SECURITY FORCES BLOCK 2 LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS |
VERIFIED ANSWERS AND QUESTIONS - MOST RECENT EDITION
2026/2027
Security Forces Block 2
Q: What is the primary objective of the Use of Force continuum? ANSWER
To control a situation with the minimum amount of force necessary.
Q: What governs the use of force by Security Forces? ANSWER The
Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), Manual for Courts-Martial, and
standing orders.
Q: What is "Objective Reasonableness" regarding use of force? ANSWER
Force must be judged from the perspective of a reasonable person on the
scene, not with 20/20 hindsight.
Q: What Supreme Court case established the "Objective Reasonableness"
standard? ANSWER Graham v. Connor.
Q: What are the four elements of the Totality of Circumstances test?
ANSWER Severity of the crime, whether the subject poses an immediate
threat, and whether they are actively resisting or attempting to evade
arrest.
Q: What is the difference between Deadly Force and Non-Deadly Force?
ANSWER Deadly Force is likely to cause death or serious bodily harm;
Non-Deadly Force is not.
Q: When is Deadly Force authorized? ANSWER Self-defense, defense of
others, defense of vital assets (Level 1/2), or preventing serious offenses
against persons.
,Q: What is the definition of "Serious Bodily Harm"? ANSWER Bodily
injury that involves a substantial risk of death, unconsciousness, extreme
physical pain, or protracted disfigurement.
Q: What are the five levels on the Security Forces Use of Force
Continuum? ANSWER Persuasion, Verbal Commands, Soft Control, Hard
Control, Intermediate Force, Deadly Force.
Q: Give an example of Persuasion. ANSWER Hand gestures, friendly
demeanor, or simply being present.
Q: Give an example of a Verbal Command. ANSWER "Stop," "Do not
move," or "Put your hands up."
Q: Give an example of Soft Control. ANSWER Guiding a person by the
elbow or open-hand pressure.
Q: Give an example of Hard Control. ANSWER Joint manipulation, pain
compliance, or takedowns.
Q: Give an example of Intermediate Force. ANSWER OC Spray, baton, or
less-lethal munitions.
Q: What must you do immediately after using force? ANSWER Render
medical aid if needed, secure the scene, and notify your supervisor.
Q: What is the "Recovery Position"? ANSWER Placing an unresponsive
subject on their side to maintain an open airway.
Q: What are Garrity Rights? ANSWER The right of a government
employee to remain silent during an administrative investigation without
fear of punitive action.
Q: What is Article 31 of the UCMJ? ANSWER The right against self-
incrimination (similar to Miranda rights for military members).
Q: What is the Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC)? ANSWER Rules governing
the conduct of armed hostilities.
Q: What are the four principles of LOAC? ANSWER Military Necessity,
Distinction, Proportionality, and Unnecessary Suffering.
Q: What does "Distinction" mean in LOAC? ANSWER Discriminating
between combatants and non-combatants.
, Q: What does "Proportionality" mean in LOAC? ANSWER The incidental
loss of civilian life must not be excessive in relation to the military
advantage.
Q: What is an Escalation of Force (EOF) measure? ANSWER A show of
force used to deter hostile actions.
Q: What are the standard EOF steps? ANSWER Shout, Show, Shove, Shoot
(or Warn, Warn, Warn, Engage in deployed environments).
Q: Can you use deadly force to protect property alone? ANSWER No,
unless the property is a vital asset where its loss would cause grave
strategic damage.
Q: What is a "Vital Asset"? ANSWER Resources/assets designated by the
commander whose loss would severely impact the mission.
Q: What is the immediate action if a subject suddenly complies after you
have drawn your weapon? ANSWER De-escalate, lower the weapon, and
transition to verbal commands or soft control.
Q: Who determines if a use of force was justified? ANSWER The
commander based on investigations, but the standard is objective
reasonableness at the moment the force was used.
Q: What is excessive force? ANSWER Using more force than is reasonably
necessary to control a situation.
Q: What is "Positional Asphyxia"? ANSWER Restricting a subject's
breathing by placing them face down and applying weight to their
back/chest.
Q: How do you prevent positional asphyxia? ANSWER Do not sit or kneel
on a subject's chest/back, and get them into the recovery position quickly.
Q: What is the "21-foot rule"? ANSWER An average person can close 21
feet before an officer can draw and fire their weapon.
Q: What is "Deadly Force Triangle"? ANSWER Capability, Opportunity,
and Intent must all be present to justify deadly force.
Q: Define "Capability". ANSWER The subject has the means or weapons to
cause death or serious bodily harm.
Q: Define "Opportunity". ANSWER The subject is close enough to carry
out the threat.
