Increasing Close Combat Lethality: The Infantry Training We Always Wanted
by Capt Joseph C. DiPaola
“Groups of foot soldiers remain to this day among the most powerful and influential forces on the battlefield. The Infantryman has been, continues to be and will remain a durable element of the battlefield even as technologies and combat environments changes.”
As our force structure changes in accordance with Force Design 2030 (FD 2030), the Corps is quickly adapting its infantry training to create a force capable of conducting a wide array of missions such as littoral operations in a contested environment and expeditionary advanced based operations. The Infantry Marines trained in the 8-week Basic Infantry Course (BIM) and 13-week Infantry Officer Course (IOC) is simply not trained and or possess the required skills to effectively operate in a distributed manner across the world’s littoral regions, with a specific focus on the Indo-Pacific Area of Responsibility (AOR). Achieving this end is one of our Commandant’s foremost priorities. “Success on future battlefield as a distributed stand-in force will require our Marines to be more physically fit and cognitively mature, with a higher level of operational experience”. As such, the infantry community must seize the opportunity to modernize its entry level training, for both enlisted and officers to develop a far more capable close combat infantry Marine. This requires our Corps to adapt and modernize Infantry training to create a more elite, professional and a capable warfighter to prevent lessons learned through bloodshed.
Background. The recent conflict in Ukraine has shown us that the killing power of conventional weapons has increased the ability of weapons to hit close from a further distance and inflict greater casualties. Our enemy is adapting to avoid detection while sensors are increasingly capable of finding armored vehicles, artillery, logistic and communication nodes. Simply put, the more systems mass, the likelier they are to be sensed, seen, and subsequently killed. The recent Nagorno-Karabakh conflict offered a glimpse of the increased lethality of loitering munitions against vehicles and equipment in the open. Such “unmanned” munitions – employed by Azerbaijani infantrymen proficient in their ability to find and destroy the enemy with loitering munitions proved critical to breaking the will of Azerbaijani’s foe. As was the case at the start of the last century, war’s character is changing dramatically.
Leveraging technology through the utilization of sensors with battlefield surveillance and target acquisition is already making offensive and maneuver warfare costlier and more difficult. Our enemy is adapting to our technology and material. Adversaries counter Americas killing power and way of war by leveraging technologies such as cell phones, sensors, rockets, and missiles.
Much like in Ukraine, it is important to note that our enemies understand that information is key to warfare as they leverage global media to shape the operating environment and highlight battlefield transgressions. A shift in the character of war creates challenges for our Infantry as we will have to fight offensively across all domains against overwhelming firepower. Infantry Marines will have to operate dispersed and distributed to limit the vulnerability of being sensed and exposed to long range fires. Operating dispersed will require a more mature and capable force that must remain cohesive across vast distances. Infantry Marines must re-learn tactical dispersion, understand electronic deception, excel at the art of camouflage, and proficiently mass fires utilizing emerging technologies to have devastating effects at greater distances without being detected. Our Corps must quickly adapt and modernize Infantry training to create a more elite, professional and a capable warfighter.
Adapting for the Future. The 38th Commandants Planning Guidance (CPG) and Force Design 2030 (FD2030) provided direction to “increase our up-front, entry-level training investment...to develop...the capabilities envisioned-including the multi-disciplinary infantry approach”. To this end, MajGen Alford, Commanding General of Training Command stated “it’s time we make our enlisted Infantry training on par with our Infantry officer training. Our Infantry Officer training must adapt so officers are able to lead dispersed and distributed units across all war-time domains.” To meet his intent, Training Command has focused all of its efforts to create more lethal and resilient infantry Marines and with the School of Infantry’s support, they established higher physical and mental standards for enlisted Marines. The Commandant has stated while speaking openly about FD2030 changes that Infantry Marines need to be more “Ranger like” and or “SOF like”. The 75th Ranger Regiment sustains its training of entry level soldiers during RASP I by maintaining a codified 75th Ranger Regiment physical standard regardless of going through assessment and selection and or serving in the operational Ranger Regiment. To maintain a culture of accountability the Regiment has a codified and strict pipeline based on rank/grade for continuous validation of standards. Not only are Ranger Standards validated in the RASP process, but Rangers are also annually tested to ensure they achieve Ranger Standards through following:
Ranger Fitness Test (RFT): 59 push-ups, 69 sit-ups, 5 mile run in less than 40 minutes and 6 chin-ups
Armed Forces Classification Test (AFCT)
12mi Ruck March: 35lbs dry w/ ruck, individual weapon, in less than 3 hours
Ranger Physical Assessment Test (RPAT)
Now, in order to become an Infantry Marine, entry level enlisted Marines graduating from the new IMC must have higher physical standards (1st class PFT/CFT), be water survival intermediate, pass the shallow water egress trainer (SWET), a 20km Force March in five hours and pass the combat endurance assessment, which features a single obstacle course, 10km ruck run with 35 pounds dry and rifle and maneuver under fire with helmet, plate carrier with SAPI and weapon. Finally, students must complete the culminating warfighting exercise where entry level students fight against a multi-domain threat which encompasses all previously taught infantry behaviors and skills. Marines who cannot complete these requirements simply will be re-designated to another Military Occupational Specialty (MOS). This is the first-time physical standards set forth for our enlisted Infantry Marine prior to arriving to the fleet.
