UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
MARINE DETACHMENT
FORT GEORGE G. MEADE
BUILDING 8545 6TH ARMORED CAVALRY ROAD
FORT MEADE, MARYLAND 20755-5620
IN REPLY REFER TO:
1500
S3
24 Oct 18
LETTER OF INSTRUCTION X-18
From:
To:
Commanding Officer, Marine Detachment Fort Meade MD
Marine Detachment Fort Meade Personnel
Subj:
LETTER OF INSTRUCTION FOR MARINE DETACHMENT BATTLE SKILLS TEST
1. Situation: During the month of November 2018, the Marine Detachment
Instructor Company will conduct battle skills test (BST) training, designed
to reinforce the Marine Corps legacy of Honor, Courage, and Commitment, as
well as our ethos of Every Marine a Rifleman. The BST will consist of 30
basic skills from entry level training, recruit training and Marine combat
training. All Marine instructors and detachment staff will participate.
2. Mission: Instructor Company, Marine Detachment, Ft Meade, Md., conducts
conduct Battle Skills Test training to ensure all instructors and staff are
complete in annual training requirements.
3.
Execution:
a. Commanders Intent & Concept of Operations:
(1) Commanders Intent: Per CMC guidance, this training should be
conducted primarily by noncommissioned officers (NCO) and small unit leaders.
The goal is to make sure Marines are proficient in the common skills. In
addition, the BST program also provides a training opportunity to develop
NCOs and small unit leaders through leader-led training. The use of the
“teach it, test it” method is highly encouraged. This allows the NCO or the
small unit leader to train their Marines and then immediately evaluate them
on the subjects they just trained on. Conducting training and evaluation by
utilizing this method provides NCOs and small unit leaders’ maximum
flexibility and immediate feedback concerning the quality of instruction,
retention of knowledge, and skills proficiency.
(2) Concept of Operations: There will be a total of 6 full training
days for the opportunity to complete the BST for the calendar year. Starting
at 0800 on 6 November 2018, Marine instructors will have two opportunities
per week before the upcoming Thanksgiving 96 hour liberty period to complete
the training. Although the training and evaluation vary per task, the average
task takes about 15 minutes of training with 3 to 10 minutes per Marines for
evaluation. Overall, the time to train is about 7.5 hours to train and 2.5
hours per Marine for evaluation. There are 30 events to be completed. During
the first week, 6 & 8 November, the first (10) events will be completed with
all events being completed each day. On 13 & 15 November, events 11-20 will
be trained on each day. On 19 & 20 November the final 21-30 events will be
trained. The following is the scheme of maneuver for the events:
(a) Phase One Execution: The first phase will be conducted on 06
and 08 November 2018 at the Marine Detachment dayroom. Training will begin at
Subj:
LETTER OF INSTRUCTION FOR MARINE DETACHMENT BST TRAINING
0800 each day and will be completed at approximately 1530. BST events 1-10
will be trained on both days during Phase One, so that each Marine has to
attend only one day of training.
(b) Phase Two Execution: The second phase will be conducted on
13 and 15 November 2018 at the Marine Detachment dayroom. Training will begin
at 0800 each day and will be completed at approximately 1530. BST events 1120 will be trained on both days during Phase Two, so that each Marine has to
attend only one day of training.
(c) Phase Three Execution: The third phase will be conducted on
19 and 20 November 2018 at the Marine Detachment dayroom. Training will begin
at 0800 each day and will be completed at approximately 1530. BST events 2130 will be trained on both days during Phase Three, so that each Marin has to
attend only one day of training.
b.
Tasks:
(1) CO and SEA: Will be located at the Marine Detachment and will
provide command and control.
(2) BST Instructors: Will ensure all training materials are loaded
onto the detachment computer in the dayroom and are readily available to the
Marine Instructor conducting each event. Will maintain all training rosters
associated with BST training and will report to Master Sergeant Gonzalez with
those rosters upon completion of each training evolution. Will conduct all
lectures and evaluations for the Marine Detachment Instructors/Staff. If for
whatever reason an instructor/staff member is unable to attend training, they
will coordinate when they will be able to complete the training.
(3) Admin Section: Ensure (4) rubber service rifles and (1)
tourniquet are available for each training day.
c.
Coordinating Instructions:
(1) Accountability: There will be rosters for each BST event that
must be signed by the instructor and Marine being trained.
(2) Instructors will have (2) opportunities per week to complete the
required BST training. If they cannot attend training, it must first be
approved by the Training Chief and then coordinated with the BST Instructors
to make up the training at a future date.
4.
Administration and Logistics:
a.
Location:
Marine Detachment Fort Meade, MD.
b.
Uniforms:
Woodland MARPAT utilities.
c.
Equipment:
(1)
Detachment laptop, pre-loaded with BST lectures.
(2)
Four (4) rubber service rifles.
(3)
One (1) tourniquet.
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Subj:
5.
LETTER OF INSTRUCTION FOR MARINE DETACHMENT BST TRAINING
Command and Signal:
a.
BST.
b.
phone.
Command: The CO and SEA will have command and control during the
Subsequent command will fall to the Training Chief.
Signal: All key leadership will have at least one fully-charged cell
Existing phones are:
(1) Major Lim: 703-740-6510
(2) Master Gunnery Sergeant Gibson: 240-506-4343
(3) Master Sergeant Gonzalez: 410-491-7423
c. MarDet point of contact and for this training event is Master Gunnery
Sgt Gibson (Ext: 5109).
A. H. LIM
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