MSOC TEST 2 MAY 2026 UPDATED ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS

MSOC TEST 2 MAY 2026 UPDATED ACTUAL QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS

Question:
1. Operational Design is__________.
A. The cognitive approach by commanders and staffs— supported by their skill, knowledge, experience,
creativity, and judgment—to develop strategies, campaigns, and operations to organize and employ
military forces by integrating ends, ways, means, and risks.
B. The conception and construction of the framework that underpins a campaign or operation and its
subsequent execution.
C. A methodology to aid commanders and planners in organizing and understanding the OE.
D. All of the above.
E. B & C only.
Answer:
E. B and C only.

Question:
2. Attacking the enemy's COG by applying combat power against critical vulnerabilities that lead to the
defeat of the COG while avoiding enemy strength is an example of:
A. The Direct Approach since it attacks the enemy's COG.
B. A Strategy of Erosion since taking away the COG weakens the enemy's will.
C. The Indirect Approach since it avoids the enemy's strengths.
D. A Sequential Campaign since it takes a series of actions to get at the enemy's COG.
Answer:
C. The Indirect Approach since it avoids the enemy's strengths.

Question:
3. What are the steps of Design Methodology?
A. Mission Analysis, COA Development, COA Analysis, COA Comparison and Decision, Directive
Development, Transition
B. Understand the strategic direction, Understand the strategic environment, Understand the OE, Define
the problem, Identify assumptions needed to continue planning, Develop options, Identify decisions and
decision points (external), Refine operational approach(es), Develop planning and assessment guidance.
C. Understand the Operational Direction, Understand the Operational Environment, Define the Problem,
Develop the Operational Approach
D. Enemy Capability and Enemy Will, Annihilation and Erosion Strategies, Sequential and Cumulative
Campaigns, Direct and Indirect Approaches
Answer:
C. Understand the Operational Direction, Understand the Operational Environment, Define the Problem,
Develop the Operational Approach

,Question:
4. Which of the following best describes operational risk in the context of military planning?
A. The likelihood of enemy forces achieving their objectives
B. The probability and consequence of failure to achieve mission objectives while protecting the force
from unacceptable losses
C. The chance of collateral damage during tactical operations
D. The risk associated with interagency coordination failures
Answer:
B. The probability and consequence of failure to achieve mission objectives while protecting the force
from unacceptable losses

Question:
5. At the operational level, risk primarily focuses on:
A. Risk to mission
B. Risk to forces
C. Risk to national strategy
D. Risk to tactical execution
Answer:
A. Risk to mission

Question:
6. Which of the following is NOT one of the four steps in the Joint Risk Analysis Methodology (JRAM)?
A. Problem framing
B. Risk assessment
C. Risk judgment
D. Risk elimination
Answer:
D. Risk elimination

Question:
7. When assessing threats during operational planning, which two factors are combined to determine the
level of risk?
A. Probability and severity
B. Probability and opportunity
C. Severity and resource availability
D. Opportunity and cost
Answer:
A. Probability and severity

Question:
8. Which of the following actions is an example of a risk mitigation measure during operational planning?
A. Ignoring assumptions that have not been validated
B. Modifying rules of engagement (ROE)
C. Accepting all residual risk without review
D. Eliminating all threats before execution
Answer:
B. Modifying rules of engagement (ROE)

, Question:
9. Military planning _____.
A. is a process of determining how (the ways) to use military capabilities (the means) in time and space to
achieve objectives (OBJs) (the ends) while considering the associated risks.
B. includes the application of the art and science of understanding a situation, envisioning a desired future,
and laying out effective ways of bringing that future about.
C. is critical at every level of warfare—strategic, operational, and tactical—across the range of military
operations (OPS) and continuum of conflict.
D. helps commanders, their staffs, and planners develop, direct, coordinate, and synchronize actions of a
force.
E. all of the above
F. a, b & d only
Answer:
E. all of the above

Question:
10. The terminology, products, and concepts in the Navy Planning Process (NPP) are consistent with joint
planning, joint doctrine, and are compatible with doctrine of the other Services.
A. True
B. False
Answer:
A. True

Question:
11. The six steps of the Navy Planning Process (NPP) provide commanders and their staffs a means to
organize planning activities, transmit plans to subordinates, and share a critical common understanding of
the mission.
A. True
B. False
Answer:
A. True

Question:
12. The steps of the Navy Planning Process are:
A. Initiation, Mission analysis, COA development, COA analysis & wargaming, COA comparison, COA
approval, Plan or order development
B. Receipt of mission, Mission analysis, COA development, COA analysis, COA Comparison, COA
approval, Orders production
C. Mission analysis, COA development, COA analysis & wargaming, COA comparison, Plan
Development, Orders Production
D. Mission analysis, COA development, COA analysis (wargaming), COA comparison and decision,
Directive development, Transition
Answer:
D. Mission analysis, COA development, COA analysis (wargaming), COA comparison and decision,
Directive development, Transition