CPLS COURSE COMPREHENSIVE TEST
PAPER QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
VERIFIED PREPARATION MATERIAL
●● LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHY
Answer: Leading Marines describes a leadership philosophy that reflects
the traditional strengths of the Marine Corps as an institution and
attempts to define the very ethos of being a Marine.
Marine leadership philosophy:
•Is about the inseparable relationship between the leader and the led, and
is as much about the individual Marine—the bedrock upon which our
Corps is built—as it is about any leader
•Captures the undefinable spirit that forms the character of our Corps—
being a Marine comes from the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor that is
tattooed on the soul of every one of us after earning the title United
States Marine
•Is based upon certain fundamental traits and principles of leading—
Marines are not born knowing them, but must learn what they are and
what they represent
,●● HONOR
Answer: A code of personal integrity, honor guides those who do the
right thing when no one is looking. It is not only a duty but also a
distinction, as those who possess honor are held in honor. It is found in
one's beliefs but exhibited through one's actions. Marines are held to the
highest of standards, ethically and morally. Marines are expected to act
responsibly in a manner befitting the title they have earned.
●● COURAGE
Answer: When other principles are tested, it is courage that prevents
them from crumbling. It is not about ignoring fear but being stronger
than fear. Courage is the guardian of all other values. It is there when
times are toughest, when difficult decisions have to be made. It takes the
form of mental, physical, and ethical strength, and it is found in the
backbone of every Marine.
●● COMMITMENT
Answer: Commitment is the spirit of determination found in every
Marine. It is what compels Marines to serve our nation and the Corps
and to continue on when others quit. Commitment does not take breaks,
and it cannot be faked. It measures and proves one's desire, dedication,
and faithfulness. Becoming a United States Marine represents the
highest level of commitment.
●● WAR DEFINED
,Answer: War is defined as a violent clash of interests between or among
organized groups characterized by the use of military force.
•These groups have traditionally been established nation-states, but they
also include any non- state group—such as an international coalition or a
faction within or outside of an existing state—with its own political
interests and the ability to generate organized violence on a scale
sufficient to have significant political consequences.
•The essence of war is a violent struggle between two hostile,
independent, and irreconcilable wills, each trying to impose itself on the
other. It is critical to keep in mind that the enemy is not an inanimate
object to be acted upon but an independent and animate force with its
own objectives and plans.
•Appreciating this dynamic interplay between opposing human wills is
essential to understanding the fundamental nature of war.
●● OBJECTIVE OF WAR
Answer: The objective of war is to impose our will on our enemy.
•The means to this end is the organized application or threat of violence
by military force.
, •The target of that violence may be limited to hostile combatant forces
or it may extend to the enemy population at large.
•War may range from intense clashes between large military forces—
sometimes backed by an official declaration of war—to subtler,
unconventional hostilities that barely reach the threshold of violence.
●● FRICTION
Answer: Countless factors make war difficult to conduct. Collectively,
these factors are called friction. Friction:
•Is the force that resists all action and saps energy. It makes the simple
difficult and the difficult seemingly impossible
•Can be mental or physical
•Can be external or self-imposed
Whatever form it takes war is a human enterprise; therefore, friction will
always have a psychological as well as a physical impact.
PAPER QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
VERIFIED PREPARATION MATERIAL
●● LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHY
Answer: Leading Marines describes a leadership philosophy that reflects
the traditional strengths of the Marine Corps as an institution and
attempts to define the very ethos of being a Marine.
Marine leadership philosophy:
•Is about the inseparable relationship between the leader and the led, and
is as much about the individual Marine—the bedrock upon which our
Corps is built—as it is about any leader
•Captures the undefinable spirit that forms the character of our Corps—
being a Marine comes from the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor that is
tattooed on the soul of every one of us after earning the title United
States Marine
•Is based upon certain fundamental traits and principles of leading—
Marines are not born knowing them, but must learn what they are and
what they represent
,●● HONOR
Answer: A code of personal integrity, honor guides those who do the
right thing when no one is looking. It is not only a duty but also a
distinction, as those who possess honor are held in honor. It is found in
one's beliefs but exhibited through one's actions. Marines are held to the
highest of standards, ethically and morally. Marines are expected to act
responsibly in a manner befitting the title they have earned.
●● COURAGE
Answer: When other principles are tested, it is courage that prevents
them from crumbling. It is not about ignoring fear but being stronger
than fear. Courage is the guardian of all other values. It is there when
times are toughest, when difficult decisions have to be made. It takes the
form of mental, physical, and ethical strength, and it is found in the
backbone of every Marine.
●● COMMITMENT
Answer: Commitment is the spirit of determination found in every
Marine. It is what compels Marines to serve our nation and the Corps
and to continue on when others quit. Commitment does not take breaks,
and it cannot be faked. It measures and proves one's desire, dedication,
and faithfulness. Becoming a United States Marine represents the
highest level of commitment.
●● WAR DEFINED
,Answer: War is defined as a violent clash of interests between or among
organized groups characterized by the use of military force.
•These groups have traditionally been established nation-states, but they
also include any non- state group—such as an international coalition or a
faction within or outside of an existing state—with its own political
interests and the ability to generate organized violence on a scale
sufficient to have significant political consequences.
•The essence of war is a violent struggle between two hostile,
independent, and irreconcilable wills, each trying to impose itself on the
other. It is critical to keep in mind that the enemy is not an inanimate
object to be acted upon but an independent and animate force with its
own objectives and plans.
•Appreciating this dynamic interplay between opposing human wills is
essential to understanding the fundamental nature of war.
●● OBJECTIVE OF WAR
Answer: The objective of war is to impose our will on our enemy.
•The means to this end is the organized application or threat of violence
by military force.
, •The target of that violence may be limited to hostile combatant forces
or it may extend to the enemy population at large.
•War may range from intense clashes between large military forces—
sometimes backed by an official declaration of war—to subtler,
unconventional hostilities that barely reach the threshold of violence.
●● FRICTION
Answer: Countless factors make war difficult to conduct. Collectively,
these factors are called friction. Friction:
•Is the force that resists all action and saps energy. It makes the simple
difficult and the difficult seemingly impossible
•Can be mental or physical
•Can be external or self-imposed
Whatever form it takes war is a human enterprise; therefore, friction will
always have a psychological as well as a physical impact.
