OCS USMC HISTORY ALL SETS EXAM
QUESTIONS ANSWERED CORRECTLY
LATEST UPDATE 2026
Section 1: Founding & Early History
1. When is the Marine Corps birthday?
A) 11 July 1798
B) 10 November 1775
C) 3 March 1776
D) 7 December 1941
Answer: B) 10 November 1775
Rationale: The Continental Marines were established by the Second Continental Congress
on November 10, 1775, to serve as landing forces for the Navy. This date is celebrated
annually as the Marine Corps Birthday .
2. Where was the birthplace of the Marine Corps?
A) 8th & I Streets, Washington D.C.
B) Marine Corps Base Quantico
C) Tun Tavern, Philadelphia
D) New Providence, Bahamas
Answer: C) Tun Tavern, Philadelphia
, Rationale: Tun Tavern in Philadelphia is recognized as the birthplace of the Marine Corps.
Robert Mullan, the tavern's bartender, served as the first Marine Corps recruiter, and
Captain Samuel Nicholas was the first officer commissioned there .
3. Who was the first "Commandant" (unofficial) and officer of the Marine Corps?
A) Major William Ward Burrows
B) Captain Samuel Nicholas
C) Major General John A. Lejeune
D) Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon
Answer: B) Captain Samuel Nicholas
Rationale: Captain Samuel Nicholas was the first commissioned officer of the Continental
Marines, serving as the de facto first Commandant before the position was officially
established .
4. When was the Marine Corps reestablished after the Revolutionary War?
A) 10 November 1775
B) 3 March 1776
C) 11 July 1798
D) 7 December 1941
Answer: C) 11 July 1798
Rationale: After the Treaty of Paris (1783) disbanded the Continental Marines, President
John Adams signed the act reestablishing the Marine Corps on July 11, 1798, creating a
permanent Marine Corps .
5. Who was the first official Commandant of the Marine Corps?
A) Captain Samuel Nicholas
, B) Major William Ward Burrows
C) Archibald Henderson
D) John A. Lejeune
Answer: B) Major William Ward Burrows
Rationale: Major William Ward Burrows was appointed as the first official Commandant of
the Marine Corps in 1798 following the Corps' reestablishment .
6. What is the nickname for the Marine Corps' post at 8th and I Streets?
A) The Oldest Post in the Corps
B) The Commandant's House
C) Marine Barracks Washington
D) The Tun Tavern Memorial
Answer: A) The Oldest Post in the Corps
Rationale: Marine Barracks at 8th and I Streets in Washington, D.C. is known as the
"Oldest Post in the Corps" and serves as the official residence of the Commandant .
7. What was the Marine Corps' first amphibious landing?
A) Guadalcanal, 1942
B) Iwo Jima, 1945
C) New Providence, Bahamas, 1776
D) Chapultepec, 1847
Answer: C) New Providence, Bahamas, 1776
Rationale: On March 3, 1776, Marines conducted their first amphibious landing at New
Providence in the Bahamas, seizing British military supplies .
, 8. What is the "Leatherneck" nickname derived from?
A) The leather equipment Marines carried
B) The old leather collar worn by early Marines
C) The type of boots Marines wear
D) The leather belts on dress uniforms
Answer: B) The old leather collar worn by early Marines
Rationale: The nickname "Leatherneck" dates back to the early Marine Corps when
Marines wore a high leather collar to protect against sword cuts .
9. What does "Esprit de Corps" mean?
A) The official Marine Corps motto
B) Loyalty to, pride in, and enthusiasm for the unit
C) The Marine Corps hymn
D) The Marine Corps birthday tradition
Answer: B) Loyalty to, pride in, and enthusiasm for the unit
Rationale: Esprit de Corps refers to the morale and spirit of a group, characterized by
loyalty, pride, and enthusiasm for the organization .
10. From which service does the Marine Corps trace its lineage?
A) U.S. Army
B) U.S. Navy
C) British Royal Marines
D) French Foreign Legion
Answer: C) British Royal Marines
Rationale: The Marine Corps traces its lineage and many traditions to the British Royal
Marines, including customs and organizational concepts .