The Infantry Marine Course (IMC) developed by the schools of Infantry replaces the Basic Infantry Marine Course (BIM) and improves the technical competence and capability of the basic infantry Marine while fostering maturity through experienced based learning. The higher physical standards and improved instructional methodologies applied during the IMC are critical to creating a more capable, mature, and professional Infantry Marine. The increased duration of entry level Infantry training has set conditions for students to qualify in the advanced marksmanship training program, tactical combat casualty care, water survival intermediate and basic underwater egress training as well as increased training that includes the addition of medium machine guns, rockets, demolitions, communications, and signature management to better meet the requirements for the envisioned multi-disciplinary Infantry Marine approach. All Infantry Marines will attend the IMC and then a select few will attend follow on specialized weapons training based on suitability, competency and aptitude. These Marines will attend an additional 4 weeks of training to include training on heavy machineguns, mortars, and the Javelin in order to prepare Marines for serving in a specialty Infantry MOS to best fulfill roles in what MajGen Alford has described as the Hunter Killer Platoon. The Marine Corps is still identifying how to modernize the infantry company as it re-structures for FD2030 as the CMC has directed continued experimentation so that all proposed changes to the infantry battalion should remain subject to scrutiny and additional change if deemed necessary.
The IMC reinforces the instructor to student relationship to foster cohesion, reduces student to instructor ratios and employs learner-centric or adult learning techniques such as giving the students increased responsibilities in an effort to build their decision-making skills. Combat instructors are assigned as squad leaders rather than troop handlers and actively serve as a squad leader for the same 14 Marines for the entire course. The role of the combat instructor is key to the success of IMC as they exemplify and demonstrate the relationship between an Infantry Marine and his/her squad leader in the FMF. Now, the Combat Instructors have a vested interest in their squad’s success during IMC and fosters the leadership and cohesion expected out of a close combat infantry unit in the FMF.
The Infantry Officer Course (IOC) creates the most technically and tactically proficient Infantry Marine in the Marine Corps. Despite its past success, IOC has also adapted to better meet the demands of the future fight as MajGen Scales states “We must create a body of officers who lead and follow by intent, who fight with intuition, who can “see” the battlefield before battle begins, and who can operate alone without equivocation or uncertainty”. Entry level infantry officers, as always, must graduate with passing graded events in leadership, military skills and academics but additionally student officers must achieve a 1st class PFT and CFT, pass the SWET, complete all the physically demanding requirements from IOC but unlike IMC, student officers at IOC are required to pass Water Survival Advanced training. The improved Infantry Office Course (IOC) is now creating an elite infantry officer who is more lethal, survivable and capable of leading infantry units conducting distributed operations in a littoral environment. The improved course increased skill acquisition levels while reducing student attrition. The course has been lengthened from 13 to 15 weeks, allowing three iterations per year vice the current four. The new course incorporates more teaching/mentoring and event de-briefs to
include how to conduct tough realistic training by implementing a training management mindset. Individual skills are developed and evaluated via the combat endurance test, tactical movements, physical tactical decision games, Water Survival Advanced and aquatic tactical games. Decision making opportunities are increased to emphasize a bias for action, critical thinking, distributed operations and mission tactics throughout the POI. The recent addition of two more weeks challenges the students in the Culminating Exercise which provides increased training opportunities testing/evaluating the student officers in various scenarios with an uncertain environment to operate in a dispersed and distributed manner across unfamiliar terrain against a near-peer enemy.
The Value Proposition. The Marine Corps investment in additional manpower for IMC, funding, equipment and facilities will dramatically increase the enlisted Infantry Marines’ technical and tactical proficiency, maturity, and subsequently is creating a disciplined, motivated, fight-tonight capable Marines with a mature positive attitude. Additionally, early indicators from the IMC (some Marines still executing BIM) have shown fewer discipline issues, such as a reduction in students dropping from legal, mental health (suicide ideations) and refusals to train regardless of the IMC being twice as long, significantly more mentally and physically demanding in comparison to the 8-week legacy BIM. The SOIs require additional manpower in instructors, support personnel and equipment to fully implement IMC on both coasts to be fully operationally capable with all entry level Marines going through the IMC. Increased requirements for training require the additional equipment, infrastructure, vehicles, support personnel (armory, communications, and ammunition, supply) and appropriate number of combat instructors to create the training we need and the Commandant has asked for.
