Basic School - Definition and Overview

The Basic School or TBS is where all newly commissioned United States Marine Corps officers are sent to learn the art and science of being a Marine officer. Held in Quantico, Virginia and currently lasting six months, the new officers are given extensive classroom and field training on subjects ranging from weapons and tactics to leadership and protocol. Whether commissioned from the Naval Academy (a maximum of 16 and 2/3 percent of each Academy graduating class may opt to become Marines), ROTC or one of the OCS routes, TBS is the first stop for new Marine officers. During TBS, the officers are selected for an "MOS", or Military Occupational Specialty ranging from Infantry to Military Police to Air Traffic Controller. Following TBS, the "Basic Officer" will attend one or more additional schools to be trained in that particular specialty prior to being assigned to a unit in the "FMF" or Fleet Marine Force.