CPL's Course: Operations QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2023

1. WARFIGHTING PHILOSOPHY: •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. 2. LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHY: 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: •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 1 / 35 CPL's Course: Operations 3. HONOR: 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. 4. COURAGE: 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. 5. COMMITMENT: 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. 6. WAR DEFINED: 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. 7. OBJECTIVE OF WAR: 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