At the Infantry Marine Course (IMC), as a result of the combat instructor serving as the squad leader for 14 entry level Infantry Marines during the entire course, the squad leader provides a positive tactical role model and fosters real buy in from students. The relationship created from the squad leader and their entry level Marines is similar to that of what is expected from our NCOs serving as squad leaders in the Fleet Marine Force. This change to training/instructing methodology has developed trust, confidence and a learning environment where students can make decisions, as well as learn and take ownership of their training and education. Looking forward, SOIs at graduation seek to ship graduates as cohorts and squads to the same FMF unit which amplifies unit integration, culture and performance of FMF units. Combat instructors serving as squad leaders are also better prepared for their roles as squad leaders in the FMF as they are intimately familiar with how to properly conduct tough realistic training while understanding risk management, operating independently while leading and training a rifle squad and increased technical and tactical proficiency by demonstrating competency in instructing the entirety of the IMC POI.
Recent feedback across the FMF and supporting establishments from the squad to battalion and even the regimental level have highlighted the benefits of IMC graduates through informal and formal feedback to SOI.
“The battalion received 107 Marines the week before deploying to Bridgeport from the first west coast Infantry Marine Course. To be specific, Mountain Exercise was their first field training exercise they had conducted, period. Without question, there was a tangible improvement with their tactical acumen, physical fitness and enhanced field skills. In fact, they outperformed many of their senior Lance Corporals that have been in the unit longer. Additionally, we had very few casualties throughout this training. We average approximately 25 CASEVACs per Mountain Exercise. The majority are from Marines not being physically or mentally tough enough to endure the hardships and pain of conducting movement under load at altitude in Cold Weather / complex terrain.”
The focus of effort by The Basic School and IOC to adapt its Infantry officer training with the new IOC POI is creating a more elite Infantry officer in accordance with the CMC’s intent to develop officers with mastery of individual’s skills and the ability to lead and train Infantry units to accomplish Force Design 2030 missions made evident in the expanded patrolling exercises, amphibious operations including exposure to the amphibious combat vehicle, water-borne operations, unmanned aircraft systems integration, signature management and a new force on force culminating exercise against a multi-domain threat in an austere, expeditionary and distributed operating environment.
Summary. The Marine Corps is at an inflection point in its history and the Infantry is poised to lead the way into the future with a tactically sound, historically grounded, and a more capable Infantry Marine to operate in the future operating environment. IMC and IOC are increasing the tactical lethality needed to confront a peer competitor or irregular force without presenting an easily exploitable vulnerability from either enemy. The Marine Corps must accelerate the investment in the infrastructure to support such training, and the required personnel to train our Marines going through IMC, IOC, and subsequent advanced infantry training courses and continue to sustain it throughout full implementation of IMC.
What you need to know and what is required from current Infantry Commanders and unit leaders in the FMF is to fight to send its best and brightest Infantry Marines to serve as combat instructors at the IMC and more importantly adapt to the increased quality of infantry Marines they are receiving in the FMF. You will immediately identify which Marines in your unit have graduated from IMC and those who have graduated from BIM. IMC Marines need to continue to be challenged upon arriving to the fleet, held to higher standards and led the same way they received training at IMC. They are more capable, mature and ready to handle the challenges of the future fight. The Marine Corps must always remain adaptable and agile and we are adapting our Infantry training and expectations through competencies as well as outcome based training for our young Marines to operate in the future operating environment.
Much like the 75th Ranger Regiment has done with its physical standards in its assessment/selection process and in the operational unit, the Marine Corps headed by Plans, Policies, and Operations ought to consider taking the same physical standards set forth at IMC/IOC and implement them across the Divisions for all Infantry Marines. This will sustain increased physical preparedness, increases individual readiness and collectively will make the Marine Corps Infantry better physically prepared for the future operating environment. We should provide nothing less from our Infantry Marines preparing to close the last 300m. We owe them everything.
The IMC and new IOC POI is not only in line with the CMC planning guidance; it is a force multiplier for our combat effectiveness and efficiency in support of Naval Concepts such as littoral operations in a contested environment and expeditionary advanced based operations. Both the officer and enlisted entry level Infantry courses offer a way to elevate the combined arms effects and lethality of the future infantry company through increased weapons proficiency, decision making, and maturity as well as maneuver flexibility.
Works Cited
-Ahmed Hashim, Development of the Squad: Historical Analysis (Alexandria: Virginia, Center for Naval Analyses, 2000). -Captain John J. Forgione, “Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance in the Baltics,” student paper, (Maxwell AFB: AL, Squadron officer School, 2021).
-Training Command. (2021). Information Paper: 14-week Infantry Marine Course Update
-Training Command (2021). Information Paper: Improved Infantry Officer Course -Training Command. (2022). Information Paper: The Infantry Marine Couse and Its Impact on Maturing the Force
Capt DiPaola is an Infantry Officer and recent instructor at The Basic School. He currently serves as the ADC to MajGen Alford; Commanding General, Training Command. He can be reached at joseph.dipaola@usmc.mil.