COMPREHENSIVE PPME EXAM
PREPARATION GUIDE BLOCKS 2–6:
NAVAL CUSTOMS, ETHICS, JOINT
WARFARE, AND OPERATIONAL ART
QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES
Military Uniforms, Customs, and Courtesies
1. When in a military vehicle and an officer is seen, who renders the
hand salute?
• Answer: The right front passenger seat salutes .
Rationale: Military customs dictate that the individual in the right
front passenger seat is responsible for rendering the salute to officers
outside the vehicle, as this position has the best visibility and can do
so without compromising vehicle safety.
2. What does Title 10, U.S. Code mandate with respect to uniforms?
• Answer: The requirement to generate, maintain, and update
the uniform regulations .
Rationale: Title 10 of the U.S. Code provides the legal framework for
the armed forces, including the authority and responsibility to
, establish and maintain uniform standards, ensuring discipline,
professionalism, and uniformity across the services .
3. When walking with a senior, what side do you walk on?
• Answer: Left .
Rationale: The junior walks on the left side of the senior, allowing the
senior the more honored position on the right. This tradition dates
back to the era when men carried swords on their left hip, leaving the
right side free for drawing.
4. Who exits a military vehicle first?
• Answer: The senior leaves first .
Rationale: Customs and courtesies prioritize seniority; the most senior
individual exits first, followed by others in descending order of rank.
5. Under which circumstance is a hand salute NOT required?
• Answer: When the officer is a civilian contractor .
Rationale: Salutes are rendered to commissioned officers, warrant
officers, and certain foreign dignitaries. Civilian contractors do not
hold military rank or authority and are not entitled to a military salute .
6. The National Anthem should be performed with a standing posture
and:
• Answer: Head forward, eyes forward .
Rationale: Proper protocol during the National Anthem requires
standing at attention with head and eyes directed forward as a sign of
respect and attentiveness .
7. A gun salute of 21 rifles traditionally signifies:
, • Answer: The highest honor, such as a presidential visit .
Rationale: The 21-gun salute is the highest national honor and is
reserved for the President, heads of state, and other individuals of the
highest distinction .
8. Which of the following is considered a "prescribable" uniform item?
• Answer: Service cap with rank insignia .
Rationale: "Prescribable" items are required by uniform regulations
and must be worn as specified. Items like the service cap with proper
rank insignia are mandatory components of prescribed uniforms .
9. The quarterdeck of a ship serves primarily as:
• Answer: The ceremonial entrance for visitors .
Rationale: The quarterdeck is the official ceremonial and
administrative area of the ship, traditionally the place where boarding,
departures, and formal ceremonies occur. It represents the authority
of the command .
10. During a Change of Command ceremony, the "manning the rails"
tradition symbolizes:
• Answer: The transfer of authority from outgoing to incoming
commander .
Rationale: Manning the rails demonstrates the crew's respect for both
commanders and signifies the continuity of command and the crew's
support for the new commanding officer .
11. The title given to Sailors who have sailed around the southern tip
of South America (Cape Horn) is:
• Answer: Mossback .
, Rationale: Naval tradition provides special titles for Sailors who
complete significant maritime milestones. "Mossback" is the
designation for those who have rounded Cape Horn .
12. Sailors who have not crossed the equator are called:
• Answer: Pollywogs .
Rationale: In Navy tradition, Sailors who have not yet crossed the
equator are known as "pollywogs" or "slimy pollywogs," while those
who have made the crossing are "shellbacks" .
13. Which certificate denotes Sailors who have crossed the Arctic
Circle?
• Answer: Blue Nose .
Rationale: Sailors who cross the Arctic Circle are inducted into the
"Order of the Blue Nose" and receive a certificate denoting this
achievement .
14. Initiation rites that include hazing are:
• Answer: A violation of SECNAV Instructions .
Rationale: While naval traditions include various initiation ceremonies
(crossing the equator, shellback rites), hazing is explicitly prohibited by
SECNAV instructions and Navy policy .
15. Which of the following describes the burial at sea ceremony?
• Answer: Three volleys are fired, followed by "Taps" .
Rationale: The burial at sea ceremony is the oldest of all seafaring
traditions and includes military honors such as a rifle salute and the
playing of "Taps" .
