Captains Career Course Final Exam
Questions and Answers Verified Solutions
Latest Update 2026/2027
Question:
HISTORY OF ORGANIZED RANKS
Answer:
The leadership position of the Marine NCO did not begin with the birth of the United States
Marines Corps. This position evolved over centuries of military action and was influenced by
different cultures.
Historically, armies consisted of officers and groups of men they enlisted to be in their charge. As
the first professional army in history, the Roman Legion formalized a military rank structure that
recognized subordinate ranks to the centurion who was the equivalent of today's company
commander.
These individuals assisted the centurion in the running of the unit.
Question:
optio
Answer:
the centurion's second in command and oversaw all training of the century. In battle, the optio
commanded the rear of the formation and was identified by a white and black plume and the
wooden staff he carried to enforce orders
Question:
tesserarius
Answer:
the head of the guard, keeper of the watch, and second in command to the optio. This
noncommissioned officer oversaw fatigue and guard duties for the company.
Question:
,signifier
Answer:
the treasurer and also carried the "standard," a medallion decorated staff that identified the
company rally point. He was third in command of the century and wore a draped bear's hide.
Question:
decantus
Answer:
the first rank a legionary could be promoted to. Supervising a section of eight men, they oversaw
camp set-up and training while enforcing personal hygiene and maintenance of equipment. They
were identified by two feathers attached to the side of their helmets
Question:
ORIGIN OF TERMS: CORPORAL
Answer:
The term corporal is derived from 15th century Italy.
The Italian army's main tactical formation was the squadra which translates into square. The
squadra was commanded by a reliable veteran known as the capo de squadra, or head of the square.
A hundred years later, during the 17th century, the term was shortened to caporale. At that same
time, the French picked up the term pronouncing it in various ways, one of them being corporal.
By the 17th or 18th century, the British adopted the rank of corporal. In 1803, when they began
using chevrons, British corporals received two stripes.
During the American Revolution, both British and French regulations influenced the military
structure of the continental forces.
Question:
ORIGIN OF TERMS: SERGEANT
Answer:
The term sergeant began as serviens, Latin for servant, to a knight in 13th century France.
The serviens were experienced warriors that rode horses, but were not wealthy enough to afford all
the equipment and retainers to qualify as a knight. Serviens would be called upon to take charge of
a group of serfs forced to serve in the army. They were responsible for conducting training, leading
serfs into battle, and keeping order. At the time it was an occupation, not a rank.
,The English adopted the word from the French and began pronouncing it SAR-gent. The colonies
continued to supply both soldiers and Marines to the British empire. Therefore, when the American
colonies created their own military it was only natural to include the rank of sergeant. Over the
years, technical advances and many different duties and responsibilities have led to several grades
of sergeant.
Question:
RESOLUTION
Answer:
More than just our emblem was derived from the British Royal Marines. In the 17th and 18th
century American colonists were notably a maritime people. England found the colonists to be well
acclimated to service upon the sea and therefore, a large number were raised to serve the British
fleet as Royal Marines.
On 10 Nov 1775, as the Second Continental Congress resolved that two battalions of Marines be
raised, numerous colonists possessed the training and experience that made them the best sort for
an efficient Marine force.
The resolution specified structure to include one colonel, two lieutenant colonels, two majors, and
officers as usual in other regiments. "Other regiments" is a reference to land forces. Corporals and
sergeants were included among these officers as they were in the British Royal Marines.
Question:
TRANSFORMATION
Answer:
In 1777, as the Continental Army moved into winter quarters at Valley Forge they were low on
discipline, supplies, and victories. The British had taken the American capital of Philadelphia and
routed them at the Battles of Brandywine and Germantown.
Painfully aware of his army's shortcomings, General Washington requested an inspector-general to
transform them into a professional fighting force. The request was answered with the arrival of the
Prussian Baron Friedrich Wilhelm Von Steuben.
The great efforts of Inspector General Von Steuben transformed this ragtag army into a cohesive
and disciplined fighting force that would defeat the elite British military.
His Revolutionary War Drill Manual or Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of
the United States commonly called "The Blue Book" established:
Question:
, Standardized drill
Question:
Camp sanitation
Question:
Unit structure
Question:
Leadership qualities
Question:
Leadership duties and responsibilities
Much of what is done today stems from these teachings
Question:
VALLEY FORGE: CONTINENTAL MARINES
Answer:
Just before the Battle of Trenton (1776), Major Samuel Nicholas was attached to the Continental
Army with three companies of Marines and assigned to serve as both infantry and artillery under
Colonel Cadwalader.
In the fall of 1777, the Marines would follow the Continental Army into winter quarters at Valley
Forge where Maj. Nicholas continued to assist Col. Cadwalader as muster master and
quartermaster. During this period, Nicholas and the Marines would witness the great transformation
of the Continental Army.
Congress judged that prescribing some invariable rules for order and discipline of troops was
inherently important and ordered that the decided regulations be observed by all troops of the
United states. At this time, Marines were held to both Navy regulations, while at sea, and Army
regulations, while on land.
General Von Steuben's regulations remained the official military guide until the War of 1812. Its
relevance can still be seen in modern use today especially in our recruit training.
