Marine Corps TBS Phase 2 Exam Practice Questions (Original) EXAM | Latest Update |
Original Questions & Answers with Detailed Rationales | Graded A+
Exam Focus: Advanced tactical planning, offensive and
defensive operations, patrolling, fire support, EPW handling,
and combat leadership.
Section 1: Tactical Planning & The Battle Process
Q1. What are the six tactical tenets?
A) Plan, Prepare, Execute, Assess, Adapt, Replan
B) Achieve a decision, Gain the advantage, Be faster, Adapt,
Cooperate, Exploit success
C) Speed, Surprise, Simplicity, Security, Violence, Offensive
D) Mass, Maneuver, Objective, Unity, Security, Surprise
Answer: B
Rationale: The six tactical tenets are: Achieve a decision (make
the enemy quit), Gain the advantage (create favorable
conditions), Be faster (operate at a faster tempo), Adapt (adjust
to changing situations), Cooperate (work with other units), and
Exploit success (capitalize on gains).
Q2. What does the acronym METT-TC stand for in the tactical
planning process?
A) Mission, Enemy, Terrain, Troops, Time, Civilians
,B) Maneuver, Equipment, Training, Tactics, Time, Conditions
C) Mission, Equipment, Terrain, Troops, Time, Communications
D) Maneuver, Enemy, Terrain, Tactics, Time, Control
Answer: A
Rationale: METT-TC is the framework for mission analysis:
Mission (what must be accomplished), Enemy (composition,
disposition, capabilities), Terrain and Weather (including OCOKA
analysis), Troops and Fire Support (available forces), Time
(available for planning and execution), and Civilian
Considerations (impact of operations on local population).
Q3. What is the first step of BAMCIS?
A) Arrange for reconnaissance
B) Begin Planning
C) Issue the Order
D) Make reconnaissance
Answer: B
Rationale: BAMCIS is the troop-leading process: Begin Planning
(analyze mission using METT-TC), Arrange for Reconnaissance
(plan information collection), Make Reconnaissance (conduct
recon), Complete the Plan (develop full plan), Issue the Order
(communicate plan to subordinates), and Supervise (oversee
execution). The process begins immediately upon receipt of the
warning order.
,Q4. What action immediately follows "Arrange for
Reconnaissance and Coordination" in BAMCIS?
A) Issue the Order
B) Make Reconnaissance
C) Complete the Plan
D) Supervise
Answer: B
Rationale: The acronym BAMCIS stands for Begin planning,
Arrange for reconnaissance and coordination, Make
reconnaissance, Complete the plan, Issue the order, and
Supervise. Making the physical or map reconnaissance follows
immediately after arranging for it.
Q5. In a standard operations order, which paragraph contains
the commander's intent?
A) Situation
B) Mission
C) Execution
D) Command and Signal
Answer: C
Rationale: Commander's intent is included in paragraph 3
(Execution) of an operations order.
Q6. What does the acronym SMEAC represent in combat
orders?
A) Situation, Mission, Execution, Administration and Logistics,
, Command and Signal
B) Security, Mission, Execution, Assessment, Command
C) Situation, Maneuver, Engagement, Administration, Control
D) Strategy, Mission, Execution, Analysis, Communication
Answer: A
Rationale: SMEAC is the standard five-paragraph order format:
Situation, Mission, Execution, Administration and Logistics,
Command and Signal.
Q7. Commander's Intent has five essential parts. Which of the
following is NOT one of them?
A) Purpose
B) Method
C) Enemy Critical Vulnerability
D) Friendly Force Disposition
Answer: D
Rationale: Commander's Intent includes: Purpose (why the
operation is conducted, "IOT"), Method (how the operation will
achieve purpose, includes Enemy Center of Gravity, Critical
Vulnerability, and Exploitation Plan), and End State (what the
situation will look like after the operation relative to enemy,
friendly, and terrain). Friendly disposition is part of the Situation
paragraph, not Commander's Intent.
Q8. What is the primary purpose of a warning order?
