TheSchool of Infantry (SOI) is the second stage of initial military training for enlistedUnited States Marines afterrecruit training. The ITB (Infantry Training Battalion) now called IMC (Infantry Marine Course) went from a 59-day course to 14 week course. Since the initial training pipeline is divided between coasts, Marines from areas east of theMississippi River usually graduate fromMCRD Parris Island and move on to SOI atSOI East (located atCamp Geiger, a satellite facility ofCamp Lejeune inNorth Carolina), while those from the western half of the nation attendMCRD San Diego and move on toSOI West at the Camp San Onofre area ofCamp Pendleton inCalifornia. Female Marines are trained at both SOI East and SOI West.[1] The School of Infantry's training mission ensures "Every Marine is, first and foremost, aRifleman". At SOI, Marines with theMilitary Occupational Specialty ofinfantry (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.
Prior to 1953, there was no formal infantry training in the Marine Corps, and all Marines received combat training atrecruit training. The Marine Corps established Infantry TrainingRegiments at Camp Lejeune and Camp Pendleton in that year. Between 1954 and 1966, all Marines received 13 weeks of Boot Camp (Basic Training) and 8 weeks of Infantry Training Regiment (ITR) regardless of their Primary Military Occupational Specialty (MOS), growing out of the philosophy that all Marines are riflemen first. Because of manpower demands for Vietnam, in 1966 Boot Camp training was reduced from 13 weeks to 8 weeks, and ITR was reduced from 8 weeks to 4 weeks. However, by late 1968 these were returned to their 13-week and 8 week lengths, as manpower demands were satisfied by recruiting efforts, as well as by Selective Service inductees volunteering for a Marine Corps option.
In 1971, infantry skills training for non-infantry Marines was folded into recruit training and entailed only 60 training hours. During the late 1970s and through the 1980s, 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 1989 to teach rifleman skills to all male Marines. In 1996, the2nd Marine Division disbanded Division Schools, passing the role of advanced infantry training to the newly established Advanced Infantry Training Company at the SOI. Prior to 1997, only male Marines were trained at SOI schools; females went directly to their MOS schools.
The training is accomplished with a combination of classroom instruction, hands-on practical application, and live-fire experience. 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.
The Infantry Training Battalion's mission is to train and qualify Marines in entry level infantry military occupational specialties to provide theOperating Forces andMarine Forces Reserve with Marines capable of conducting expeditionary combat operations.
Infantry Training Battalion was a 59-day training course 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 incombat marksmanship, use ofgrenades, identifying and counteringimprovised explosive devices,convoy operations,Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT),tactical formations,land navigation, andpatrolling. Afterward, Marines receive instruction specific to their infantry MOS, regardingmachine guns,mortars,reconnaissance, oranti-tank warfare. The training cycle includes physical conditioning via physical training, conditioning marches, and sustainment training in theMarine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP). Leadership traits and the application of thecore values in every aspect of the Marine's life are also emphasized.
Starting in January 2021, the Infantry Training Battalion underwent a restructure of its 59-day training cycle, informally called the Basic Infantry Marine (BIM) Course, to the current 14 week Infantry Marine Course (IMC).[2] This was done in accordance withForce Design 2030, that seeks to have basic entry level Marines trained to a higher level than their BIM cycle counterparts by requiring a ground level course structure for all Marines training for the MOS0311 and then having a more advance course for Marines training in the MOS0331,0341, and 0352. Infantry Marines are not only expected to know the previous skills from the BIM cycle but are now also expected to be entry level trained in the roles of other infantry MOS's and other fieldcraft and demolitions skills. Upon completion of the Infantry Marine Course, Marines earn the MOS 0311 before being sent off to theFleet Marine Force as an MOS 0311 or continue on to an addition school to be trained in a different MOS in the 0300 Occupational Field. Marines that are designated as MOS 0331, 0341, or 0352 are sent to the Infantry Weapons Course (IWC) to begin training as either a machine gunner, mortarman, or anti-tank guided missleman for an additional 4 weeks of training in those MOS roles.
Marine Combat Training (MCT) is a 29-day course 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 theAN/PRC-119 radio, reportingmilitary intelligence, land navigation, and the use of hand grenades, theM203 grenade launcher,M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, andM240 machine gun. Training also includes combat conditioning by running anobstacle course, conducting marches, physical training, and MCMAP. Upon completion of MCT, the Marine is to have gained the knowledge and ability to operate in a combat environment as a basic rifleman and to perform their primary duties under fire.
 | This sectiondoes notcite anysources. Please helpimprove this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged andremoved.(August 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
The Advanced Infantry Training Battalion (AITB) conducts additional training for those infantry Marines who have an MOS other than 0311, as well as 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.
This article incorporatespublic domain material from websites or documents of theUnited States Marine Corps.
| Leadership |
|  | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major commands | |||||
| Auxiliary | |||||
| Structure | |||||
| Personnel and training |
| ||||
| Uniforms and equipment | |||||
| History and traditions |
| ||||
