ILE Final Exam Study Guide 2025 – Updated
Preparation Review
Domain 1: Strategic Leadership and Ethics
1. According to Joint Publication (JP) 1, what is the primary purpose of the Armed Forces
of the United States?
a) To promote American economic interests abroad
b) To deter war and resolve conflict on terms favorable to the U.S.
c) To fight and win the nation's wars ✓
d) To provide humanitarian assistance globally
2. The three levels of war are Strategic, Operational, and:
a) Political
b) Tactical ✓
c) Logistics
d) Informational
3. Which document is the cornerstone of the U.S. commitment to ethical conduct by its
Armed Forces?
a) The U.S. Constitution
b) The Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC)
c) The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) ✓
d) The Department of Defense Directive 5000.01
4. The principle of "Civilian Control of the Military" is best embodied by the President's
role as:
a) Chief Executive
b) Commander-in-Chief ✓
c) Head of State
d) Chief Diplomat
5. A key tenet of "Mission Command" is to exercise disciplined initiative in the absence
of orders to:
a) Achieve the commander's intent ✓
b) Maximize enemy casualties
c) Wait for further guidance
d) Centralize decision-making
, 6. Which of the following is NOT a principle of the Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC)?
a) Distinction
b) Proportionality
c) Military Necessity
d) Preemptive Strike ✓
7. The strategic direction for the U.S. military is primarily derived from which document?
a) The National Military Strategy (NMS) ✓
b) The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)
c) The Unified Command Plan (UCP)
d) The Joint Strategic Capabilities Plan (JSCP)
8. What is the primary role of a Combatant Commander (CCDR)?
a) To acquire new weapons systems
b) To train and equip forces
c) To provide for the administrative needs of service members
d) To plan and execute military operations within their Geographic or Functional AOR ✓
Domain 2: Doctrine and Joint Planning
9. The six Joint Functions are Command and Control (C2), Intelligence, Fires, Movement
and Maneuver, Protection, and:
a) Logistics ✓
b) Cyber
c) Information
d) Space
10. What is the purpose of the Joint Operation Planning Process (JOPP)?
a) To replace service-specific doctrines
b) To provide a comprehensive, analytical process for planning joint operations ✓
c) To manage the Pentagon's budget
d) To conduct after-action reviews
11. The seven steps of the JOPP are (in order): Initiation, Mission Analysis, COA
Development, COA Analysis, COA Comparison, COA Approval, and:
a) Execution
b) Plan or Order Development ✓
c) Assessment
d) Rehearsal
, 12. The "Operational Approach" helps a commander to broadly conceptualize how to:
a) Write the Operations Order (OPORD)
b) Create the Troop Leading Procedures
c) Achieve the desired end state ✓
d) Manage public affairs
13. What is the key output of the Mission Analysis step in JOPP?
a) The Annexes to the OPLAN
b) The Commander's Critical Information Requirements (CCIRs)
c) The Initial Joint Intelligence Preparation of the Operational Environment (JIPOE)
d) The Commander's Planning Guidance and Restated Mission ✓
14. A Center of Gravity (COG) is defined as the source of power that provides a nation or
alliance with the moral or physical strength, freedom of will, and:
a) Economic superiority
b) Technological advantage
c) Ability to accomplish its objective ✓
d) Political alliances
15. Which of the following is a characteristic of a valid Course of Action (COA)?
a) It must be the cheapest option.
b) It must be feasible, acceptable, and suitable ✓
c) It must use all available forces.
d) It must be identical to a historical precedent.
16. The primary document that translates national-level strategy into strategic military
requirements is the:
a) Joint Strategic Capabilities Plan (JSCP) ✓
b) Unified Command Plan (UCP)
c) National Security Strategy (NSS)
d) Global Force Management Implementation Guidance (GFMIG)
Domain 3: Operational Art and Design
17. Operational Art is the cognitive approach by commanders and staffs to link strategic
objectives to:
a) Budgetary constraints
b) Tactical actions ✓
c) Public opinion
d) Acquisition programs
, 18. Which element of Operational Design describes what the joint force must do to
achieve the desired military end state?
a) End State
b) Objectives ✓
c) Effects
d) Decisive Points
19. A "Decisive Point" is a geographic place, specific key event, critical factor, or function
that, when acted upon, allows commanders to:
a) Gain a marked advantage over the enemy ✓
b) Declare victory
c) Withdraw forces safely
d) Initiate peace talks
20. In operational design, "Culmination" refers to the point at which:
a) The enemy surrenders.
b) A force can no longer perform its operations. ✓
c) The logistics pipeline is fully established.
d) The political objective is met.
21. The relationship between "End State," "Objectives," and "Effects" is best described as:
a) They are all synonymous terms.
b) Objectives and Effects are the ways to achieve the desired End State. ✓
c) The End State is a tactical goal, while Objectives are strategic.
d) Effects are the final outcome of the operation.
