Page |1
Corporals Course- Administration
Questions and Correct Answers/ Latest
Update / Already Graded
Promotions
Ans: •Proficiency and conduct marks are used in the
computation of composite scores of lance corporals and
corporals. Regular promotion to corporal and sergeant depends
on a Marine's composite score.
•The promotion system up to the rank of sergeant is described
in The Promotion System lesson of this course.
•The reference is Marine Corps Order P1400.32D, Marine Corps
Promotion Manual, Volume 2, Enlisted Promotions, also known
as the Promotion Manual.
Reenlistments
Ans: •All Marines applying for reenlistment must have a
minimum proficiency and conduct mark average of 4.0/4.0
during the current enlistment contract and extensions to that
contract.
•The reference is MCO 1040.31, Enlisted Retention and Career
Development Manual.
Certain Duty Assignments
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Ans: As special duty and independent duty assignments involve
demanding duties or duties with an unusual degree of
responsibility, Marines must meet special requirements which
include minimum proficiency and conduct marks.
•Marine Recruiter Duty: Corporals applying for recruiting duty
must have a minimum 4.6/4.6 Proficiency/Conduct mark
average.
•Marine Security Guard Duty: Marine security guard applicants
must have a minimum 4.2/4.2 Proficiency/Conduct mark
average.
•Independent Duty: Marines going on independent duty must
have a minimum 4.4/4.4 Proficiency/Conduct mark average.
The reference is MCO P1326.6D, Selecting, Screening, and
Preparing Enlisted Marines for Special Duty Assignme nts and
Independent Duties.
Characterization and Discharge
Ans: •Honorable characterization of service is the highest
quality characterization and is appropriate when the quality of
the Marine's service has met the standards of accepted conduct
and performance of duty for military personnel. Therefore,
characterization will be honorable for Marines with an average
proficiency mark of 3.0 or higher and average conduct mark of
4.0 or higher.
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•This is important as a less than honorable characterizati on
may reduce employment opportunities and the benefits
received from Veterans Affairs after discharge.
•The reference is MCO 1900.16, Separation and Retirement
Manual.
Purpose of Pros and Cons
Ans: •The purpose of proficiency (pro) and conduct ( con) marks
is to indicate how proficiently individual Marines performed
their primary duties, and how they conducted themselves
during the rating period.
responsibility of NCO
Ans: The responsibilities of staff noncommissioned officers
(SNCOs) and noncommissioned officers (NCOs) include training
and supervising Marines in the performance of their duties. This
close relationship gives NCOs the ability to record information
on a Marine's performance and to evaluate their performance
during the reporting period. NCOs' responsibilities include
providing a fair and balanced recommendation for pro and con
marks to the commander.
responsibility of CO
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Ans: The commanding officer establishes unit policies and
procedures for recommending and assigning proficiency and
conduct marks. Since the commanding officer cannot physically
observe all corporals and below on a daily basis, the
commander will rely on SNCOs and NCOs to evaluate the
performance of their Marines and to submit recommended
proficiency and conduct marks. Although the commander
should review and consider the recommended marks, the
commander has sole responsibility in the assignment of mar ks
for each Marine. The commanding officer is the deciding
authority and is responsible for maintaining an equitable
proficiency and conduct performance evaluation system for
Marines in his/her charge.
Pro and Cons Policy
Ans: Marine Corps Order P1070.12K, Individual Records
Administration Manual, or IRAM, provides SNCOs, NCOs, and
commanders with the guidance necessary to recommend and
assign proficiency and conduct marks. The IRAM establishes
guidelines to create consistency in the evaluation pro cess,
measuring specific factors expected of all Marines.
Marks are required for corporals and below. The process for
assigning proficiency and conduct marks is founded in the belief
that the commander who assigns these marks and the SNCOs or
NCOs who recommend them are familiar with paragraph 4005
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
Corporals Course- Administration
Questions and Correct Answers/ Latest
Update / Already Graded
Promotions
Ans: •Proficiency and conduct marks are used in the
computation of composite scores of lance corporals and
corporals. Regular promotion to corporal and sergeant depends
on a Marine's composite score.
•The promotion system up to the rank of sergeant is described
in The Promotion System lesson of this course.
•The reference is Marine Corps Order P1400.32D, Marine Corps
Promotion Manual, Volume 2, Enlisted Promotions, also known
as the Promotion Manual.
Reenlistments
Ans: •All Marines applying for reenlistment must have a
minimum proficiency and conduct mark average of 4.0/4.0
during the current enlistment contract and extensions to that
contract.
•The reference is MCO 1040.31, Enlisted Retention and Career
Development Manual.
Certain Duty Assignments
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
, Page |2
Ans: As special duty and independent duty assignments involve
demanding duties or duties with an unusual degree of
responsibility, Marines must meet special requirements which
include minimum proficiency and conduct marks.
•Marine Recruiter Duty: Corporals applying for recruiting duty
must have a minimum 4.6/4.6 Proficiency/Conduct mark
average.
•Marine Security Guard Duty: Marine security guard applicants
must have a minimum 4.2/4.2 Proficiency/Conduct mark
average.
•Independent Duty: Marines going on independent duty must
have a minimum 4.4/4.4 Proficiency/Conduct mark average.
The reference is MCO P1326.6D, Selecting, Screening, and
Preparing Enlisted Marines for Special Duty Assignme nts and
Independent Duties.
Characterization and Discharge
Ans: •Honorable characterization of service is the highest
quality characterization and is appropriate when the quality of
the Marine's service has met the standards of accepted conduct
and performance of duty for military personnel. Therefore,
characterization will be honorable for Marines with an average
proficiency mark of 3.0 or higher and average conduct mark of
4.0 or higher.
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
, Page |3
•This is important as a less than honorable characterizati on
may reduce employment opportunities and the benefits
received from Veterans Affairs after discharge.
•The reference is MCO 1900.16, Separation and Retirement
Manual.
Purpose of Pros and Cons
Ans: •The purpose of proficiency (pro) and conduct ( con) marks
is to indicate how proficiently individual Marines performed
their primary duties, and how they conducted themselves
during the rating period.
responsibility of NCO
Ans: The responsibilities of staff noncommissioned officers
(SNCOs) and noncommissioned officers (NCOs) include training
and supervising Marines in the performance of their duties. This
close relationship gives NCOs the ability to record information
on a Marine's performance and to evaluate their performance
during the reporting period. NCOs' responsibilities include
providing a fair and balanced recommendation for pro and con
marks to the commander.
responsibility of CO
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
, Page |4
Ans: The commanding officer establishes unit policies and
procedures for recommending and assigning proficiency and
conduct marks. Since the commanding officer cannot physically
observe all corporals and below on a daily basis, the
commander will rely on SNCOs and NCOs to evaluate the
performance of their Marines and to submit recommended
proficiency and conduct marks. Although the commander
should review and consider the recommended marks, the
commander has sole responsibility in the assignment of mar ks
for each Marine. The commanding officer is the deciding
authority and is responsible for maintaining an equitable
proficiency and conduct performance evaluation system for
Marines in his/her charge.
Pro and Cons Policy
Ans: Marine Corps Order P1070.12K, Individual Records
Administration Manual, or IRAM, provides SNCOs, NCOs, and
commanders with the guidance necessary to recommend and
assign proficiency and conduct marks. The IRAM establishes
guidelines to create consistency in the evaluation pro cess,
measuring specific factors expected of all Marines.
Marks are required for corporals and below. The process for
assigning proficiency and conduct marks is founded in the belief
that the commander who assigns these marks and the SNCOs or
NCOs who recommend them are familiar with paragraph 4005
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |