United States Marine Corps School of Infantry 1 United States Marine Corps School of Infantry
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United States Marine Corps School of Infantry 1 United States Marine Corps School of Infantry The School of Infantry (SOI) is the second stage of initial military training for enlisted United States Marines after Recruit Training. Since the initial training pipeline is divided between coasts, Marines from areas east of the Mississippi River usually graduate from MCRD Parris Island and move on to SOI at SOI East (located at Camp Geiger, a satellite facility of Camp Lejeune in North Carolina), while those from the western half of the nation attend MCRD San Diego and move on to SOI West at the Camp San Onofre area of Camp Pendleton in California. Female Marines are an exception, all of whom go through MCRD Parris Island and SOI East. The School of Infantry's training mission ensures "Every Marine is, first and foremost, a Rifleman". At SOI, Marines with the Military Occupational Specialty of infantry (0300 occupational field) are trained at the Infantry Training Battalion (ITB), while all non-infantry Marines are trained in basic infantry and combat skills at the Marine Combat Training Battalion (MCT Bn). SOI marks a transition in the professional training of entry-level students from basically trained Marines to combat-ready Marines. History Prior to 1953, there was no formal infantry training in the Marine Corps, and all Marines received combat training at recruit training. The Marine Corps established Infantry Training Regiments at Camp Lejeune and Camp Pendleton in that year. Between 1965 & 1971, Marines assigned a non-infantry specialty were receiving only two weeks of Infantry Combat Training while their infantry counterparts were training for four to six weeks. In 1971, infantry skills training for non-infantry Marines was folded into recruit training and entailed only 60 training hours. During the late 70's & 80's Marines assigned an Infantry MOS went to Infantry Training School, commonly referred to as "ITS". This lasted until the Marine Corps established Marine Combat Training as a 28-day course in 1988 to teach rifleman skills to all male Marines. In 1996, the 2nd Marine Division disbanded Division Schools, passing the role of advanced infantry training to the newly established Advanced Infantry Training Company at the School of Infantry (SOI). Prior to 1997, only male Marines were trained at SOI schools; females went directly to their MOS schools. Training The training is accomplished with a combination of classroom instruction, hands-on practical application, and live-fire evolutions. The Marine Combat Instructors at SOI provide continuity and consistency in the continuum of training and mentoring entry-level Marines. Also trained at the SOI, these instructors began earning the MOS 0913 (formerly MOS 8513) in 2003. Infantry Training Battalion The Infantry Training Battalion's mission is to "train and qualify Marines in entry level infantry military occupational specialties [in order to] provide the Operating Forces and Reserve Component with Marines capable of ITB logo conducting expeditionary combat operations." Infantry Training Battalion is a 59-day training course (prior to September 2007, it was 52 days[1]) that develops new Marines into infantrymen "who can fight, survive, and win in a combat situation". The first two weeks are a common skills package that all infantry MOSs share, where Marines receive instruction in combat marksmanship, use of grenades, identifying and countering improvised explosive devices, convoy operations, Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT), tactical formations, land navigation, and patrolling. Afterward, Marines receive instruction specific United States Marine Corps School of Infantry 2 to their infantry MOS, regarding machineguns, mortars, reconnaissance, LAV-25s, or anti-tank warfare. The training cycle includes physical conditioning via physical training, conditioning hikes, and sustainment training in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program. Leadership traits and the application of the core values in every aspect of the Marine's life are also emphasized. Marine Combat Training Marine Combat Training is a 29-day course (prior to September 2007 it was 22 days) in which entry-level non-infantry Marines are taught the common skills needed in combat. Marines learn the basics of combat marksmanship, counter-improvised explosive device techniques, how to conduct the defense of a position, convoy operations, combat formations, fireteam assaults, patrolling, MOUT, use of the AN/PRC-119 radio, reporting military intelligence, land navigation, and the use of hand grenades, the M203 grenade launcher, AT-4 Rocket Launcher, M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, and M240 A combat