DEVELOPING LEADERS LEADING MARINES
PRACTICE STUDY GUIDE 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ Attitudes are not as deeply held as values. Answer: True
◉ CATEGORIES Answer: Values are organized into the following five
categories:
•Political values
•Social values
•Personal values
•Economic values
•Religious values
◉ CHARACTER Answer: Our character is defined by "...the
commitment to an admirable set of values, and the courage to
manifest those values in one's life, no matter the cost in terms of
personal success or popularity." (Sorely, 1989)
◉ VALUES AND LEADERSHIP Answer: If a Marine is left without any
guidance or supervision, then personal values will determine what
that Marine will or will not do.
,Leaders must provide guidance and supervision to inspire and
reinforce organizational values to have an effect on the behavior of
our Marines.
◉ IDENTIFYING WITH PEERS VICE UNIT Answer: When there is a
breakdown in vertical cohesion within the parent command,
Marines only identify with their peers and not with their unit.
Marines in a group or section are only loyal to those Marines within
the immediate group.
◉ IMPACT ON UNIT SUCCESS Answer: Some Marines fail to make
the connection between group objectives and command mission.
Failing to understand the impact they have on the operation of the
unit causes a disassociation from the unit and the Marine Corps.
◉ INSUFFICIENT CHALLENGES Answer: Many Marines joined the
Corps to be challenged to the fullest extent of their capabilities.
Disillusionment occurs if their units have low individual
expectations.
◉ INEFFECTIVE MENTORS Answer: When new Marines check into a
unit, they are looking to others to confirm accepted behaviors.
Without a proper mentor, a Marine may choose a negative role
model simply because of a dominant personality.
,◉ LACK OF MARINE CORPS STANDARDS Answer: A witnessed
deviation from, and a lack of adherence to, required standards leaves
a negative opinion of both the command and the leadership. If
Marines are continually exposed to such an environment, their
standards will begin to suffer as their expectations and sense of
accomplishment dwindle.
◉ INSUFFICIENT DISCIPLINE Answer: Discipline is degraded when
commands relax standards, whether traditional customs or
published regulations. All Marines are responsible for and capable of
enforcing good discipline.
◉ CONFLICT RESOLUTION Answer: The best and most important
way to resolve conflicting values is through leadership by example.
◉ A Marine's sense of pride in who they are stems from a dedication
to our ________. Answer: Organizational values
◉ As a leader, it is your job to sustain organizational values, set the
example, and guide the way for new Marines. Answer: true
◉ As much as anything, our ________ set us apart. Answer: Core values
◉ Marine Corps core values increase our readiness by providing a
________. Answer: Foundation for teams to function more effectively
, ◉ Honor includes personal qualities of ________. Answer: Dedication,
trust, and dependability
◉ MENTAL COURAGE Answer: Just before the Battle of
Thermoplyae, a Spartan warrior named Dienekes was told that the
Persian archers could blank out the sun with their arrows. He
replied "Good, then we shall have our battle in the shade." Spartans
were mentally prepared for war from a young age.
◉ MORAL COURAGE Answer: In 1968, CWO Hugh Thompson was
flying a support mission over My Lai when he realized something
was terribly wrong. U.S. soldiers were slaughtering hundreds of
unarmed civilians. With great moral courage Thompson landed his
helicopter between the U.S. soldiers and the villagers and ordered
his crew to train their weapons on the U.S. troops. He rescued 16
civilians calling in additional helicopter support to evacuate them.
He would later report the incident to his chain of command.
◉ PHYSICAL COURAGE Answer: In early 2004 while serving on the
Iraqi border with Syria, Jason Dunham's platoon was checking
vehicles in conjunction with an attack on their PSD element. One of
the drivers became combative, and Jason was engaged in hand-to-
hand combat when the driver dropped an armed grenade in the
midst of the Marines. Jason covered the grenade with his own
helmet and used himself to shield his platoon members. This great
physical courage saved the lives of those closest to him.
