USMC Manual - Individual Training Standards for Recruits

However, throughout Basic Training the term is used to describe a disciplinary principle whereby recruits are generally prohibited from walking anywhere alone. When traveling away from the platoon or a drill sergeant, recruits are expected to travel in pairs, known as battle buddies. Battle buddies are sometimes assigned, or can be chosen by recruits when the need to travel arises. A typical day in Basic Training generally follows this schedule.

Times can change depending on location, commanding officers or when drill sergeants see a need for variation. Every night, at least two recruits from the platoon must be awake at any given time, patrolling their barracks area, watching for fires, cleaning the barracks and watching for recruits attempting to leave the barracks area. They wake the next pair of recruits at the end of their one-hour shift. This duty is called fire guard.

Fire guard stems back to the days of wooden barracks and wood-burning stoves.

The fire guard would watch the stoves to make sure that the barracks would not catch fire. Since open flames are not generally used to heat sleeping areas any longer, present-day fire guard during Basic Training is more an exercise in discipline than a practical necessity, although if the weather gets cold enough, some groups conducting overnight outdoor training will still use a kerosene "pot bellied" stove which must be watched to prevent accidental fires.

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Charge of quarters , commonly called CQ, functions in a somewhat similar manner. CQ shifts rotate throughout the entire company, with just two recruits from the company staying awake per shift. The actual charge of quarters is the drill sergeant and the pair of recruits staying awake are the "runners", meaning that they perform tasks for the CQ. They perform some of the same duties as the fire guard shift. Only the CQ on duty is permitted to open the barracks doors and the runners must alert the CQ if someone else attempts to enter or leave the barracks.

For many hands-on instructional sessions, recruits are transported to other locations on-post that specialize in the given subject. For instance, a class on the use of the Claymore anti-personnel land mine is given at a location where a field is already set up with the appropriate props for the simulation, including fake claymores that recruits can practice on. Classes are also given in the use of the AT4 shoulder-fired anti-tank missile launcher. For this class, recruits are brought to a mock battlefield riddled with decommissioned tanks and other vehicles.

United States Army Basic Training

Each recruit fires a trainer AT4 weapon, loaded with tracer ammunition , at various targets on the battlefield. For weaponry training that involves only the use of fake weapons, one real demonstration of the actual weapon is usually performed. For example, at claymore training one real claymore may be rigged and remotely detonated; and at AT4 training one recruit usually the one with the highest rifle qualification score is chosen to fire a live AT4.

This program allows individuals to attend Basic Training during one summer, drill with their respective units once a month on weekends while attending school, and then attend Advance Individual Training after graduation. This enlistment option is popular among high school students who want to enlist right away while still attending school. Recruits requiring air transportation to their training locations are flown via commercial flight at the U.

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With some MOSs, both the BCT and AIT phases of training are accomplished back-to-back at the same location, with the same instructors, as well as with the same fellow recruits. A similar program is followed for cavalry scouts, tank crewmen, military police, field artillery and some engineer MOSs. Army has four sites for BCT: It typically lasts 4 to 10 days [6] and is where initial preparations for training are performed, including: The recruits who fail the physical assessment test can be held back at Reception Battalion, where they are placed in Fitness Training Company FTC , sometimes referred to in slang form as "Fat Camp.

Recruits in FTC are given two chances each week to complete the physical assessment test and upon passing are allowed to move on to the next phase of Basic Training. Recruits that spend four weeks in FTC without passing the physical assessment test failing the test eight times may be discharged from the Army via an Entry Level Separation see Discharge from Basic Training below. Recruits that sustain injuries during Basic Training, such as a broken arm, may also be assigned to a FTC for rehabilitation.

BCT is divided into three phases. The three phases are each represented by a color: BCT trainees are progressively allowed more responsibility, privileges and independence each time they achieve a new phase of training. Whereas trainees in Phase I are constantly monitored and led around by their drill sergeants, Phase III trainees are largely responsible for making sure tasks are completed correctly and on-time and keeping themselves on-schedule.

At some Basic Training stations, the current phase is denoted by the color of guidon carried by the platoon. Following the recruits' successful completion of the Field Training Exercise a final exercise just before graduation , the Phase III blue guidon is sometimes traded for a tri-color red, white and blue guidon that symbolizes successful completion of all three BCT phases. During Phase I or the "Red Phase," recruits are subject to "Total Control," meaning their every action is monitored and constantly corrected by drill sergeants. Recruits are often subjected to group corrective action for even minor infractions, the purpose being to develop an acute attention to detail and foster a sense of common responsibility among the unit.