22. Operational Design is particularly critical when facing problems that are:
a) Simple and well-defined
b) Ill-structured and complex ✓
c) Purely military in nature
d) Short in duration
Domain 4: The Information Environment and Multi-Domain Operations
23. The Information Environment (IE) is composed of three dimensions: Physical,
Informational, and:
a) Cyber
b) Cognitive ✓
c) Space
d) Electromagnetic
Preparation Review
Domain 1: Strategic Leadership and Ethics
1. According to Joint Publication (JP) 1, what is the primary purpose of the Armed Forces
of the United States?
a) To promote American economic interests abroad
b) To deter war and resolve conflict on terms favorable to the U.S.
c) To fight and win the nation's wars ✓
d) To provide humanitarian assistance globally
2. The three levels of war are Strategic, Operational, and:
a) Political
b) Tactical ✓
c) Logistics
d) Informational
3. Which document is the cornerstone of the U.S. commitment to ethical conduct by its
Armed Forces?
a) The U.S. Constitution
b) The Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC)
c) The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) ✓
d) The Department of Defense Directive 5000.01
4. The principle of "Civilian Control of the Military" is best embodied by the President's
role as:
a) Chief Executive
b) Commander-in-Chief ✓
c) Head of State
d) Chief Diplomat
5. A key tenet of "Mission Command" is to exercise disciplined initiative in the absence
of orders to:
a) Achieve the commander's intent ✓
b) Maximize enemy casualties
c) Wait for further guidance
d) Centralize decision-making
, 6. Which of the following is NOT a principle of the Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC)?
a) Distinction
b) Proportionality
c) Military Necessity
d) Preemptive Strike ✓
7. The strategic direction for the U.S. military is primarily derived from which document?
a) The National Military Strategy (NMS) ✓
b) The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)
c) The Unified Command Plan (UCP)
d) The Joint Strategic Capabilities Plan (JSCP)
8. What is the primary role of a Combatant Commander (CCDR)?
a) To acquire new weapons systems
b) To train and equip forces
c) To provide for the administrative needs of service members
d) To plan and execute military operations within their Geographic or Functional AOR ✓
Domain 2: Doctrine and Joint Planning
9. The six Joint Functions are Command and Control (C2), Intelligence, Fires, Movement
and Maneuver, Protection, and:
a) Logistics ✓
b) Cyber
c) Information
d) Space
10. What is the purpose of the Joint Operation Planning Process (JOPP)?
a) To replace service-specific doctrines
b) To provide a comprehensive, analytical process for planning joint operations ✓
c) To manage the Pentagon's budget
d) To conduct after-action reviews
11. The seven steps of the JOPP are (in order): Initiation, Mission Analysis, COA
Development, COA Analysis, COA Comparison, COA Approval, and:
a) Execution
b) Plan or Order Development ✓
c) Assessment
d) Rehearsal
, 12. The "Operational Approach" helps a commander to broadly conceptualize how to:
a) Write the Operations Order (OPORD)
b) Create the Troop Leading Procedures
c) Achieve the desired end state ✓
d) Manage public affairs
13. What is the key output of the Mission Analysis step in JOPP?
a) The Annexes to the OPLAN
b) The Commander's Critical Information Requirements (CCIRs)
c) The Initial Joint Intelligence Preparation of the Operational Environment (JIPOE)
d) The Commander's Planning Guidance and Restated Mission ✓
14. A Center of Gravity (COG) is defined as the source of power that provides a nation or
alliance with the moral or physical strength, freedom of will, and:
a) Economic superiority
b) Technological advantage
c) Ability to accomplish its objective ✓
d) Political alliances
15. Which of the following is a characteristic of a valid Course of Action (COA)?
a) It must be the cheapest option.
b) It must be feasible, acceptable, and suitable ✓
c) It must use all available forces.
d) It must be identical to a historical precedent.
16. The primary document that translates national-level strategy into strategic military
requirements is the:
a) Joint Strategic Capabilities Plan (JSCP) ✓
b) Unified Command Plan (UCP)
c) National Security Strategy (NSS)
d) Global Force Management Implementation Guidance (GFMIG)
Domain 3: Operational Art and Design
17. Operational Art is the cognitive approach by commanders and staffs to link strategic
objectives to:
a) Budgetary constraints
b) Tactical actions ✓
c) Public opinion
d) Acquisition programs
, 18. Which element of Operational Design describes what the joint force must do to
achieve the desired military end state?
a) End State
b) Objectives ✓
c) Effects
d) Decisive Points
19. A "Decisive Point" is a geographic place, specific key event, critical factor, or function
that, when acted upon, allows commanders to:
a) Gain a marked advantage over the enemy ✓
b) Declare victory
c) Withdraw forces safely
d) Initiate peace talks
20. In operational design, "Culmination" refers to the point at which:
a) The enemy surrenders.
b) A force can no longer perform its operations. ✓
c) The logistics pipeline is fully established.
d) The political objective is met.
21. The relationship between "End State," "Objectives," and "Effects" is best described as:
a) They are all synonymous terms.
b) Objectives and Effects are the ways to achieve the desired End State. ✓
c) The End State is a tactical goal, while Objectives are strategic.
d) Effects are the final outcome of the operation.
22. Operational Design is particularly critical when facing problems that are:
a) Simple and well-defined
b) Ill-structured and complex ✓
c) Purely military in nature
d) Short in duration
Domain 4: The Information Environment and Multi-Domain Operations
23. The Information Environment (IE) is composed of three dimensions: Physical,
Informational, and:
a) Cyber
b) Cognitive ✓
c) Space
d) Electromagnetic