A) To provide a detailed operations order
Original Questions & Answers with Detailed Rationales | Graded A+
Exam Focus: Advanced tactical planning, offensive and
defensive operations, patrolling, fire support, EPW handling,
and combat leadership.
Section 1: Tactical Planning & The Battle Process
Q1. What are the six tactical tenets?
A) Plan, Prepare, Execute, Assess, Adapt, Replan
B) Achieve a decision, Gain the advantage, Be faster, Adapt,
Cooperate, Exploit success
C) Speed, Surprise, Simplicity, Security, Violence, Offensive
D) Mass, Maneuver, Objective, Unity, Security, Surprise
Answer: B
Rationale: The six tactical tenets are: Achieve a decision (make
the enemy quit), Gain the advantage (create favorable
conditions), Be faster (operate at a faster tempo), Adapt (adjust
to changing situations), Cooperate (work with other units), and
Exploit success (capitalize on gains).
Q2. What does the acronym METT-TC stand for in the tactical
planning process?
A) Mission, Enemy, Terrain, Troops, Time, Civilians
,B) Maneuver, Equipment, Training, Tactics, Time, Conditions
C) Mission, Equipment, Terrain, Troops, Time, Communications
D) Maneuver, Enemy, Terrain, Tactics, Time, Control
Answer: A
Rationale: METT-TC is the framework for mission analysis:
Mission (what must be accomplished), Enemy (composition,
disposition, capabilities), Terrain and Weather (including OCOKA
analysis), Troops and Fire Support (available forces), Time
(available for planning and execution), and Civilian
Considerations (impact of operations on local population).
Q3. What is the first step of BAMCIS?
A) Arrange for reconnaissance
B) Begin Planning
C) Issue the Order
D) Make reconnaissance
Answer: B
Rationale: BAMCIS is the troop-leading process: Begin Planning
(analyze mission using METT-TC), Arrange for Reconnaissance
(plan information collection), Make Reconnaissance (conduct
recon), Complete the Plan (develop full plan), Issue the Order
(communicate plan to subordinates), and Supervise (oversee
execution). The process begins immediately upon receipt of the
warning order.
,Q4. What action immediately follows "Arrange for
Reconnaissance and Coordination" in BAMCIS?
A) Issue the Order
B) Make Reconnaissance
C) Complete the Plan
D) Supervise
Answer: B
Rationale: The acronym BAMCIS stands for Begin planning,
Arrange for reconnaissance and coordination, Make
reconnaissance, Complete the plan, Issue the order, and
Supervise. Making the physical or map reconnaissance follows
immediately after arranging for it.
Q5. In a standard operations order, which paragraph contains
the commander's intent?
A) Situation
B) Mission
C) Execution
D) Command and Signal
Answer: C
Rationale: Commander's intent is included in paragraph 3
(Execution) of an operations order.
Q6. What does the acronym SMEAC represent in combat
orders?
A) Situation, Mission, Execution, Administration and Logistics,
, Command and Signal
B) Security, Mission, Execution, Assessment, Command
C) Situation, Maneuver, Engagement, Administration, Control
D) Strategy, Mission, Execution, Analysis, Communication
Answer: A
Rationale: SMEAC is the standard five-paragraph order format:
Situation, Mission, Execution, Administration and Logistics,
Command and Signal.
Q7. Commander's Intent has five essential parts. Which of the
following is NOT one of them?
A) Purpose
B) Method
C) Enemy Critical Vulnerability
D) Friendly Force Disposition
Answer: D
Rationale: Commander's Intent includes: Purpose (why the
operation is conducted, "IOT"), Method (how the operation will
achieve purpose, includes Enemy Center of Gravity, Critical
Vulnerability, and Exploitation Plan), and End State (what the
situation will look like after the operation relative to enemy,
friendly, and terrain). Friendly disposition is part of the Situation
paragraph, not Commander's Intent.
Q8. What is the primary purpose of a warning order?
A) To provide a detailed operations order
