights in MOUT hotel) • Platoon-sized defense, company sized-attacks • MILES gear • SESAMs gear • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sIW96aQk4A&feature=related • Hogan’s Alley: some of the best training in the world at the FBI academy The Basic School, Quantico, VA

23. Week 24: AAV Orientation, AMFEX • 19 tons of steel at 45 mph – 1.5 mpg • Tour of LSD • Two days, one night on board USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) • Guided tour with Navy staff • Practice sleeping in coffin • Ride on amphibious truck The Basic School, Quantico, VA

24. Weeks 25+Transition and Outprocessing • Classes in drill, joint operations, NCOs and SNCOs • Sword manual • Gear and weapons turn-in • SPC day • Mess night • Warrior day • Graduation The Basic School, Quantico, VA

25. Classroom Exercises • Sand table exercises (STEX): Chance to • Commit the time necessary when writing your orders. Never underestimate the effect of briefing a lousy order in front of your SPC – and your peers • Tactical decision games (TDGs) The Basic School, Quantico, VA

26. What to do • Get adjusted early. Buy all needed supplies early or you will be picking at what is left at the PX • Establish points of contact in senior companies for advice • Establish good rapport with SPCs • Keep your nose clean The Basic School, Quantico, VA

27. What to do (Cont’d) • In garrison, study religiously. In the field, execute aggressively • Always take notes • Ask questions if you don’t understand • This is not OCS. Do not be afraid to stand out • Take LOTS of pictures • Don’t lose your sense of humor • Enjoy yourself The Basic School, Quantico, VA

28. Libo • Within driving distance are Alexandria, Fredericksburg, Adams-Morgan, Washington DC • Stafford a nice sized town with popular, modern stores • “A” Company’s biggest problem was with liberty issues: 2 DUIs involving 4 Marine Officers, one UIP, 1 hit and run The Basic School, Quantico, VA

29. What not to do • Irresponsible alcohol consumption • Irresponsible activity with or without alcohol consumption • Gossip / estranging members of the platoon • Act OFP • Integrity issues • Lose your land nav card • Lose your room key • Lose your rifle key • Lose your rifle The Basic School, Quantico, VA

30. Set yourself up for success • Establish connections early • Establish rapport with roommates and members of the squad • Don’t be afraid to share your experiences, assets, and skills • Network but be responsible with your time The Basic School, Quantico, VA

31. Enjoy yourself! The Basic School, Quantico, VA

32. Saved Rounds? • Parking • Fraternization • “Officership” The Basic School, Quantico, VA