Question:
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SERGEANT AND CORPORAL (1779)
Answer:
Questions and Answers Verified Solutions
Latest Update 2026/2027
Question:
HISTORY OF ORGANIZED RANKS
Answer:
The leadership position of the Marine NCO did not begin with the birth of the United States
Marines Corps. This position evolved over centuries of military action and was influenced by
different cultures.
Historically, armies consisted of officers and groups of men they enlisted to be in their charge. As
the first professional army in history, the Roman Legion formalized a military rank structure that
recognized subordinate ranks to the centurion who was the equivalent of today's company
commander.
These individuals assisted the centurion in the running of the unit.
Question:
optio
Answer:
the centurion's second in command and oversaw all training of the century. In battle, the optio
commanded the rear of the formation and was identified by a white and black plume and the
wooden staff he carried to enforce orders
Question:
tesserarius
Answer:
the head of the guard, keeper of the watch, and second in command to the optio. This
noncommissioned officer oversaw fatigue and guard duties for the company.
Question:
,signifier
Answer:
the treasurer and also carried the "standard," a medallion decorated staff that identified the
company rally point. He was third in command of the century and wore a draped bear's hide.
Question:
decantus
Answer:
the first rank a legionary could be promoted to. Supervising a section of eight men, they oversaw
camp set-up and training while enforcing personal hygiene and maintenance of equipment. They
were identified by two feathers attached to the side of their helmets
Question:
ORIGIN OF TERMS: CORPORAL
Answer:
The term corporal is derived from 15th century Italy.
The Italian army's main tactical formation was the squadra which translates into square. The
squadra was commanded by a reliable veteran known as the capo de squadra, or head of the square.
A hundred years later, during the 17th century, the term was shortened to caporale. At that same
time, the French picked up the term pronouncing it in various ways, one of them being corporal.
By the 17th or 18th century, the British adopted the rank of corporal. In 1803, when they began
using chevrons, British corporals received two stripes.
During the American Revolution, both British and French regulations influenced the military
structure of the continental forces.
Question:
ORIGIN OF TERMS: SERGEANT
Answer:
The term sergeant began as serviens, Latin for servant, to a knight in 13th century France.
The serviens were experienced warriors that rode horses, but were not wealthy enough to afford all
the equipment and retainers to qualify as a knight. Serviens would be called upon to take charge of
a group of serfs forced to serve in the army. They were responsible for conducting training, leading
serfs into battle, and keeping order. At the time it was an occupation, not a rank.
,The English adopted the word from the French and began pronouncing it SAR-gent. The colonies
continued to supply both soldiers and Marines to the British empire. Therefore, when the American
colonies created their own military it was only natural to include the rank of sergeant. Over the
years, technical advances and many different duties and responsibilities have led to several grades
of sergeant.
Question:
RESOLUTION
Answer:
More than just our emblem was derived from the British Royal Marines. In the 17th and 18th
century American colonists were notably a maritime people. England found the colonists to be well
acclimated to service upon the sea and therefore, a large number were raised to serve the British
fleet as Royal Marines.
On 10 Nov 1775, as the Second Continental Congress resolved that two battalions of Marines be
raised, numerous colonists possessed the training and experience that made them the best sort for
an efficient Marine force.
The resolution specified structure to include one colonel, two lieutenant colonels, two majors, and
officers as usual in other regiments. "Other regiments" is a reference to land forces. Corporals and
sergeants were included among these officers as they were in the British Royal Marines.
Question:
TRANSFORMATION
Answer:
In 1777, as the Continental Army moved into winter quarters at Valley Forge they were low on
discipline, supplies, and victories. The British had taken the American capital of Philadelphia and
routed them at the Battles of Brandywine and Germantown.
Painfully aware of his army's shortcomings, General Washington requested an inspector-general to
transform them into a professional fighting force. The request was answered with the arrival of the
Prussian Baron Friedrich Wilhelm Von Steuben.
The great efforts of Inspector General Von Steuben transformed this ragtag army into a cohesive
and disciplined fighting force that would defeat the elite British military.
His Revolutionary War Drill Manual or Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of
the United States commonly called "The Blue Book" established:
Question:
, Standardized drill
Question:
Camp sanitation
Question:
Unit structure
Question:
Leadership qualities
Question:
Leadership duties and responsibilities
Much of what is done today stems from these teachings
Question:
VALLEY FORGE: CONTINENTAL MARINES
Answer:
Just before the Battle of Trenton (1776), Major Samuel Nicholas was attached to the Continental
Army with three companies of Marines and assigned to serve as both infantry and artillery under
Colonel Cadwalader.
In the fall of 1777, the Marines would follow the Continental Army into winter quarters at Valley
Forge where Maj. Nicholas continued to assist Col. Cadwalader as muster master and
quartermaster. During this period, Nicholas and the Marines would witness the great transformation
of the Continental Army.
Congress judged that prescribing some invariable rules for order and discipline of troops was
inherently important and ordered that the decided regulations be observed by all troops of the
United states. At this time, Marines were held to both Navy regulations, while at sea, and Army
regulations, while on land.
General Von Steuben's regulations remained the official military guide until the War of 1812. Its
relevance can still be seen in modern use today especially in our recruit training.
Question:
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SERGEANT AND CORPORAL (1779)
Answer:
