CORPORALS COURSE TACTICAL PLANNING
2026 STUDY GUIDE COMPLETE MILITARY
STRATEGY AND PRACTICE QUESTIONS
◉ Mass. Answer: Mass refers to the concentration of friendly
capabilities at the decisive place and time to achieve decisive results.
Mass applies to fires, combat support, combat service support, and
numbers of forces. Proper use of the principle of mass, together with
the other principles of war, allow a numerically inferior force to
achieve decisive local superiority. The decision to concentrate
requires strict economy and the acceptance of risk elsewhere,
particularly in view of the lethality of modern weapons that
mandate the rapid assembly and speedy dispersal of forces.
◉ Objective. Answer: This principle advises the direction of every
military operation toward a clearly defined, decisive, and attainable
objective. The objective of each operation must contribute to the
ultimate objective or purpose of the operation. It requires a clear
understanding of the overall mission and intent of the higher
command, the tasks that must be performed, and the reasons for
them. Objectives ensure all actions contribute to the higher
commander's endstate. Clearly defined objectives promote initiative.
◉ Offensive. Answer: Seize, retain, and exploit the initiative.
Offensive action is the decisive form of combat. It is necessary to
maintain freedom of action. Offensive action allows leaders to
,exploit enemy weaknesses, impose their will upon the enemy, and
determine the course of the battle.
◉ Simplicity. Answer: Simplicity means preparing clear,
uncomplicated plans and clear, concise orders to ensure thorough
understanding. Plans should be as simple and direct as the situation
and mission dictate. Direct, simple plans and clear, concise orders
reduce the chance for misunderstanding and confusion and promote
effective execution.
◉ Economy of Force. Answer: The reciprocal of the principle of
mass, economy of force allocates minimum essential combat power
to secondary efforts. The commander 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.
◉ Maneuver. Answer: Maneuver is the flexible application of combat
power to achieve a position of advantage with respect to the enemy
to accomplish the mission. Maneuver is the employment of forces in
any dimension, whether temporal (operate at a tempo greater that
the enemy's), psychological (destroy the enemy's will to fight),
technological (superior equipment), or spatial (a positional
disadvantage) to gain an advantage.
,◉ Unity of Command. Answer: Unity of command requires unity of
effort for every objective under one responsible commander. The
goal of unity of command is unity of effort.
◉ Surprise. Answer: Strike the enemy at a time or place or in a
manner that he is unprepared for. It is not essential that the enemy
be taken when unaware, but that the enemy becomes aware too late
to react effectively.
◉ Security. Answer: The goal of security is to never permit the
enemy to acquire an unexpected advantage. Security measures are
designed to prevent surprise, ensure freedom of action, and deny the
enemy information about friendly forces, capabilities, and plans. It
does not imply the over-application of caution to eliminate risk, but
rather seeks to enhance our operations through bold maneuver and
acceptance of calculated risk.
◉ Art of Tactics. Answer: The art of tactics 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.
◉ The Science of Tactics. Answer: The science of tactics lies in the
technical application of combat power. It includes mastering the
, techniques and procedures that contribute to the warfighting skills
such as marksmanship, gunnery, land navigation, and close air
support. The execution of these techniques and procedures must
become second nature to us, requiring intensive and continuous
training. Without mastery of basic warfighting skills, artistry and
creativity in their application are impossible. We must always strive
for "brilliance in the basics" at all levels to ensure success.
◉ Successful execution of Marine Corps tactics concepts. Answer:
Achieving a decision
•Gaining advantage
•Being faster
•Adapting
•Cooperating
•Exploiting success
◉ Tactics is defined as __________.. Answer: The art and science of
winning engagements and battles
◉ Analytical Decision Making. Answer: If time is available to analyze
situations deliberately and to consider multiple options, leaders
should make the most of it. Comparing several options and selecting
the best one is known as analytical decision- making.
2026 STUDY GUIDE COMPLETE MILITARY
STRATEGY AND PRACTICE QUESTIONS
◉ Mass. Answer: Mass refers to the concentration of friendly
capabilities at the decisive place and time to achieve decisive results.
Mass applies to fires, combat support, combat service support, and
numbers of forces. Proper use of the principle of mass, together with
the other principles of war, allow a numerically inferior force to
achieve decisive local superiority. The decision to concentrate
requires strict economy and the acceptance of risk elsewhere,
particularly in view of the lethality of modern weapons that
mandate the rapid assembly and speedy dispersal of forces.
◉ Objective. Answer: This principle advises the direction of every
military operation toward a clearly defined, decisive, and attainable
objective. The objective of each operation must contribute to the
ultimate objective or purpose of the operation. It requires a clear
understanding of the overall mission and intent of the higher
command, the tasks that must be performed, and the reasons for
them. Objectives ensure all actions contribute to the higher
commander's endstate. Clearly defined objectives promote initiative.
◉ Offensive. Answer: Seize, retain, and exploit the initiative.
Offensive action is the decisive form of combat. It is necessary to
maintain freedom of action. Offensive action allows leaders to
,exploit enemy weaknesses, impose their will upon the enemy, and
determine the course of the battle.
◉ Simplicity. Answer: Simplicity means preparing clear,
uncomplicated plans and clear, concise orders to ensure thorough
understanding. Plans should be as simple and direct as the situation
and mission dictate. Direct, simple plans and clear, concise orders
reduce the chance for misunderstanding and confusion and promote
effective execution.
◉ Economy of Force. Answer: The reciprocal of the principle of
mass, economy of force allocates minimum essential combat power
to secondary efforts. The commander 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.
◉ Maneuver. Answer: Maneuver is the flexible application of combat
power to achieve a position of advantage with respect to the enemy
to accomplish the mission. Maneuver is the employment of forces in
any dimension, whether temporal (operate at a tempo greater that
the enemy's), psychological (destroy the enemy's will to fight),
technological (superior equipment), or spatial (a positional
disadvantage) to gain an advantage.
,◉ Unity of Command. Answer: Unity of command requires unity of
effort for every objective under one responsible commander. The
goal of unity of command is unity of effort.
◉ Surprise. Answer: Strike the enemy at a time or place or in a
manner that he is unprepared for. It is not essential that the enemy
be taken when unaware, but that the enemy becomes aware too late
to react effectively.
◉ Security. Answer: The goal of security is to never permit the
enemy to acquire an unexpected advantage. Security measures are
designed to prevent surprise, ensure freedom of action, and deny the
enemy information about friendly forces, capabilities, and plans. It
does not imply the over-application of caution to eliminate risk, but
rather seeks to enhance our operations through bold maneuver and
acceptance of calculated risk.
◉ Art of Tactics. Answer: The art of tactics 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.
◉ The Science of Tactics. Answer: The science of tactics lies in the
technical application of combat power. It includes mastering the
, techniques and procedures that contribute to the warfighting skills
such as marksmanship, gunnery, land navigation, and close air
support. The execution of these techniques and procedures must
become second nature to us, requiring intensive and continuous
training. Without mastery of basic warfighting skills, artistry and
creativity in their application are impossible. We must always strive
for "brilliance in the basics" at all levels to ensure success.
◉ Successful execution of Marine Corps tactics concepts. Answer:
Achieving a decision
•Gaining advantage
•Being faster
•Adapting
•Cooperating
•Exploiting success
◉ Tactics is defined as __________.. Answer: The art and science of
winning engagements and battles
◉ Analytical Decision Making. Answer: If time is available to analyze
situations deliberately and to consider multiple options, leaders
should make the most of it. Comparing several options and selecting
the best one is known as analytical decision- making.
