IBOLC Comprehensive Exam Study Guide
ACTUAL UPDATED Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Characteristics of the Offense - CORRECT ANSWER Audacity, Concentration, Surpise,
Tempo
Audacity - CORRECT ANSWER Simple plan of action, boldly executed
Concentration - CORRECT ANSWER Massing of overwhelming effects of combat power
to achieve a single purpose
Surprise - CORRECT ANSWER In the offense, achieved by attacking the enemy at a time
or place they do not expect or in a manner for which they are unprepared
Tempo - CORRECT ANSWER The relative speed and rhythm of military operations over
time with respect to the enemy
Offensive Tasks - CORRECT ANSWER Movement to Contact, Attack, Exploitation,
Pursuit
Movement to Contact - CORRECT ANSWER An offensive task designed to develop the
situation and establish or regain contact
Attack - CORRECT ANSWER Destroys or defeats enemy forces, seizes and secures
terrain, or both
Exploitation - CORRECT ANSWER Follows an attack and disorganizes the enemy in-
depth. Seeks to disintegrate enemy forces to the point where they have no alternative but
surrender or retreat
,Pursuit - CORRECT ANSWER An offensive task designed to catch or cut off a hostile
force attempting to escape, with the aim of destroying them. Normally follows exploitation
Forms of Manuever - CORRECT ANSWER Envelopment, Turning Movement, Frontal
Attack, Penetration, Infiltration, Flank Attack
Envelopment - CORRECT ANSWER A form of maneuver in which an attacking force
seeks to avoid the principal enemy defenses by seizing objectives behind those defenses allowing
the targeted enemy force to be destroyed in their current positions
Turning Movement - CORRECT ANSWER A form of maneuver in which the attacking
force seeks to avoid the enemy's principle defense positions by seizing objectives behind the
enemy's current position
Frontal Attack - CORRECT ANSWER A form of maneuver where an attacking force
seeks to destroy a weaker enemy force, or fix a larger enemy in place over a broad front. Can be
used to overrun a weak enemy force
Penetration - CORRECT ANSWER A form of maneuver where an attacking force seeks to
rupture enemy defenses in a narrow front to disrupt the defensive system
Infiltration - CORRECT ANSWER A form of maneuver where an attacking force
conducts undetected movement through or into an area controlled by enemy forces. The goal is
to occupy a position of advantage behind enemy positions while exposing only small friendly
elements to their defensive fires
Flank Attack - CORRECT ANSWER A form of offensive maneuver directed at the flank
of an enemy force. A flank is the right or left side of a military formation and is not oriented
toward the enemy
Characteristics of the Defense - CORRECT ANSWER Preparation, Security, Disruption,
Mass and Concentration, Flexibility, Maneuver, Operations In-Depth
, Defensive Tasks - CORRECT ANSWER Area Defense, Mobile Defense, Retrograde
Area Defense - CORRECT ANSWER Concentrates on denying enemy forces access to
designated terrain for a specific time rather than destroying the enemy outright. The focus is in
retaining terrain where the bulk of the defending force positions itself in mutually supporting
positions and controls the terrain between positions
Mobile Defense - CORRECT ANSWER A defensive task that concentrates on destruction
or defeat of the enemy through a decisive attack by a striking force. Focuses on the defeating or
destroying the enemy by allowing enemy forces to advance to a point where they are exposed to
a decisive counterattack by the striking force.
Retrograde - CORRECT ANSWER A defensive task involving organized movement away
from the enemy. The enemy may force this or a leader may execute voluntarily. In either case the
higher command of the force executing the operation must approve it.
Subcategories of retrograde - CORRECT ANSWER Delay, withdrawal, retirement
Delay - CORRECT ANSWER Allows units to trade space for time, avoiding decisive
engagement and safeguarding it's forces.
Withdrawal - CORRECT ANSWER A planned retrograde operation, which a force in
contact disengages from an enemy force, and moves in a direction away from the enemy.
Retirement - CORRECT ANSWER A task employing to move a force not in contact to the
rear. A form of retrograde, which a force not in contact with the enemy moves away from the
enemy.
