Basic Officer Course
Gas, Gas, Gas
“Grass Week”

In Week 5, your Marine will advance their water survival skills with the Intermediate Swim Qualification and face the challenge of gas chamber training, building confidence in their equipment under intense conditions. They’ll also focus on weapons handling and marksmanship fundamentals during Grass Week, followed by a 5-mile hike and the Battle Sight Zero exercise to fine-tune their shooting accuracy.

Intermediate Swim Qualification

In Week 5, your Marine will continue to undergo the Intermediate Swim Qualification. This qualification is an essential part of their training, ensuring they possess the necessary water survival skills to operate effectively in maritime environments. This challenges them to demonstrate proficiency in various water survival techniques, further enhancing their readiness for any situation.

Gas Chamber Training

Next on the schedule is one of the more intense experiences  of gas chamber training. This training familiarizes Marines with the use of their Field Protective Masks and prepares them for potential chemical threats. The gas chamber experience is designed to build confidence in their equipment and their ability to operate under challenging conditions.

Weapons Handling and Grass Week

Next your Marine will focus on refining their weapons handling skills through in-depth safety classes. These sessions are essential for ensuring they fully understand the correct procedures and protocols for managing their assigned weapons safely and effectively. Mastery of these skills is vital, not only for their personal safety but also for the safety of their fellow Marines during operations. These classes lead directly into Grass Week, where your Marine will begin learning the fundamentals of Marine Corps marksmanship. During Grass Week, they will be introduced to proper firing positions and spend hours in the fields, sighting in on practice targets. This hands-on experience is critical, as it allows them to apply the principles they’ve learned while building the precision and discipline required for effective marksmanship.

5-Mile Hike and Zeroing Weapons

The week will conclude with  a 5-mile hike to and from the rifle range, where Marines will conduct a Battle Sight Zero (BZO) on their assigned weapons. This process ensures that their rifles are accurately calibrated to their shooting style and vision, enabling them to engage targets with precision.

As your Marine progresses through this rigorous week of training, they will continue to build the skills and confidence necessary to lead Marines in any environment. We look forward to sharing more about their journey in the weeks to come.

Semper Fidelis,
SgtMaj Paul Davis (USMC Ret)