Global Leadership: A Journey through The Basic School at Marine Corps Base Quantico

The rigorous seven-month program at the Basic School in Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, is designed to train newly commissioned second lieutenants for leadership roles in the United States Marine Corps. This comprehensive training challenges officers both physically, academically, and tactically. Chief video correspondent Graham Flanagan spent five days inside the school observing five different companies at various stages of training.

During their time at The Basic School, officers are trained to lead enlisted Marines in combat scenarios. One aspect of this training involves officers taking on the roles of enlisted Marines to gain firsthand experience in the tasks they will later delegate to their subordinates. The culminating event of the program is The War, where students are divided into opposing forces and must strategically battle to seize and defend a city.

What makes The Basic School unique is its diversity in attendance, with American service members joining officers from countries like Greece, the Bahamas, and the Netherlands. This international perspective adds a valuable dimension to the training program and offers insights into the intense and comprehensive training that new Marine Corps officers undergo as they prepare for leadership roles in the field.