The Basic School is located in Stafford County, Virginia to the south-west of the Marine Corps Base Quantico complex.

Some newly commissioned officers may serve a short period of time in an interim assignment (such as an assistant athletic coach at the USNA or attorney-intern at an installation) before beginning TBS/BOC.

Classroom events include topic specific lectures, exams, tactical decision games (TDGs), sand table exercises (STEXs), decision-forcing cases, and small group discussions.

Throughout the Program of Instruction (POI), Marines in each training company are split into thirds according to their combined scores of Leadership, Military Skills, and Academics.

This requirement is waived for those holding the rank of Gunnery Sergeant for a minimum of one year prior to applying for the weapons warrant officer program.

[1] Sergeants or Staff NCOs who are selected are given additional leadership and management training during the Warrant Officer Basic Course.

During this program lieutenants receive intensive classroom instruction, practical experience, and field training in crew-served weapons, patrolling, and reconnaissance to ensure that they are MOS qualified for all of the infantry platoon commander billets, in addition to the rifle platoon, within a Marine infantry battalion.

Additionally, they attend educational classes and participate in physical events while awaiting reassignment to a new United States Marine Corps (USMC) Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) in the case of IOC graduates, or to continue training if WOBC or BOC completion is pending.

Mike Company also accommodates Marines who have graduated from BOC but are awaiting their MOS school assignments.