Forms of the defense - CORRECT ANSWER Defense of linear obstacle, Perimeter
defense, Reverse slope defense
ACTUAL UPDATED Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Characteristics of the Offense - CORRECT ANSWER Audacity, Concentration, Surpise,
Tempo
Audacity - CORRECT ANSWER Simple plan of action, boldly executed
Concentration - CORRECT ANSWER Massing of overwhelming effects of combat power
to achieve a single purpose
Surprise - CORRECT ANSWER In the offense, achieved by attacking the enemy at a time
or place they do not expect or in a manner for which they are unprepared
Tempo - CORRECT ANSWER The relative speed and rhythm of military operations over
time with respect to the enemy
Offensive Tasks - CORRECT ANSWER Movement to Contact, Attack, Exploitation,
Pursuit
Movement to Contact - CORRECT ANSWER An offensive task designed to develop the
situation and establish or regain contact
Attack - CORRECT ANSWER Destroys or defeats enemy forces, seizes and secures
terrain, or both
Exploitation - CORRECT ANSWER Follows an attack and disorganizes the enemy in-
depth. Seeks to disintegrate enemy forces to the point where they have no alternative but
surrender or retreat
,Pursuit - CORRECT ANSWER An offensive task designed to catch or cut off a hostile
force attempting to escape, with the aim of destroying them. Normally follows exploitation
Forms of Manuever - CORRECT ANSWER Envelopment, Turning Movement, Frontal
Attack, Penetration, Infiltration, Flank Attack
Envelopment - CORRECT ANSWER A form of maneuver in which an attacking force
seeks to avoid the principal enemy defenses by seizing objectives behind those defenses allowing
the targeted enemy force to be destroyed in their current positions
Turning Movement - CORRECT ANSWER A form of maneuver in which the attacking
force seeks to avoid the enemy's principle defense positions by seizing objectives behind the
enemy's current position
Frontal Attack - CORRECT ANSWER A form of maneuver where an attacking force
seeks to destroy a weaker enemy force, or fix a larger enemy in place over a broad front. Can be
used to overrun a weak enemy force
Penetration - CORRECT ANSWER A form of maneuver where an attacking force seeks to
rupture enemy defenses in a narrow front to disrupt the defensive system
Infiltration - CORRECT ANSWER A form of maneuver where an attacking force
conducts undetected movement through or into an area controlled by enemy forces. The goal is
to occupy a position of advantage behind enemy positions while exposing only small friendly
elements to their defensive fires
Flank Attack - CORRECT ANSWER A form of offensive maneuver directed at the flank
of an enemy force. A flank is the right or left side of a military formation and is not oriented
toward the enemy
Characteristics of the Defense - CORRECT ANSWER Preparation, Security, Disruption,
Mass and Concentration, Flexibility, Maneuver, Operations In-Depth
, Defensive Tasks - CORRECT ANSWER Area Defense, Mobile Defense, Retrograde
Area Defense - CORRECT ANSWER Concentrates on denying enemy forces access to
designated terrain for a specific time rather than destroying the enemy outright. The focus is in
retaining terrain where the bulk of the defending force positions itself in mutually supporting
positions and controls the terrain between positions
Mobile Defense - CORRECT ANSWER A defensive task that concentrates on destruction
or defeat of the enemy through a decisive attack by a striking force. Focuses on the defeating or
destroying the enemy by allowing enemy forces to advance to a point where they are exposed to
a decisive counterattack by the striking force.
Retrograde - CORRECT ANSWER A defensive task involving organized movement away
from the enemy. The enemy may force this or a leader may execute voluntarily. In either case the
higher command of the force executing the operation must approve it.
Subcategories of retrograde - CORRECT ANSWER Delay, withdrawal, retirement
Delay - CORRECT ANSWER Allows units to trade space for time, avoiding decisive
engagement and safeguarding it's forces.
Withdrawal - CORRECT ANSWER A planned retrograde operation, which a force in
contact disengages from an enemy force, and moves in a direction away from the enemy.
Retirement - CORRECT ANSWER A task employing to move a force not in contact to the
rear. A form of retrograde, which a force not in contact with the enemy moves away from the
enemy.
Forms of the defense - CORRECT ANSWER Defense of linear obstacle, Perimeter
defense, Reverse slope defense
