TBS PHASE 3 ACTUAL 2026 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS RATED A+
✔✔Alternate Position - ✔✔is where a unit can still accomplish its assigned mission, but
that is occupied when the primary BP becomes either untenable or unsuitable.
✔✔Supplementary Position - ✔✔allows a unit to address unexpected enemy schemes
of maneuver.
✔✔Subsequent Position - ✔✔is a preplanned position to which a unit expects to move
during the course of the defensive battle
✔✔Disrupt - ✔✔breaks up enemy formations
✔✔Protective Obstacles - ✔✔those obstacles employed to protect the defending force
from the enemy's final assault. Close to defensive positions (at least 50 meters away so
that they are out of grenade range), tied in with the FPF, and emplaced by units
normally without the engineers assistance.
✔✔Tactical Obstacles - ✔✔those obstacles that directly affect the enemy's ability to
maneuver. Meant to produce four tactical effects:
Disrupt, Turn, Fix, Block
✔✔Turn - ✔✔Manipulates the enemy's maneuver in a desired direction
✔✔Fix - ✔✔slows the enemy within a specific area
✔✔Direct Support - ✔✔the unit being supported is assigned fires supporting the
platoon. The supported unit assigns the guns a mission and targets; however, tactical
control still remains with the Machine Gun Section Leader.
✔✔Block - ✔✔stop an enemy's advance along a specific avenue
✔✔General Support - ✔✔If a unit is in support of another unit, it will provide fires to
assist the supported units' scheme of maneuver. A unit may be in support of a company
and will help any or all units within that company.
✔✔Attachment - ✔✔the organization assumes complete tactical and administrative
control over the unit.
✔✔Economy of Fires - ✔✔Utilize appropriate weapons systems in accordance with the
threat. Establish engagement criteria for crew served weapons to conserve ammunition,
make sure the weapon system is appropriate to the threat and to ensure weapon
system and crew survivability.
, ✔✔What is target Precedence - ✔✔Who do I shoot first? Example: SQD sized elements
or larger, Crew Serviced Weapons, etc.
✔✔Fire Plan Sketch - ✔✔is a to-scale, graphic representation of the defensive position
that is used by the commander to visualize and coordinate the effects of his
engagement area and to prevent gaps in his fires
✔✔4 Steps of creating a Range Card - ✔✔Step 1 - gunner lays beside gun, sets sights
on limit of grazing fire, and then lays the gun on aiming point along the FPL.
Step 2 - Team leader walks along the FPL using a standard and measured pace count.
Step 3 - When the gunner loses sight of the team leader in defilade, he yells "Mark".
The team leader marks the distance and puts it on range card.
Step 4 - This process is completed until the terrain denies you grazing fire, or you reach
the maximum range of grazing fire for that weapon system.
✔✔Where should Command Post be placed - ✔✔The platoon commander must select
a location, which is generally located behind the Main Effort where they can see the
engagement area and effectively command and control the defense during contact with
the enemy.
✔✔Constructing a fire plan sketch - ✔✔1. Determine appropriate scale for fire plan
sketch
2. Ensure that you know the length of each squad battle position as well as the attitude
of the position.
3. Use the gridlines available to orient the grids north.
4. Draw and label the platoon CP.
5. Use the protractor to measure and draw each squad's left and right lateral limits (for
primary, alternate and supplementary positions) and write azimuth along its associated
line.
6. Use protractor to draw: MG PDF's and FPL's (not including those for the 249's). PDF
is depicted with bold line.
7. Annotate key terrain on the sketch.
8. Draw and number TRP's and Trigger lines
9. Annotate targets, ensure the FPF is drawn with boxes.
10. Annotate obstacles
11. Draw passage points for patrols
12. Complete the marginal information
13. Create a copy of the fire plan sketch (1 for higher and 1 to keep)
✔✔What is a security Plan - ✔✔The platoon commander should develop a plan which
utilizes patrols and LP/OPs to deceive the enemy as to the exact location of the main
defenses. Security must be maintained at all times when conducting operations. In the
defense, the security plan not only ensures that the platoon is ready when the enemy
attacks. It also facilitates the offensive action of the platoon in the defense. There are
ANSWERS RATED A+
✔✔Alternate Position - ✔✔is where a unit can still accomplish its assigned mission, but
that is occupied when the primary BP becomes either untenable or unsuitable.
