As a journalist, I had the opportunity to spend five days at the Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, observing the rigorous seven-month Basic School program designed to train newly commissioned second lieutenants in the United States Marine Corps. The program challenges officers physically, academically and tactically to prepare them for the leadership roles they will assume in the future.
Chief Video Correspondent Graham Flanagan also spent time at the Basic School, taking part in various stages of training alongside five different companies. During their time there, Marine officers are trained to lead attached Marines in combat scenarios. This involves officers assuming the roles of Marines themselves to gain first-hand experience in the tasks they will later delegate to their subordinates.
The culminating event of the Elementary School is War, a skirmish where students are divided into opposing forces and must strategically fight to capture and defend a city. This intense and comprehensive training program prepares new Marine Corps officers for their future leadership roles as they prepare to lead their fellow Marines on the battlefield.
In addition to American service members, the Basic School also hosts officers from countries such as Greece, Bahamas and Netherlands. This diversity adds a unique international perspective to the training program, providing insights into how different cultures approach military leadership and tactics. Overall, it was fascinating to observe this intensive training program and learn about what goes into preparing these future leaders for combat scenarios.