QUESTIONS ANSWERED CORRECTLY
LATEST UPDATE 2026
Section 1: Founding & Early History
1. When is the Marine Corps birthday?
A) 11 July 1798
B) 10 November 1775
C) 3 March 1776
D) 7 December 1941
Answer: B) 10 November 1775
Rationale: The Continental Marines were established by the Second Continental Congress
on November 10, 1775, to serve as landing forces for the Navy. This date is celebrated
annually as the Marine Corps Birthday .
2. Where was the birthplace of the Marine Corps?
A) 8th & I Streets, Washington D.C.
B) Marine Corps Base Quantico
C) Tun Tavern, Philadelphia
D) New Providence, Bahamas
Answer: C) Tun Tavern, Philadelphia
, Rationale: Tun Tavern in Philadelphia is recognized as the birthplace of the Marine Corps.
Robert Mullan, the tavern's bartender, served as the first Marine Corps recruiter, and
Captain Samuel Nicholas was the first officer commissioned there .
3. Who was the first "Commandant" (unofficial) and officer of the Marine Corps?
A) Major William Ward Burrows
B) Captain Samuel Nicholas
C) Major General John A. Lejeune
D) Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon
Answer: B) Captain Samuel Nicholas
Rationale: Captain Samuel Nicholas was the first commissioned officer of the Continental
Marines, serving as the de facto first Commandant before the position was officially
established .
4. When was the Marine Corps reestablished after the Revolutionary War?
A) 10 November 1775
B) 3 March 1776
C) 11 July 1798
D) 7 December 1941
Answer: C) 11 July 1798
Rationale: After the Treaty of Paris (1783) disbanded the Continental Marines, President
John Adams signed the act reestablishing the Marine Corps on July 11, 1798, creating a
permanent Marine Corps .
5. Who was the first official Commandant of the Marine Corps?
A) Captain Samuel Nicholas
, B) Major William Ward Burrows
C) Archibald Henderson
D) John A. Lejeune
Answer: B) Major William Ward Burrows
Rationale: Major William Ward Burrows was appointed as the first official Commandant of
the Marine Corps in 1798 following the Corps' reestablishment .
6. What is the nickname for the Marine Corps' post at 8th and I Streets?
A) The Oldest Post in the Corps
B) The Commandant's House
C) Marine Barracks Washington
D) The Tun Tavern Memorial
Answer: A) The Oldest Post in the Corps
Rationale: Marine Barracks at 8th and I Streets in Washington, D.C. is known as the
"Oldest Post in the Corps" and serves as the official residence of the Commandant .
7. What was the Marine Corps' first amphibious landing?
A) Guadalcanal, 1942
B) Iwo Jima, 1945
C) New Providence, Bahamas, 1776
D) Chapultepec, 1847
Answer: C) New Providence, Bahamas, 1776
Rationale: On March 3, 1776, Marines conducted their first amphibious landing at New
Providence in the Bahamas, seizing British military supplies .
, 8. What is the "Leatherneck" nickname derived from?
A) The leather equipment Marines carried
B) The old leather collar worn by early Marines
C) The type of boots Marines wear
D) The leather belts on dress uniforms
Answer: B) The old leather collar worn by early Marines
Rationale: The nickname "Leatherneck" dates back to the early Marine Corps when
Marines wore a high leather collar to protect against sword cuts .
9. What does "Esprit de Corps" mean?
A) The official Marine Corps motto
B) Loyalty to, pride in, and enthusiasm for the unit
C) The Marine Corps hymn
D) The Marine Corps birthday tradition
Answer: B) Loyalty to, pride in, and enthusiasm for the unit
Rationale: Esprit de Corps refers to the morale and spirit of a group, characterized by
loyalty, pride, and enthusiasm for the organization .
10. From which service does the Marine Corps trace its lineage?
A) U.S. Army
B) U.S. Navy
C) British Royal Marines
D) French Foreign Legion
Answer: C) British Royal Marines
Rationale: The Marine Corps traces its lineage and many traditions to the British Royal
Marines, including customs and organizational concepts .
