Cpls course operations study guide
with complete solutions
Warfighting philosophy - Answer️️ -The Marine Corps warfighting philosophy,
maneuver warfare, is based on rapid, flexible, and opportunistic maneuver capabilities.
•Maneuver warfare seeks to shatter the enemy's cohesion through a series of rapid,
violent, and unexpected actions which create a turbulent and rapidly deteriorating
situation with which the enemy cannot cope.
•Besides traits such as endurance and courage that all warfare demands, maneuver
warfare puts a premium on certain particular human skills and traits. It requires:
-
The temperament to cope with uncertainty.
-
Flexibility of mind to deal with fluid and disorderly situations.
-
A willingness to act with initiative and boldness.
-
The moral courage to accept responsibility for this type of behavior.
LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHY - Answer️️ -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:
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•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
Core values - Answer️️ -Core values are based on the firm belief that, as others have
said in countless ways, our Corps embodies the spirit and essence of those who have
gone before.
It is about the belief, shared by all Marines, that there is no higher calling than that of a
United States Marine.
It is about the traditions of our Corps that we rely upon to help us stay the course and
continue the march when the going gets tough. It is about a "band of brothers"—men
and women of every race and creed—who epitomize the core values in their daily
actions:
Honor - Answer️️ -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.
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Courage - Answer️️ -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 - Answer️️ -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 - Answer️️ -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.
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OBJECTIVE OF WAR - Answer️️ -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 - Answer️️ -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.
UNCERTAINTY - Answer️️ -Another attribute of war is uncertainty. All actions in war
take place in an atmosphere of uncertainty, or in the "fog of war."
•Uncertainty pervades battle in the form of unknowns about the enemy, the
environment, and even the friendly situation.
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•The very nature of war makes certainty impossible; all actions in war will be based on
incomplete, inaccurate, or even contradictory information.
•Because we can never eliminate uncertainty, we must learn to fight effectively despite
it. We can do this by:
-
Developing simple and flexible plans
-
Planning for likely contingencies
-
Developing standing operating procedures
-
Fostering initiative among subordinates
FLUIDITY - Answer️️ -Each episode in war is the temporary result of a unique
combination of circumstances, presenting a unique set of problems and requiring an
original solution.
Since war is a fluid phenomenon, its conduct requires flexibility of thought.
•Success depends in large part on the ability to adapt—to proactively shape changing
events to our advantage as well as to react quickly to constantly changing conditions.
•The tempo of war will fluctuate from periods of intense combat to periods in which
activity is limited to information gathering, replenishment, or redeployment.
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•A competitive rhythm will develop between the opposing wills with each belligerent
trying to influence and exploit tempo and the continuous flow of events to suit their
purposes.
DISORDER - Answer️️ -Disorder is an inherent characteristic of war; we can never
eliminate it.
•In the heat of battle, plans will go awry, instructions and information will be unclear and
misinterpreted, communications will fail, and mistakes and unforeseen events will be
commonplace.
•It is precisely this natural disorder which creates the conditions ripe for exploitation by
an opportunistic will.
•If we are to win, we must be able to operate in a disorderly environment. In fact, we
must not only be able to fight effectively in the face of disorder, we should seek to
generate disorder and use it as a weapon against our opponent.
COMPLEXITY - Answer️️ -War is a complex phenomenon. We have described war as
essentially a clash between opposed wills.
•A division is comprised of regiments, a regiment is comprised of battalions, and so on
all the way down to individual Marines. Similarly, a wing is compromised of groups,
groups are comprised of squadrons, down to the actions of individual Marines.
•Each element is part of a larger whole and must cooperate with other elements for the
accomplishment of the common goal. At the same time, each has its own mission; must
adapt to its own situation; and must deal with friction, uncertainty, and disorder.
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•As a result, war is not governed by the actions or decisions of a single individual in any
one place but emerges from the collective behavior of all the individual parts in the
system interacting locally in response to local conditions and incomplete information.
Efforts to fully centralize military operations and to exert complete control by a single
decision-maker are inconsistent with the complex and distributed nature of war.
THE HUMAN DIMENSION - Answer️️ -The human dimension is central in war. It is the
human dimension which infuses war with its intangible moral factors.
•War is shaped by human nature and is subject to the complexities, inconsistencies,
and peculiarities that characterize human behavior.
