Marine Corps TBS Phase 3 Exam Practice Questions (Original) EXAM | Latest Update |
Original Questions & Answers with Detailed Rationales | Graded A+
Exam Focus: Rifle platoon tactics, offensive and defensive
operations, MOUT, fire support integration, combat
engineering, machine gun employment, and night attack
operations.
Phase 3 Overview: Rifle Platoon Tactics (Rifle Platoon
Leadership)
Phase III of The Basic School shifts focus from the squad to the rifle platoon — approximately 40
Marines. This phase is where newly commissioned officers learn to scale up their leadership
from managing small teams to commanding a full platoon in combat operations. Key areas
include offensive and defensive platoon operations, Military Operations on Urbanized Terrain
(MOUT), and integration of fire support from artillery and mortars.
Key Exam Sections (Moodle):
1. Rifle Platoon in the Offense
2. Rifle Platoon Night Attacks
3. Engineering in the Offense and Defense
4. Rifle Platoon in the Defense
5. Enlisted Promotion System
6. Explosive Obstacles
7. Aviation Employment Considerations
8. Intro to Crew-Served Weapons
9. M240B Medium Machine Gun
, 10. Heavy Machine Guns
11. Machine Gun Employment
12. Movement to Contact
Section 1: Warfighting & Maneuver Warfare (Q1–25)
Q1. Which three principles of maneuver warfare are most
emphasized in the TBS Phase 3 curriculum?
A) Surprise, Tempo, Focus on enemy's center of gravity
B) Attrition-based frontal assault, Static defense, Overwhelming
firepower
C) Mass, Objective, Offensive
D) Unity of Command, Security, Simplicity
Answer: A
Rationale: Surprise, tempo, and targeting the enemy's center of
gravity are core to maneuver warfare. Attrition and static
defense are contrary to its principles.
Q2. Under the 2025 MCDP 1 (Warfighting) update, "tempo" is
defined as:
A) Number of rounds fired per minute
B) Speed of movement multiplied by effectiveness of action
C) Distance covered per hour
D) Time between commander's decision and execution
Answer: B
Rationale: Tempo = speed × effectiveness. Options A, C, and D
,are factors that contribute to tempo but do not capture the full
definition.
Q3. Which of the following are characteristics of maneuver
warfare?
A) Exploiting enemy weaknesses rather than strengths
B) Rapid exploitation of gaps
C) Fixing the enemy while maneuvering
D) Frontal assault as the first option
E) Withdrawal at first contact
Answer: A, B, C
Rationale: Maneuver warfare exploits weaknesses, gaps, and
fixing the enemy. Frontal assault is an attrition tactic, and
withdrawal at first contact is not an offensive principle.
Q4. What is the primary purpose of an offensive operation in
Marine Corps doctrine?
A) To destroy the enemy and their morale
B) To gain information about enemy strengths
C) To seize, retain, and exploit the initiative
D) To conserve friendly combat power
Answer: C
Rationale: The principal purpose of the offense is to seize,
retain, and exploit the initiative while imposing our will on the
enemy.
, Q5. What are the six tactical tenets?
A) Plan, Prepare, Execute, Assess, Adapt, Replan
B) Achieve a decision, Gain the advantage, Be faster, Adapt,
Cooperate, Exploit success
C) Speed, Surprise, Simplicity, Security, Violence, Offensive
D) Mass, Maneuver, Objective, Unity, Security, Surprise
Answer: B
Rationale: The six tactical tenets are: Achieve a decision, Gain
the advantage, Be faster, Adapt, Cooperate, and Exploit success.
Q6. What does the acronym METT-TC stand for in the tactical
planning process?
A) Mission, Enemy, Terrain, Troops, Time, Civilians
B) Maneuver, Equipment, Training, Tactics, Time, Conditions
C) Mission, Equipment, Terrain, Troops, Time, Communications
D) Maneuver, Enemy, Terrain, Tactics, Time, Control
Answer: A
Rationale: METT-TC is the framework for mission analysis:
Mission, Enemy, Terrain and Weather, Troops and Fire Support,
Time, and Civilian Considerations.
Q7. What is the definition of a "center of gravity" in maneuver
warfare?
