SGTS COURSE TACTICAL PLANNING EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS |2026/2027 UPDATED |GUARANTEED PASS.
Which of the tactical tenets best applies to the following statement?
The application of this tenet means we look for and make the most of every advantage and
apply the decisive stroke when the opportunity presents itself. - Answer -Exploiting success
The ______________ lies in how we creatively form and apply military force in a given situation.
It involves the creation, positioning, and maneuver of combat power. For example,
understanding tactics allows us to Answer questions such as when do we attack the enemy
using a frontal, flanking, or enveloping attack. This creativity is a developed capacity acquired
through education, practice, and experience. - Answer -Art of tactics
Select the principle of war best defined as:
The reciprocal of the principle of mass; the leader allocates the minimum essential combat
power to secondary efforts, requiring the acceptance of prudent risks in selected areas to
achieve superiority at the decisive time and location with the main effort. - Answer -Economy of
force
The ability to make effective decisions and act on them faster than the enemy is a crucial
element of Marine Corps tactics. When opportunity arrives, it must be exploited fully and
aggressively. According to MCDP 1-3, which of the following are keys to acting decisively? Select
all that apply. - Answer -Designate a main effort to focus our combat power.
Shape the battlefield to our advantage.
1|Page
,Leaders of Marines have a responsibility to make things happen fast. As identified in MCDP 1-3,
one of the tactical concepts used to increase speed is decentralization. Which of the following
best captures the concept of speed gained by decentralization? - Answer -Decentralization is an
important concept in the execution of maneuver warfare. To achieve this concept, while still
maintaining control, a unit must use commander's intent and mission tactics.
6 Troop Leading Steps (BAMCIS) - Answer -BEGIN PLANNING
ARRANGE RECON
MAKE RECON
COMPLETE PLAN
ISSUE ORDER
SUPERVISE
TACTICAL THOUGHT PROCESS OVERVIEW - Answer -Mett-T Analysis
Enemy most likely COA
Exploitation Plan
Scheme of maneuver
Fire support plan
Tasks
METT-T Analysis (Estimate of the Situation) - Answer -The key is for the leader to conduct a
detailed analysis to mitigate risk and to drive decisions that support development of a tactically
sound plan.
2|Page
, •Mission Analysis - The leader must understand specified and implied tasks of the mission
issued by higher.
•Enemy Analysis - The leader evaluates the enemy's combat power and the conditions under
which enemy assets can be employed.
•Terrain and Weather Analysis - The leader analyzes the effects of Observation, Cover and
Concealment, Obstacles, Key terrain, Avenues of approach, and Weather (OCOKA-W) on
possible friendly and enemy plans.
•Troops and Fire Support Available - The leader must understand the combat power available to
bring to the fight and how adjacent and supporting units will support mission success.
•Time/Space/Logistics Analysis - The leader must identify the time available for each phase of
the mission, time constraints and restraints from higher, time/space considerations for enemy
and friendly movement, logistics required, and gaps
Enemy Most Likely Course of Action (EMLCOA) - Answer -Based on an increased understanding
of the situation through the detailed analysis (METT-T), turn the map around, and ask yourself:
"What would I do if I were the enemy?"
•Predict the EMLCOA or enemy scheme of maneuver. The detail required for an EMLCOA is
based on the tactical situation. However, there are two things that must be considered when
developing the EMLCOA.
The enemy's current tactical activity, which includes patrolling, location and orientation of crew-
served weapons, composition and orientation of his engagement area, LP/Ops, etc.
The enemy's actions on contact; this is the enemy reaction when we impose our combat power
upon him.
Exploitation Plan - Answer -As learned in MCDP-1, Warfighting, we aim to gain an advantage
over the enemy through exploitation of an enemy vulnerability. Leaders seek to avoid surfaces
(strengths) and exploit gaps (weaknesses) to gain an unfair advantage. The careful consideration
of enemy key strengths and weaknesses is a critical aspect of scheme of maneuver
development.