•War is an extreme trial of moral and physical strength and stamina.
Individuals and groups of people react differently to the stress of war; an act that may
break the will of one enemy may only serve to stiffen the resolve of another. Human will,
instilled through leadership, is the driving force of all action in war.
VIOLENCE AND DANGER - Answer️️ -War is among the greatest horrors known to
humanity.
•The means of war is force, applied in the form of organized violence. It is through the
use of violence, or the credible threat of violence, that we compel our enemy to do our
will.
•Violence is an essential element of war, and its immediate result is bloodshed,
destruction, and suffering.
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•While the magnitude of violence may vary with the object and means of war, the violent
essence of war will never change.
Since war is a violent enterprise, danger is ever present. The human reaction to
danger—fear— has a significant impact on the conduct of war.
•Everybody feels fear. Courage is not the absence of fear; rather, it is the strength to
overcome fear.
•Leaders must foster the courage to overcome fear, both individually and within the unit.
PHYSICAL, MORAL, AND MENTAL FORCES - Answer️️ -War is characterized by the
interaction of physical, moral, and mental forces.
•Physical forces of war are easily recognized, such as men and materiel.
•Moral factors, such as a nation's resolve and a unit's morale, are harder to grasp. The
term "moral" as used here is not restricted to ethics, although ethics are certainly
included, but pertains to those forces of a psychological rather than tangible nature.
•Mental factors affect our ability to out-think our enemy.
Just because the moral and mental factors are difficult to quantify does not mean that
they can be neglected. The moral and mental forces exert a greater influence on the
nature and outcome of war.
THE EVOLUTION OF WAR - Answer️️ -While the nature of war is constant, the
means and methods we use evolve continuously. The operating environments, tactics,
and techniques have changed as mankind and technology have become more
developed. Technology advancements are major catalysts of change.
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Drastic changes in war have occurred due to developments that dramatically upset the
equilibrium of war. For example:
•Development and use of the rifled bore
•Conception and use of conscription to man armies
•Use of modern modes of transportation to support war
Marine leaders must continue to educate themselves and use this evolution process to
their advantage. As an NCO, you must remain proactive in your efforts to develop new
skills and learn to apply them in the execution of your daily duties.
Science of War - Answer️️ -Various aspects of war fall within the realm of science,
which is the methodical application of the empirical laws of nature. The science of war
includes those activities directly subject to the laws of ballistics, mechanics, and similar
disciplines. For example, the application of fires, the effects of weapons, and the rates
and methods of movement and resupply. However, science does not describe the
whole phenomenon.
Art of War - Answer️️ -An even greater part of the conduct of war falls under the realm
of art, which is the employment of creative or intuitive skills. Art includes the creative,
situational application of scientific knowledge through judgment and ex
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Cpls course operations study guide
with complete solutions
Warfighting philosophy - Answer✔️✔️-The Marine Corps warfighting philosophy,
maneuver warfare, is based on rapid, flexible, and opportunistic maneuver capabilities.
•Maneuver warfare seeks to shatter the enemy's cohesion through a series of rapid,
violent, and unexpected actions which create a turbulent and rapidly deteriorating
situation with which the enemy cannot cope.
•Besides traits such as endurance and courage that all warfare demands, maneuver
warfare puts a premium on certain particular human skills and traits. It requires:
-
The temperament to cope with uncertainty.
-
Flexibility of mind to deal with fluid and disorderly situations.
-
A willingness to act with initiative and boldness.
-
The moral courage to accept responsibility for this type of behavior.
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:
Page | 1
, ©SOPHIABENNETT EXAM SOLUTIONS_2024/2025 Tuesday, September 3, 2024 10:30 AM
•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
Core values - Answer✔️✔️-Core values are based on the firm belief that, as others have
said in countless ways, our Corps embodies the spirit and essence of those who have
gone before.
It is about the belief, shared by all Marines, that there is no higher calling than that of a
United States Marine.
It is about the traditions of our Corps that we rely upon to help us stay the course and
continue the march when the going gets tough. It is about a "band of brothers"—men
and women of every race and creed—who epitomize the core values in their daily
actions:
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.
Page | 2
, ©SOPHIABENNETT EXAM SOLUTIONS_2024/2025 Tuesday, September 3, 2024 10:30 AM
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.
Page | 3