instructor from Company E teaches a group of students the fundamentals of patrolling machine gun. Training also includes combat conditioning by running an obstacle course, conducting hikes, physical training, and Marine Corps Martial Arts Program. Upon completion of Marine Combat Training, the Marine is to have gained the knowledge and ability to operate in a combat environment as a basic rifleman and to perform his or her primary duties under fire. Advanced Infantry Training Battalion The Advanced Infantry Training Battalion (AITB), conducts not only additional training for those infantry Marines who have an MOS other than 0311, but advanced skills, MOS validation, leadership, and qualifications to infantry Marines who have advanced in their careers. The East and West coast stations have slightly different subordinate units. • The Light Armored Vehicle Training Company trains entry-level infantry MOS-qualified Armored Vehicle crewmen and trains Marines in the Marine Corps Combat Instructor infantry officers and SNCOs in the tactical employment of the Light Course fire the AT-4 as part of their training to Armored Vehicle, and awards the MOSs 0313 and 0303. become the instructors of Marine Combat Training and Infantry Training Battalion. • The Reconnaissance Training Company mentors and safely trains Marines in reconnaissance skills, in preparation for assignment to a reconnaissance unit. Graduates of the Basic Reconnaissance Course are awarded the MOS 0321. • The Scout Sniper Basic Course provides instruction in advanced marksmanship with the M40A1 sniper rifle and the M82A1A Special Application Scoped Rifle, small bore marksmanship training with the M40, and qualification with the M9 pistol. Instruction includes stalking and concealment techniques, range estimation, observation techniques, hide construction, land navigation, mantracking, field communications, selection and United States Marine Corps School of Infantry 3 occupation of positions, field sketch, observation log, range card, and patrol log construction and maintenance, terrain model construction, and night/thermal imaging device usage and anti-detection techniques (ADT). Tactical instruction includes detailed mission planning, preparation and conduct, scout-sniper employment, patrolling, and collecting and reporting information. • The Infantry Squad Leaders Course is designed to provide Marine Noncommissioned Officers (NCOs) with the required skills and knowledge to be an infantry squad leader. A Marine receives training in rifleman core competencies, war-fighting and decision making, troop leading procedures, advanced land navigation, how to call for indirect fire, small unit training, communications, infantry rifle company crew-served weapons, munitions and Martial Arts Instructor Trainer with pyrotechnics, scouting and patrolling, defensive and offensive tactics and Black Belt techniques. • The Infantry Mortars Leaders Course trains Marines to serve as a section leader for the M224 Mortar section of an infantry weapons platoon or to serve as a squad leader, plotter, or section leader for an M252 Mortar platoon in an infantry weapons company. • The Infantry Machinegun Leaders Course provides Marines with the knowledge and skills required to serve as a machinegun squad leader for a machinegun section of an infantry weapons platoon, or to serve as a heavy machinegun squad leader, or a heavy machinegun section leader for a heavy machinegun platoon of an infantry weapons company. • The Infantry Anti-Tank Missileman Leaders Course is designed to provide Marines with the knowledge and skills required to perform as a FGM-148 Javelin squad leader, team leader, and gunner and as an anti-tank missileman squad leader or section leader in an anti-armor platoon or a Combined Anti-Armor Team (CAAT) platoon in an infantry weapons company. • The Infantry Assaultman Leaders Course provides a Marine with the knowledge and skills required to serve as an assaultman squad leader for an assaultman section of an infantry weapons platoon. • The Infantry Unit Leaders Training Company provides skill progression training to ensure Staff Noncommissioned Officers (SNCOs) are proficient in advanced infantry skills, developed in their decision making process, making practical use of their infantry experience, and equipped to assume increased levels of responsibility for infantry unit leadership. The course provides instruction in machinegunnery, mortar gunnery, anti-armor operations, Marine Corps leadership, Marine Corps planning process, law of land warfare, anti-terrorism and force protection, written communications, verbal communications, Uniform Code of Military Justice, and personnel administration, section and platoon leadership, platoon/company defensive and offensive tactics, platoon patrolling, and fire support to leaders in the MOSs of 0369, 0302, and 0306. • The Mobile