3|Page
ANSWERS |2026/2027 UPDATED |GUARANTEED PASS.
Which of the tactical tenets best applies to the following statement?
The application of this tenet means we look for and make the most of every advantage and
apply the decisive stroke when the opportunity presents itself. - Answer -Exploiting success
The ______________ lies in how we creatively form and apply military force in a given situation.
It involves the creation, positioning, and maneuver of combat power. For example,
understanding tactics allows us to Answer questions such as when do we attack the enemy
using a frontal, flanking, or enveloping attack. This creativity is a developed capacity acquired
through education, practice, and experience. - Answer -Art of tactics
Select the principle of war best defined as:
The reciprocal of the principle of mass; the leader allocates the minimum essential combat
power to secondary efforts, requiring the acceptance of prudent risks in selected areas to
achieve superiority at the decisive time and location with the main effort. - Answer -Economy of
force
The ability to make effective decisions and act on them faster than the enemy is a crucial
element of Marine Corps tactics. When opportunity arrives, it must be exploited fully and
aggressively. According to MCDP 1-3, which of the following are keys to acting decisively? Select
all that apply. - Answer -Designate a main effort to focus our combat power.
Shape the battlefield to our advantage.
1|Page
,Leaders of Marines have a responsibility to make things happen fast. As identified in MCDP 1-3,
one of the tactical concepts used to increase speed is decentralization. Which of the following
best captures the concept of speed gained by decentralization? - Answer -Decentralization is an
important concept in the execution of maneuver warfare. To achieve this concept, while still
maintaining control, a unit must use commander's intent and mission tactics.
6 Troop Leading Steps (BAMCIS) - Answer -BEGIN PLANNING
ARRANGE RECON
MAKE RECON
COMPLETE PLAN
ISSUE ORDER
SUPERVISE
TACTICAL THOUGHT PROCESS OVERVIEW - Answer -Mett-T Analysis
Enemy most likely COA
Exploitation Plan
Scheme of maneuver
Fire support plan
Tasks
METT-T Analysis (Estimate of the Situation) - Answer -The key is for the leader to conduct a
detailed analysis to mitigate risk and to drive decisions that support development of a tactically
sound plan.
2|Page
, •Mission Analysis - The leader must understand specified and implied tasks of the mission
issued by higher.
•Enemy Analysis - The leader evaluates the enemy's combat power and the conditions under
which enemy assets can be employed.
•Terrain and Weather Analysis - The leader analyzes the effects of Observation, Cover and
Concealment, Obstacles, Key terrain, Avenues of approach, and Weather (OCOKA-W) on
possible friendly and enemy plans.
•Troops and Fire Support Available - The leader must understand the combat power available to
bring to the fight and how adjacent and supporting units will support mission success.
•Time/Space/Logistics Analysis - The leader must identify the time available for each phase of
the mission, time constraints and restraints from higher, time/space considerations for enemy
and friendly movement, logistics required, and gaps
Enemy Most Likely Course of Action (EMLCOA) - Answer -Based on an increased understanding
of the situation through the detailed analysis (METT-T), turn the map around, and ask yourself:
"What would I do if I were the enemy?"
•Predict the EMLCOA or enemy scheme of maneuver. The detail required for an EMLCOA is
based on the tactical situation. However, there are two things that must be considered when
developing the EMLCOA.
The enemy's current tactical activity, which includes patrolling, location and orientation of crew-
served weapons, composition and orientation of his engagement area, LP/Ops, etc.
The enemy's actions on contact; this is the enemy reaction when we impose our combat power
upon him.
Exploitation Plan - Answer -As learned in MCDP-1, Warfighting, we aim to gain an advantage
over the enemy through exploitation of an enemy vulnerability. Leaders seek to avoid surfaces
(strengths) and exploit gaps (weaknesses) to gain an unfair advantage. The careful consideration
of enemy key strengths and weaknesses is a critical aspect of scheme of maneuver
development.
3|Page
