School of Infantry

The School of Infantry (SOI) is a crucial training establishment within the United States Marine Corps, established in 1988 to provide advanced infantry instruction following recruit training. Divided into SOI-East at Camp Geiger, North Carolina, and SOI-West at Camp Pendleton, California, the SOI trains all newly graduated Marines in combat skills. Infantry Marines attend the Infantry Training Battalion (ITB) for specialized infantry instruction, while non-infantry Marines go through Marine Combat Training (MCT) to learn essential battlefield skills. The School of Infantry has played a vital role in preparing Marines for combat operations in conflicts such as the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, and beyond.