R 211500Z DEC 17
MARADMIN 693/17
MSGID/GENADMIN/CG MCCDC QUANTICO VA//
SUBJ/IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REVISED BATTLE SKILLS TEST PROGRAM//
REF/A/DOC/NAVMC 3500.18C 2017//
NARR/REF A IS THE ENTRY LEVEL TRAINING AND READINESS MANUAL.//
POC/S.W. GLENN/LTCOL/TECOM MTESD/QUANTICO VA/TEL: 703-784-3038/EMAIL: STUART.GLENN@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  The purpose of this Marine Administrative Message (MARADMIN) is to provide the total force with guidance to implement the Battle Skills Test (BST) program.
2.  Situation.  The Marine Corps invests significant time and resources on entry level training.  Recruits and officer candidates are introduced to critical skills that serve as the foundation for success in peace and in war.  These skills are further reinforced as Marines attend their military occupational specialty (MOS) producing schools.  It is imperative today, as it has been throughout the Corps history, for all Marines, regardless of MOS or rank, to sustain these skills.  The Marine Corps will employ the BST program to ensure all Marines sustain basic combat skills and knowledge to be successful on the battlefield.
3.  Mission.  Effective 1 January 2018, the total force will conduct the training and evaluation of 30 tasks designated in the BST program in order to sustain skills common for all Marines.
4.  Execution
4.A.  Commanders Intent.  The BST Program provides a structured approach for the service to ensure all Marines sustain proficiency in 30 of the 178 common skills taught during entry level training.  The program will emphasize training using a leader-led, face-to-face approach.  Small unit leaders (noncommissioned officers and above) will be the primary trainers and evaluators.  Marines, private through general, will annually demonstrate their mastery of these common skills.  Commanders will have flexibility in their approach to training and evaluating their units.
4.B.  Concept of Operations.  The BST Program effectively begins 1 January 2018 as a calendar year requirement.  However, commanders can immediately start incorporating BST training into their unit training plans and are encouraged to begin preparing their small unit leaders to conduct and evaluate the 30 common skills.  Training support packages (TSP) and associated performance evaluation checklists for each of the 30 BST skills are online to assist small unit leaders.  The TSPs provide small unit leaders the required information, performance steps, and evaluation criteria to facilitate leader-led training.  The training is designed to be conducted in any environment from garrison to field, on the flight line, in the motor pool, maintenance bay, or on ship.  Units may find that many of these skills are already embedded in their unit training plan, thereby minimizing the impact of the BST Program.  Commanders determine how and when the training and evaluation will occur throughout the calendar year.  Options range from training and evaluation over the course of a year to training throughout the year and then consolidating evaluation into a culminating event to foster esprit de corps.  For example, training and evaluation can be combined in a teach it, test it method where Marines are evaluated immediately after the training is conducted, or Marines can be trained and then evaluated on a later date.  All Marines have previously been taught these skills during entry level training, thus the expectation is that Marines have the ability to easily refresh and sustain these skills.  However, if unable to pass, Marines will have multiple opportunities to remediate.  Commanders have the entire calendar year to ensure their Marines train and pass all 30 of the skills, and will ensure that training is recorded.
4.C.  Coordinating Instructions
4.C.1.  Commanders will include the BST Program in their commanders training guidance, training plans, and training records.
4.C.2.  Commanders are responsible for the accurate reporting of training in the Individual Marine Management (IMM) module in Marine Corps Training Information Management System (MCTIMS).  The IMM module can also provide the commanders with an assessment of their commands progress in completing the BST tasks.
4.C.3.  Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC) will use the HQMC Inspector General 1553.3 Unit Training Management checklist as part of the Commanding Generals Inspection Program to ensure units comply with the program.  Units will be inspected on their commanders training guidance, unit training plan, and record keeping within the MCTIMS IMM module.
4.C.4.  Commanders should consider mastery/non-mastery of BST skills when assigning proficiency marks, fitness report markings, and recommendations for promotion.
4.C.5.  The 30 skills of BST Program are:
4.C.5.A.  Basic Infantry skills:
  Conduct observation
  Defend a position
  Describe the use of deadly force
  Employ a map and compass
  Handle detainees
  Identify anomalies
  Perform actions with a service rifle
  Perform immediate action upon contact with the enemy
  Perform weapons handling procedures with a service rifle
  Search an individual
  Stand a sentry post
  Visually identify indicators of improvised explosive devices
4.C.5.B.  Communications:
  Communicate using hand and arm signals
  Operate a VHF radio
  Submit a message
4.C.5.C.  First Aid:
  Apply a tourniquet
  Describe phases of tactical combat casualty care
  Treat a cold weather injury
  Treat a heat injury
4.C.5.D.  History:
  Identify significant events in Marine Corps history
  Identify the historical significance of Marine Corps uniform items
4.C.5.E.  Leadership:
  Apply the components of the decision cycle (OODA loop)
  Describe Marine air-ground task force organizations
  Describe operational security
  Describe stresses of combat
  Describe The Code of Conduct
  Describe rights of a prisoner of war
  Prepare for combat
4.C.5.F.  Uniform Code of Military Justice:
  Describe Article 15, Non-Judicial Punishment
  Describe Article 31, Rights of the Accused
5.  Administration and Logistics.
5.A.  Administration.  Units will be able to download the required training material TSPs from the Training and Education Command (TECOM) SharePoint site and in MCTIMS.  Units will record the completed training using the IMM module in MCTIMS where all annual training is currently recorded.  Training clerks and personnel with the appropriate MCTIMS permissions will be able to roster Marines against approved TSP events.  Units will be able to generate reports tracking their progress regarding the 30 required BST tasks.
5.B.  Logistics.  The design of the BST Program purposefully limits the equipment required to conduct the training and evaluation.  Units will need the following equipment to conduct all of the 30 tasks:  service rifle or replica, magazines, dummy rounds, maps, compasses, protractors, map pens, individual first aid kits (IFAC) or training IFAK and VHF radios such as the AN/PRC-152.  Units that do not have access to this equipment should conduct training with modifications.  Alternative training solutions will be developed to meet the intent of the training.
6.  Command and Signal.
6.A.  Points of Contacts:
6.A.1.  Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Glenn, Marine Air Ground Task Force Training and Education Standards Division, TECOM, stuart.glenn@usmc.mil,  (703) 784-3038.
6.A.2.  Ty Appleton, BST Program Manager, ty.j.appleton.ctr@usmc.mil, (703) 784-3032.
6.A.3.  Joe Bradley, MCTIMS support, joe.l.bradley@usmc.mil, (703) 432-2201.
6.B.  Links:
6.B.1.  Training support packages:  https:(slant)(slant)vcepub.tecom.usmc.mil/sites/directorates/mtesd/SitePages/AnnualTraining.aspx.
6.B.2.  IMM module:  https:(slant)(slant)mctims.usmc.mil/UnitTrainingManagement/imm/pages/Default.aspx.
6.B.3.  Entry Level Training T and R Manual:  https:(slant)(slant)mctims.usmc.mil/TNRManual/Pages/communityhome.aspx?CommunityId={7F5CB6E7-5BF6-469F-9E35-37AA269E7635}&Name=Entry Level Training.
7.  This MARADMIN is applicable to the Marine Corps Total Force.
8.  Release authorized by Lieutenant General Robert S. Walsh, Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command.//