VERIFIED ANSWERS AND QUESTIONS - MOST RECENT EDITION
2026/2027
Security Forces Block 2
Q: What is the primary objective of the Use of Force continuum? ANSWER
To control a situation with the minimum amount of force necessary.
Q: What governs the use of force by Security Forces? ANSWER The
Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), Manual for Courts-Martial, and
standing orders.
Q: What is "Objective Reasonableness" regarding use of force? ANSWER
Force must be judged from the perspective of a reasonable person on the
scene, not with 20/20 hindsight.
Q: What Supreme Court case established the "Objective Reasonableness"
standard? ANSWER Graham v. Connor.
Q: What are the four elements of the Totality of Circumstances test?
ANSWER Severity of the crime, whether the subject poses an immediate
threat, and whether they are actively resisting or attempting to evade
arrest.
Q: What is the difference between Deadly Force and Non-Deadly Force?
ANSWER Deadly Force is likely to cause death or serious bodily harm;
Non-Deadly Force is not.
Q: When is Deadly Force authorized? ANSWER Self-defense, defense of
others, defense of vital assets (Level 1/2), or preventing serious offenses
against persons.
,Q: What is the definition of "Serious Bodily Harm"? ANSWER Bodily
injury that involves a substantial risk of death, unconsciousness, extreme
physical pain, or protracted disfigurement.
Q: What are the five levels on the Security Forces Use of Force
Continuum? ANSWER Persuasion, Verbal Commands, Soft Control, Hard
Control, Intermediate Force, Deadly Force.
Q: Give an example of Persuasion. ANSWER Hand gestures, friendly
demeanor, or simply being present.
Q: Give an example of a Verbal Command. ANSWER "Stop," "Do not
move," or "Put your hands up."
Q: Give an example of Soft Control. ANSWER Guiding a person by the
elbow or open-hand pressure.
Q: Give an example of Hard Control. ANSWER Joint manipulation, pain
compliance, or takedowns.
Q: Give an example of Intermediate Force. ANSWER OC Spray, baton, or
less-lethal munitions.
Q: What must you do immediately after using force? ANSWER Render
medical aid if needed, secure the scene, and notify your supervisor.
Q: What is the "Recovery Position"? ANSWER Placing an unresponsive
subject on their side to maintain an open airway.
Q: What are Garrity Rights? ANSWER The right of a government
employee to remain silent during an administrative investigation without
fear of punitive action.
Q: What is Article 31 of the UCMJ? ANSWER The right against self-
incrimination (similar to Miranda rights for military members).
Q: What is the Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC)? ANSWER Rules governing
the conduct of armed hostilities.
Q: What are the four principles of LOAC? ANSWER Military Necessity,
Distinction, Proportionality, and Unnecessary Suffering.
Q: What does "Distinction" mean in LOAC? ANSWER Discriminating
between combatants and non-combatants.
, Q: What does "Proportionality" mean in LOAC? ANSWER The incidental
loss of civilian life must not be excessive in relation to the military
advantage.
Q: What is an Escalation of Force (EOF) measure? ANSWER A show of
force used to deter hostile actions.
Q: What are the standard EOF steps? ANSWER Shout, Show, Shove, Shoot
(or Warn, Warn, Warn, Engage in deployed environments).
Q: Can you use deadly force to protect property alone? ANSWER No,
unless the property is a vital asset where its loss would cause grave
strategic damage.
Q: What is a "Vital Asset"? ANSWER Resources/assets designated by the
commander whose loss would severely impact the mission.
Q: What is the immediate action if a subject suddenly complies after you
have drawn your weapon? ANSWER De-escalate, lower the weapon, and
transition to verbal commands or soft control.
Q: Who determines if a use of force was justified? ANSWER The
commander based on investigations, but the standard is objective
reasonableness at the moment the force was used.
Q: What is excessive force? ANSWER Using more force than is reasonably
necessary to control a situation.
Q: What is "Positional Asphyxia"? ANSWER Restricting a subject's
breathing by placing them face down and applying weight to their
back/chest.
Q: How do you prevent positional asphyxia? ANSWER Do not sit or kneel
on a subject's chest/back, and get them into the recovery position quickly.
Q: What is the "21-foot rule"? ANSWER An average person can close 21
feet before an officer can draw and fire their weapon.
Q: What is "Deadly Force Triangle"? ANSWER Capability, Opportunity,
and Intent must all be present to justify deadly force.
Q: Define "Capability". ANSWER The subject has the means or weapons to
cause death or serious bodily harm.
Q: Define "Opportunity". ANSWER The subject is close enough to carry
out the threat.
