The references establish the system used to publish all training standards, provide policy, and assign training responsibilities, especially as applied to the Systems Approach to Training (SAT). ITS8 establish the training requirements for all Marines in the same occupational field (OccFld), Military Occupational Specialty (MOS), or billet. They provide a foundation upon which unit commanders and school directors build training packages for individual Marines as part of unit training plans or formal courses of instruction. ITSs represent the skills needed by individual Marines that contribute to the unit mission as expressed in the Mission Performance Standards. Changes to doctrine or force structure or the introduction of now weapons or equipment may necessitate revision of this Order.

The references establish the system used to publish all training standards, provide policy, and assign training responsibilities, especially as applied to the Systems Approach to Training (SAT). ITSs establish the training requirements for all Marines in the same occupational field (OccFld), Military Occupational Specialty (MOS), or billet. They provide a foundation upon which unit commanders, Functional Learning Center (FLC) directors, and distance learning (DL) developers build training packages for individual Marines as part of unit training plans or formal courses of instruction. ITSs represent the skills that contribute to the unit mission as expressed in the Mission Performance Standards (MPS). Changes to doctrine or force structure or the introduction of new weapons or equipment may necessitate revision of this Order. The order further defines the program's Mental and Character Skills and their interdependence with the Physical Skills and provides the basis for standardized instruction. The Order also ties the three disciplines together and reinforces the Marine Corps Core Values through repetition and discussion. The qualifications for Black Belt Second Degree through Black Belt Sixth Degree are identified for the first time in this Order. Martial Arts Instructor (MAI) and Martial Arts Instructor Trainer (MAIT) skills include additional tasks that will improve instructor capabilities, addressing ORM and other instructional techniques.