Week 1 begins with the recruits meeting the drill sergeants who will be responsible for their training throughout BCT. The drill sergeants pick up their recruits from Reception Battalion and either transport or march them to their company area. The company area is the common area for the entire company recruits and is surrounded by four barracks —one for each platoon 50 recruits each in the company. Upon arrival at the company area, recruits are subjected to exercises such as the "bag drill.

Following the bag drill, the recruits are divided into platoons. Drill and ceremony training begins during week 1. For this and many other exercises, soldiers are sometimes issued fake rifles known as " rubber ducks ," so that they can become familiar with the proper handling and added weight of their weapon before they have actually been trained to use it. Classroom instructions are given in each of the seven "Army Core Values," which include loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage meant to spell out the mnemonic LDRSHIP, or leadership.

The training often culminates in a competition where each platoon chooses one recruit to compete. At gender-integrated training stations, the platoons each choose one male and one female.

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Recruits are also instructed in map reading, land navigation and compass use. These skills are put to the test at the compass course, where recruits are divided into groups and must navigate their way to a series of points throughout a wooded area. Victory Tower is an exercise where recruits must navigate through several obstacles at extreme heights, including climbing and traversing rope ladders and bridges.

They must then rappel down a foot wall back-first, with rope harness. In the Teamwork Development Course, squads must navigate a series of obstacles, with emphasis on working as a team rather than as individuals. Recruits are trained in evaluating and properly treating casualties, ranging from dressing a wound to application of a tourniquet and dehydration treatment. Recruits begin training with pugil sticks , methods for carrying an unconscious or immobile person and physical problem solving, such as finding a way to carry equipment from point A to point B given specific obstacles and constraints.

Recruits are also commonly sent to a gas chamber during this week, which is a large, sealed chamber where soldiers are subjected to CS gas while wearing their protective masks. The gas chamber is the culmination of a series of classroom instructions on gas mask use. Recruits are forced to unmask just before exiting the chamber so that they can briefly experience the effects of the gas.

Week 3 is also when the recruits are introduced to their standard-issue weapon, the M16A2 assault rifle or the M4 carbine. This does not yet involve the actual firing of the rifle. It highlights the advantages, disadvantages, and other critical factors every commander and staff member must consider during planning and execution of a raid operation.

FMFM Scouting and Patrolling for Infantry Units — File 1 This manual provides guidance to the individual Marine and Marine leaders from the fire team to the company level on scouting techniques and effective employment of Marines and Marine infantry units. Although the information is focused on infantry units rather than reconnaissance units, much of the information is applicable to reconnaissance units as well as combat service support and aviation units operating in the MAGTF rear area.

Information includes amphibious operations, helicopter-borne operations, offensive combat, defensive combat, patrolling, auxiliary operations, and counterinsurgency operations. File 1 This manual sets forth doctrine, tactics, and techniques to be employed in operations and training involving aviation assault support within the Fleet Marine Force. This manual also expands the doctrine, tactics, and techniques applicable to the employment of the assault transport function of Marine aviation contained in FMFM , Marine Aviation. File 1 This manual sets forth the doctrine, tactics, and techniques to be employed in engineer operations and training within the Fleet Marine Forces.

It covers the mission, organization, and principles of employment of engineer units in support of Fleet Marine Forces in amphibious operations and subsequent operations ashore. This manual also covers the organization and principles of employment of helicopter and helicopterborne units. FMFM Intelligence This manual sets forth information and guidance concerning the planning and execution of intelligence activities within the Marine Corps. It addresses intelligence staff organizations, functions, and responsibilities, including the direction, collection, processing, and dissemination of intelligence.

File 1 This manual is about military campaigning.

Culture of the United States Marine Corps

A campaign is a series of related military actions undertaken over a period of time to achieve a specific objective within a given region. Still not finding what you're looking for? Drop a comment on a post or contact us so we can take care of it! The primary target audience of this publication is intelligence personnel responsible for the planning and execution of CI operations.

A common view among Marines of the nature of war is a necessary base for the development of a cohesive doctrine. This manual provides the authoritative basis for how Marines fight and how they prepare to fight.