Book excerpt: 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. Execution. 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. 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. The 30 skills of BST Program are: 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 Communications: Communicate using hand and arm signals Operate a VHF radio Submit a message First Aid: Apply a tourniquet Describe phases of tactical combat casualty care Treat a cold weather injury Treat a heat injury History: Identify significant events in Marine Corps history Identify the historical significance of Marine Corps uniform items 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 Uniform Code of Military Justice: Describe Article 15, Non-Judicial Punishment Describe Article 31, Rights of the Accused