✔✔Supplementary Position - ✔✔allows a unit to address unexpected enemy schemes
of maneuver.
✔✔Subsequent Position - ✔✔is a preplanned position to which a unit expects to move
during the course of the defensive battle
✔✔Disrupt - ✔✔breaks up enemy formations
✔✔Protective Obstacles - ✔✔those obstacles employed to protect the defending force
from the enemy's final assault. Close to defensive positions (at least 50 meters away so
that they are out of grenade range), tied in with the FPF, and emplaced by units
normally without the engineers assistance.
✔✔Tactical Obstacles - ✔✔those obstacles that directly affect the enemy's ability to
maneuver. Meant to produce four tactical effects:
Disrupt, Turn, Fix, Block
✔✔Turn - ✔✔Manipulates the enemy's maneuver in a desired direction
✔✔Fix - ✔✔slows the enemy within a specific area
✔✔Direct Support - ✔✔the unit being supported is assigned fires supporting the
platoon. The supported unit assigns the guns a mission and targets; however, tactical
control still remains with the Machine Gun Section Leader.
✔✔Block - ✔✔stop an enemy's advance along a specific avenue
✔✔General Support - ✔✔If a unit is in support of another unit, it will provide fires to
assist the supported units' scheme of maneuver. A unit may be in support of a company
and will help any or all units within that company.
✔✔Attachment - ✔✔the organization assumes complete tactical and administrative
control over the unit.
✔✔Economy of Fires - ✔✔Utilize appropriate weapons systems in accordance with the
threat. Establish engagement criteria for crew served weapons to conserve ammunition,
make sure the weapon system is appropriate to the threat and to ensure weapon
system and crew survivability.
, ✔✔What is target Precedence - ✔✔Who do I shoot first? Example: SQD sized elements
or larger, Crew Serviced Weapons, etc.
✔✔Fire Plan Sketch - ✔✔is a to-scale, graphic representation of the defensive position
that is used by the commander to visualize and coordinate the effects of his
engagement area and to prevent gaps in his fires
✔✔4 Steps of creating a Range Card - ✔✔Step 1 - gunner lays beside gun, sets sights
on limit of grazing fire, and then lays the gun on aiming point along the FPL.
Step 2 - Team leader walks along the FPL using a standard and measured pace count.
Step 3 - When the gunner loses sight of the team leader in defilade, he yells "Mark".
The team leader marks the distance and puts it on range card.
Step 4 - This process is completed until the terrain denies you grazing fire, or you reach
the maximum range of grazing fire for that weapon system.
✔✔Where should Command Post be placed - ✔✔The platoon commander must select
a location, which is generally located behind the Main Effort where they can see the
engagement area and effectively command and control the defense during contact with
the enemy.
✔✔Constructing a fire plan sketch - ✔✔1. Determine appropriate scale for fire plan
sketch
2. Ensure that you know the length of each squad battle position as well as the attitude
of the position.
3. Use the gridlines available to orient the grids north.
4. Draw and label the platoon CP.
5. Use the protractor to measure and draw each squad's left and right lateral limits (for
primary, alternate and supplementary positions) and write azimuth along its associated
line.
6. Use protractor to draw: MG PDF's and FPL's (not including those for the 249's). PDF
is depicted with bold line.
7. Annotate key terrain on the sketch.
8. Draw and number TRP's and Trigger lines
9. Annotate targets, ensure the FPF is drawn with boxes.
10. Annotate obstacles
11. Draw passage points for patrols
12. Complete the marginal information
13. Create a copy of the fire plan sketch (1 for higher and 1 to keep)
✔✔What is a security Plan - ✔✔The platoon commander should develop a plan which
utilizes patrols and LP/OPs to deceive the enemy as to the exact location of the main
defenses. Security must be maintained at all times when conducting operations. In the
defense, the security plan not only ensures that the platoon is ready when the enemy
attacks. It also facilitates the offensive action of the platoon in the defense. There are