PREPARATION GUIDE BLOCKS 2–6:
NAVAL CUSTOMS, ETHICS, JOINT
WARFARE, AND OPERATIONAL ART
QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES
Military Uniforms, Customs, and Courtesies
1. When in a military vehicle and an officer is seen, who renders the
hand salute?
• Answer: The right front passenger seat salutes .
Rationale: Military customs dictate that the individual in the right
front passenger seat is responsible for rendering the salute to officers
outside the vehicle, as this position has the best visibility and can do
so without compromising vehicle safety.
2. What does Title 10, U.S. Code mandate with respect to uniforms?
• Answer: The requirement to generate, maintain, and update
the uniform regulations .
Rationale: Title 10 of the U.S. Code provides the legal framework for
the armed forces, including the authority and responsibility to
, establish and maintain uniform standards, ensuring discipline,
professionalism, and uniformity across the services .
3. When walking with a senior, what side do you walk on?
• Answer: Left .
Rationale: The junior walks on the left side of the senior, allowing the
senior the more honored position on the right. This tradition dates
back to the era when men carried swords on their left hip, leaving the
right side free for drawing.
4. Who exits a military vehicle first?
• Answer: The senior leaves first .
Rationale: Customs and courtesies prioritize seniority; the most senior
individual exits first, followed by others in descending order of rank.
5. Under which circumstance is a hand salute NOT required?
• Answer: When the officer is a civilian contractor .
Rationale: Salutes are rendered to commissioned officers, warrant
officers, and certain foreign dignitaries. Civilian contractors do not
hold military rank or authority and are not entitled to a military salute .
6. The National Anthem should be performed with a standing posture
and:
• Answer: Head forward, eyes forward .
Rationale: Proper protocol during the National Anthem requires
standing at attention with head and eyes directed forward as a sign of
respect and attentiveness .
7. A gun salute of 21 rifles traditionally signifies:
, • Answer: The highest honor, such as a presidential visit .
Rationale: The 21-gun salute is the highest national honor and is
reserved for the President, heads of state, and other individuals of the
highest distinction .
8. Which of the following is considered a "prescribable" uniform item?
• Answer: Service cap with rank insignia .
Rationale: "Prescribable" items are required by uniform regulations
and must be worn as specified. Items like the service cap with proper
rank insignia are mandatory components of prescribed uniforms .
9. The quarterdeck of a ship serves primarily as:
• Answer: The ceremonial entrance for visitors .
Rationale: The quarterdeck is the official ceremonial and
administrative area of the ship, traditionally the place where boarding,
departures, and formal ceremonies occur. It represents the authority
of the command .
10. During a Change of Command ceremony, the "manning the rails"
tradition symbolizes:
• Answer: The transfer of authority from outgoing to incoming
commander .
Rationale: Manning the rails demonstrates the crew's respect for both
commanders and signifies the continuity of command and the crew's
support for the new commanding officer .
11. The title given to Sailors who have sailed around the southern tip
of South America (Cape Horn) is:
• Answer: Mossback .
, Rationale: Naval tradition provides special titles for Sailors who
complete significant maritime milestones. "Mossback" is the
designation for those who have rounded Cape Horn .
12. Sailors who have not crossed the equator are called:
• Answer: Pollywogs .
Rationale: In Navy tradition, Sailors who have not yet crossed the
equator are known as "pollywogs" or "slimy pollywogs," while those
who have made the crossing are "shellbacks" .
13. Which certificate denotes Sailors who have crossed the Arctic
Circle?
• Answer: Blue Nose .
Rationale: Sailors who cross the Arctic Circle are inducted into the
"Order of the Blue Nose" and receive a certificate denoting this
achievement .
14. Initiation rites that include hazing are:
• Answer: A violation of SECNAV Instructions .
Rationale: While naval traditions include various initiation ceremonies
(crossing the equator, shellback rites), hazing is explicitly prohibited by
SECNAV instructions and Navy policy .
15. Which of the following describes the burial at sea ceremony?
• Answer: Three volleys are fired, followed by "Taps" .
Rationale: The burial at sea ceremony is the oldest of all seafaring
traditions and includes military honors such as a rifle salute and the
playing of "Taps" .