PRACTICE STUDY GUIDE 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ Attitudes are not as deeply held as values. Answer: True
◉ CATEGORIES Answer: Values are organized into the following five
categories:
•Political values
•Social values
•Personal values
•Economic values
•Religious values
◉ CHARACTER Answer: Our character is defined by "...the
commitment to an admirable set of values, and the courage to
manifest those values in one's life, no matter the cost in terms of
personal success or popularity." (Sorely, 1989)
◉ VALUES AND LEADERSHIP Answer: If a Marine is left without any
guidance or supervision, then personal values will determine what
that Marine will or will not do.
,Leaders must provide guidance and supervision to inspire and
reinforce organizational values to have an effect on the behavior of
our Marines.
◉ IDENTIFYING WITH PEERS VICE UNIT Answer: When there is a
breakdown in vertical cohesion within the parent command,
Marines only identify with their peers and not with their unit.
Marines in a group or section are only loyal to those Marines within
the immediate group.
◉ IMPACT ON UNIT SUCCESS Answer: Some Marines fail to make
the connection between group objectives and command mission.
Failing to understand the impact they have on the operation of the
unit causes a disassociation from the unit and the Marine Corps.
◉ INSUFFICIENT CHALLENGES Answer: Many Marines joined the
Corps to be challenged to the fullest extent of their capabilities.
Disillusionment occurs if their units have low individual
expectations.
◉ INEFFECTIVE MENTORS Answer: When new Marines check into a
unit, they are looking to others to confirm accepted behaviors.
Without a proper mentor, a Marine may choose a negative role
model simply because of a dominant personality.
,◉ LACK OF MARINE CORPS STANDARDS Answer: A witnessed
deviation from, and a lack of adherence to, required standards leaves
a negative opinion of both the command and the leadership. If
Marines are continually exposed to such an environment, their
standards will begin to suffer as their expectations and sense of
accomplishment dwindle.
◉ INSUFFICIENT DISCIPLINE Answer: Discipline is degraded when
commands relax standards, whether traditional customs or
published regulations. All Marines are responsible for and capable of
enforcing good discipline.
◉ CONFLICT RESOLUTION Answer: The best and most important
way to resolve conflicting values is through leadership by example.
◉ A Marine's sense of pride in who they are stems from a dedication
to our ________. Answer: Organizational values
◉ As a leader, it is your job to sustain organizational values, set the
example, and guide the way for new Marines. Answer: true
◉ As much as anything, our ________ set us apart. Answer: Core values
◉ Marine Corps core values increase our readiness by providing a
________. Answer: Foundation for teams to function more effectively
, ◉ Honor includes personal qualities of ________. Answer: Dedication,
trust, and dependability
◉ MENTAL COURAGE Answer: Just before the Battle of
Thermoplyae, a Spartan warrior named Dienekes was told that the
Persian archers could blank out the sun with their arrows. He
replied "Good, then we shall have our battle in the shade." Spartans
were mentally prepared for war from a young age.
◉ MORAL COURAGE Answer: In 1968, CWO Hugh Thompson was
flying a support mission over My Lai when he realized something
was terribly wrong. U.S. soldiers were slaughtering hundreds of
unarmed civilians. With great moral courage Thompson landed his
helicopter between the U.S. soldiers and the villagers and ordered
his crew to train their weapons on the U.S. troops. He rescued 16
civilians calling in additional helicopter support to evacuate them.
He would later report the incident to his chain of command.
◉ PHYSICAL COURAGE Answer: In early 2004 while serving on the
Iraqi border with Syria, Jason Dunham's platoon was checking
vehicles in conjunction with an attack on their PSD element. One of
the drivers became combative, and Jason was engaged in hand-to-
hand combat when the driver dropped an armed grenade in the
midst of the Marines. Jason covered the grenade with his own
helmet and used himself to shield his platoon members. This great
physical courage saved the lives of those closest to him.
