TBS Phase 3 Exam Guide 2026: Tactics,
Questions & Answers
Mobility - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > is a quality or capacity of military forces which permits them
to move from place to place while retaining their primary mission. Mobility support assists
forces to move rapidly, mass, disperse, and be resupplied
SOSRA is the acronym for breaching fundamentals, which are to: - ✔✔✔ Correct
Answer > Suppress: keep enemy heads down Obscure: make the obstacle reduction
difficult to see
Secure: secure the breaching sight to prevent enemy interference
Reduce: create lanes to cross obstacles
Assault: assault the objective
Existing obstacles - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > natural and cultural obstacles.
Reinforcing Obstacles - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > obstacles are those obstacles placed on the
battlefield through military effort, which are designed to extend or improve the effectiveness
of existing obstacles.
Defensive operations may also be conducted to: - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > Gain time.
Retain key terrain or deny a vital area to the enemy.
,Counter surprise action by the enemy.
Economize force, allowing combat power to be concentrated elsewhere.
Increase the enemy's vulnerability by forcing him to concentrate forces.
Attrite or fix the enemy as a prelude to offensive operations.
Prepare to resume the offensive.
IED intended outcomes - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > Strategic
Operational
Tactical
Battlefield Engineering Functions - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > • Mobility
• Counter-Mobility
• Survivability
• General engineering
Counter-mobility - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > is to delay, channel, or stop movement by the
enemy in order to destroy its forces directly or indirectly by enhancing the effectiveness of
friendly weapon systems.
Survivability - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > A key component of the defense, survivability includes
all aspects of protecting personnel, weapons, and supplies. The objective is to reduce exposure
to threat acquisition, targeting and engagement, and the effects of weather and thereby
contribute to a successful defense.
General Engineering - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > encompasses those tasks that establish and
maintain the infrastructure required to conduct and sustain military operations.
, principals of obstacle employment - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > Covered by Fire
-Observed
-Concealed and employed for surprise
-Employed in depth
-Protected by early warning and anti-handling devices
-Integrated with existing or other obstacles
-Non-Geometric
Offensive Categories of Fires - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > Preparatory Fires
Fires in support of conduct
Fires in support of consolidation
What is a security Plan - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > The platoon commander should develop a plan
which utilizes patrols and LP/OPs to deceive the enemy as to the exact location of the main
defenses. Security must be maintained at all times when conducting operations. In the defense,
the security plan not only ensures that the platoon is ready when the enemy attacks. It also
facilitates the offensive action of the platoon in the defense. There are several aspects of the
security plan which together help in conducting successful defensive operations.
The primary role of engineers in defensive operations is to: - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > Impede
the mobility of the enemy.
Field fortification.
Provide general engineering tasks to amplify sustainability of supported unit.
Stand To - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > all Marines are in full equipment with their weapons systems
in their primary positions. Leaders at all levels should keep movement to a minimum. The
platoon commander should designate brevity codes to signal stand-to and must ensure a timely
transition from the priorities of work to stand to. The platoon commander can take the platoon to
stand-to any time he/she determines the platoon is vulnerable to enemy observation/attack, or at
Questions & Answers
Mobility - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > is a quality or capacity of military forces which permits them
to move from place to place while retaining their primary mission. Mobility support assists
forces to move rapidly, mass, disperse, and be resupplied
SOSRA is the acronym for breaching fundamentals, which are to: - ✔✔✔ Correct
Answer > Suppress: keep enemy heads down Obscure: make the obstacle reduction
difficult to see
Secure: secure the breaching sight to prevent enemy interference
Reduce: create lanes to cross obstacles
Assault: assault the objective
Existing obstacles - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > natural and cultural obstacles.
Reinforcing Obstacles - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > obstacles are those obstacles placed on the
battlefield through military effort, which are designed to extend or improve the effectiveness
of existing obstacles.
Defensive operations may also be conducted to: - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > Gain time.
Retain key terrain or deny a vital area to the enemy.
,Counter surprise action by the enemy.
Economize force, allowing combat power to be concentrated elsewhere.
Increase the enemy's vulnerability by forcing him to concentrate forces.
Attrite or fix the enemy as a prelude to offensive operations.
Prepare to resume the offensive.
IED intended outcomes - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > Strategic
Operational
Tactical
Battlefield Engineering Functions - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > • Mobility
• Counter-Mobility
• Survivability
• General engineering
Counter-mobility - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > is to delay, channel, or stop movement by the
enemy in order to destroy its forces directly or indirectly by enhancing the effectiveness of
friendly weapon systems.
Survivability - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > A key component of the defense, survivability includes
all aspects of protecting personnel, weapons, and supplies. The objective is to reduce exposure
to threat acquisition, targeting and engagement, and the effects of weather and thereby
contribute to a successful defense.
General Engineering - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > encompasses those tasks that establish and
maintain the infrastructure required to conduct and sustain military operations.
, principals of obstacle employment - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > Covered by Fire
-Observed
-Concealed and employed for surprise
-Employed in depth
-Protected by early warning and anti-handling devices
-Integrated with existing or other obstacles
-Non-Geometric
Offensive Categories of Fires - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > Preparatory Fires
Fires in support of conduct
Fires in support of consolidation
What is a security Plan - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > The platoon commander should develop a plan
which utilizes patrols and LP/OPs to deceive the enemy as to the exact location of the main
defenses. Security must be maintained at all times when conducting operations. In the defense,
the security plan not only ensures that the platoon is ready when the enemy attacks. It also
facilitates the offensive action of the platoon in the defense. There are several aspects of the
security plan which together help in conducting successful defensive operations.
The primary role of engineers in defensive operations is to: - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > Impede
the mobility of the enemy.
Field fortification.
Provide general engineering tasks to amplify sustainability of supported unit.
Stand To - ✔✔✔ Correct Answer > all Marines are in full equipment with their weapons systems
in their primary positions. Leaders at all levels should keep movement to a minimum. The
platoon commander should designate brevity codes to signal stand-to and must ensure a timely
transition from the priorities of work to stand to. The platoon commander can take the platoon to
stand-to any time he/she determines the platoon is vulnerable to enemy observation/attack, or at
