{"id":18089,"date":"2017-12-21T21:38:20","date_gmt":"2017-12-21T21:38:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2017\/12\/21\/new-basic-skills-test-for-all-marines-starts-in-2018\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T20:42:37","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T20:42:37","slug":"new-basic-skills-test-for-all-marines-starts-in-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2017\/12\/21\/new-basic-skills-test-for-all-marines-starts-in-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"New \u2018Battle Skills Test\u2019 for all Marines starts in 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It may have been a long time since you were a boot, but it\u2019s time to brush up on what you learned at the very beginning of your Marine Corps career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starting in January, Marines will be tested on 30 of the 178 common skills that recruits learn at boot camp and the School of Infantry or Marine Combat Training, the Corps announced on Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Marines \u2014from privates through general officers \u2014 will have to pass the Battle Skills Test annually, according to MARADMIN 693\/17<\/a>. The test will cover a variety of skills that fall in the following categories: basic infantry skills, communications, first aid, history, leadership and the Uniform Code of Military Justice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller approved the list of skills to be tested, which are useful for Marines in garrison and in battle, said Lt. Col. Stuart Glenn, of Training and Education Command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is the commandant directing units to be able to go back and do fundamental, basic Marine skills that they may not have in their training plans,\u201c Glenn told Marine Corps Times on Thursday. \u201cThe focus on this is not to be behind a computer or filling out Scantrons, but for NCOs to be training and evaluating their Marines at the small unit level.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t