A) The geographic center of the battlefield
B) The source of an enemy's strength or power that, if
neutralized, will lead to their defeat
Original Questions & Answers with Detailed Rationales | Graded A+
Exam Focus: Rifle platoon tactics, offensive and defensive
operations, MOUT, fire support integration, combat
engineering, machine gun employment, and night attack
operations.
Phase 3 Overview: Rifle Platoon Tactics (Rifle Platoon
Leadership)
Phase III of The Basic School shifts focus from the squad to the rifle platoon — approximately 40
Marines. This phase is where newly commissioned officers learn to scale up their leadership
from managing small teams to commanding a full platoon in combat operations. Key areas
include offensive and defensive platoon operations, Military Operations on Urbanized Terrain
(MOUT), and integration of fire support from artillery and mortars.
Key Exam Sections (Moodle):
1. Rifle Platoon in the Offense
2. Rifle Platoon Night Attacks
3. Engineering in the Offense and Defense
4. Rifle Platoon in the Defense
5. Enlisted Promotion System
6. Explosive Obstacles
7. Aviation Employment Considerations
8. Intro to Crew-Served Weapons
9. M240B Medium Machine Gun
, 10. Heavy Machine Guns
11. Machine Gun Employment
12. Movement to Contact
Section 1: Warfighting & Maneuver Warfare (Q1–25)
Q1. Which three principles of maneuver warfare are most
emphasized in the TBS Phase 3 curriculum?
A) Surprise, Tempo, Focus on enemy's center of gravity
B) Attrition-based frontal assault, Static defense, Overwhelming
firepower
C) Mass, Objective, Offensive
D) Unity of Command, Security, Simplicity
Answer: A
Rationale: Surprise, tempo, and targeting the enemy's center of
gravity are core to maneuver warfare. Attrition and static
defense are contrary to its principles.
Q2. Under the 2025 MCDP 1 (Warfighting) update, "tempo" is
defined as:
A) Number of rounds fired per minute
B) Speed of movement multiplied by effectiveness of action
C) Distance covered per hour
D) Time between commander's decision and execution
Answer: B
Rationale: Tempo = speed × effectiveness. Options A, C, and D
,are factors that contribute to tempo but do not capture the full
definition.
Q3. Which of the following are characteristics of maneuver
warfare?
A) Exploiting enemy weaknesses rather than strengths
B) Rapid exploitation of gaps
C) Fixing the enemy while maneuvering
D) Frontal assault as the first option
E) Withdrawal at first contact
Answer: A, B, C
Rationale: Maneuver warfare exploits weaknesses, gaps, and
fixing the enemy. Frontal assault is an attrition tactic, and
withdrawal at first contact is not an offensive principle.
Q4. What is the primary purpose of an offensive operation in
Marine Corps doctrine?
A) To destroy the enemy and their morale
B) To gain information about enemy strengths
C) To seize, retain, and exploit the initiative
D) To conserve friendly combat power
Answer: C
Rationale: The principal purpose of the offense is to seize,
retain, and exploit the initiative while imposing our will on the
enemy.
, Q5. What are the six tactical tenets?
A) Plan, Prepare, Execute, Assess, Adapt, Replan
B) Achieve a decision, Gain the advantage, Be faster, Adapt,
Cooperate, Exploit success
C) Speed, Surprise, Simplicity, Security, Violence, Offensive
D) Mass, Maneuver, Objective, Unity, Security, Surprise
Answer: B
Rationale: The six tactical tenets are: Achieve a decision, Gain
the advantage, Be faster, Adapt, Cooperate, and Exploit success.
Q6. What does the acronym METT-TC stand for in the tactical
planning process?
A) Mission, Enemy, Terrain, Troops, Time, Civilians
B) Maneuver, Equipment, Training, Tactics, Time, Conditions
C) Mission, Equipment, Terrain, Troops, Time, Communications
D) Maneuver, Enemy, Terrain, Tactics, Time, Control
Answer: A
Rationale: METT-TC is the framework for mission analysis:
Mission, Enemy, Terrain and Weather, Troops and Fire Support,
Time, and Civilian Considerations.
Q7. What is the definition of a "center of gravity" in maneuver
warfare?
A) The geographic center of the battlefield
B) The source of an enemy's strength or power that, if
neutralized, will lead to their defeat
