Basic Professional Military Education (Enlisted) – Block 5: Planning & Theory of War – 2025/2026 Exam Guide with Verified Questions on Levels of War, Strategic Objectives & Principles of War

This A+ graded, expert-verified study document contains the complete set of exam questions and correct answers for Block 5 – Planning: Theory of War, part of the Basic Professional Military Education (BPME) Enlisted Curriculum for the 2025/2026 academic year. It serves as a highly targeted review for understanding how military operations are conceptualized, planned, and executed across multiple levels of war. Key learning areas include: The three levels of war: Strategic, Operational, and Tactical — including how national objectives translate into battlefield outcomes Principles of war such as unity of command, security, mass, and maneuver, with clear explanations of their purpose and application The concept of centers of gravity (COG) at each level of warfare and why they differ depending on scope and objectives Strategic decision-making at the national and multinational level and its link to resource allocation and policy formulation Clarity on commonly misunderstood terms such as “global” (not a formal level of war), and the distinction between engagements, battles, and campaigns This document is highly beneficial for: Enlisted Navy personnel preparing for BPME advancement exams NROTC and OCS candidates studying military theory and strategy Military science students, joint operations planners, and warfare strategy professionals Anyone seeking mastery of operational doctrine within the U.S. military context Every question is paired with the correct answer for efficient, high-impact studying. The material is perfectly suited for promotion boards, PME modules, and exam prep. Keywords: BPME Block 5, theory of war, levels of war, unity of command, strategic planning, tactical execution, operational warfare, center of gravity, principles of war, military strategy, security in warfare, joint operations, military education, PME prep