IBOLC Comprehensive Exam Study Guide latest updated

Characteristics of the Offense - Answer- Audacity, Concentration, Surpise, Tempo Audacity - Answer- Simple plan of action, boldly executed Concentration - Answer- Massing of overwhelming effects of combat power to achieve a single purpose Surprise - Answer- In the offense, achieved by attacking the enemy at a time or place they do not expect or in a manner for which they are unprepared Tempo - Answer- The relative speed and rhythm of military operations over time with respect to the enemy Offensive Tasks - Answer- Movement to Contact, Attack, Exploitation, Pursuit Movement to Contact - Answer- An offensive task designed to develop the situation and establish or regain contact Attack - Answer- Destroys or defeats enemy forces, seizes and secures terrain, or both Exploitation - Answer- Follows an attack and disorganizes the enemy in-depth. Seeks to disintegrate enemy forces to the point where they have no alternative but surrender or retreat Pursuit - Answer- An offensive task designed to catch or cut off a hostile force attempting to escape, with the aim of destroying them. Normally follows exploitation Forms of Manuever - Answer- Envelopment, Turning Movement, Frontal Attack, Penetration, Infiltration, Flank Attack Envelopment - Answer- A form of maneuver in which an attacking force seeks to avoid the principal enemy defenses by seizing objectives behind those defenses allowing the targeted enemy force to be destroyed in their current positions Turning Movement - Answer- A form of maneuver in which the attacking force seeks to avoid the enemy's principle defense positions by seizing objectives behind the enemy's current position Frontal Attack - Answer- A form of maneuver where an attacking force seeks to destroy a weaker enemy force, or fix a larger enemy in place over a broad front. Can be used to overrun a weak enemy force Penetration - Answer- A form of maneuver where an attacking force seeks to rupture enemy defenses in a narrow front to disrupt the defensive system Infiltration - Answer- A form of maneuver where an attacking force conducts undetected movement through or into an area controlled by enemy forces. The goal is to occupy a position of advantage behind enemy positions while exposing only small friendly elements to their defensive fires Flank Attack - Answer- A form of offensive maneuver directed at the flank of an enemy force. A flank is the right or left side of a military formation and is not oriented toward the enemy Characteristics of the Defense - Answer- Preparation, Security, Disruption, Mass and Concentration, Flexibility, Maneuver, Operations In-Depth Defensive Tasks - Answer- Area Defense, Mobile Defense, Retrograde Area Defense - Answer- Concentrates on denying enemy forces access to designated terrain for a specific time rather than destroying the enemy outright. The focus is in retaining terrain where the bulk of the defending force positions itself in mutually supporting positions and controls the terrain between positions Mobile Defense - Answer- A defensive task that concentrates on destruction or defeat of the enemy through a decisive attack by a striking force. Focuses on the defeating or destroying the enemy by allowing enemy forces to advance to a point where they are exposed to a decisive counterattack by the striking force. Retrograde - Answer- A defensive task involving organized movement away from the enemy. The enemy may force this or a leader may execute voluntarily. In either case the higher command of the force executing the operation must approve it. Subcategories of retrograde - Answer- Delay, withdrawal, retirement Delay - Answer- Allows units to trade space for time, avoiding decisive engagement and safeguarding it's forces. Withdrawal - Answer- A planned retrograde operation, which a force in contact disengages from an enemy force, and moves in a direction away from the enemy. Retirement - Answer- A task employing to move a force not in contact to the rear. A form of retrograde, which a force not in contact with the enemy moves away from the enemy. Forms of the defense - Answer- Defense of linear obstacle, Perimeter defense, Reverse slope defense Defense of linear obstacle - Answer- This form of defense may be used when defensible terrain is available in the forward portion of the platoons area of operation, or to take advantage of a major linear natural obstacle. Perimeter defense - Answer- A defense oriented in all directions. The infantry platoon uses it for self security, and to protect other units located within the perimeter. The platoon can employ this defense in urban or woodland terrain. Reverse Slope Defense - Answer- In such a defense, the infantry platoon is deployed on terrain that is masked from enemy direct fire and ground observation by the crest of a hill. Although some units and weapons might be positioned on the forward slope, the crest, or the counter slope (a forward slope of a hill to the rear of a reverse slope), most forces are on the reverse slope. The key to this defense is control the crest by direct fire. Six war fighting functions - Answer- Command and control, movement and maneuver, intelligence, fires, sustainment, protection Command and control - Answer- Is the related tasks and a system that enable commanders to synchronize and converge all elements of combat power. Movement and maneuver - Answer- Is the related tasks and systems that move and employ forces to achieve a position of relative advantage over the enemy and other threats. Intelligence - Answer- Is the related tasks and systems that facilitate understanding the enemy, terrain, weather, civil considerations, and other significant aspects of the operational environment. Fires - Answer- Is the related tasks and systems that create and converge effects in all domains against the adversary or enemy to enable operations across the range of military operations. Sustainment - Answer- Is the related tasks and systems that provide support and services to ensure freedom of action, extended operational reach, and prolong endurance. Protection - Answer- Is the related tasks and systems that preserve the force so the commander can apply maximum combat power to accomplish the mission. Actions on contact (5 steps) - Answer- Deploy and report; evaluate and develop the situation; choose a course of action; execute the selected course of action; recommend a course of action to the higher commander Sequence of the offense - Answer- Gain and maintain enemy contact; fix the enemy; maneuver; follow through Sequence of the Defense - Answer- Gain and maintain enemy contact; disrupt the enemy; fix the enemy; maneuver; follow through/counterattack Forms of Contact (DINOCAVE) - Answer- Direct; indirect; non-hostile civilian contact; obstacle; CBRN or CBRNE; Aerial; visual; electronic warfare Battle Positions (PASSS) - Answer- Primary; alternate; supplementary; subsequent; strong point Primary battle position - Answer- Positions that cover the enemies most likely avenue of approach into the area. Alternate Battle Position - Answer- Positions assigned when the primary position becomes untenable or unsuitable for carrying out the assigned task. Supplementary Battle Position - Answer- A defensive position located within a units assigned area of operation providing sectors of fire in defensible terrain along an avenue of approach not the enemy's expected avenue of attack. Subsequent Battle Position - Answer- Those to which the unit expects to move during the course of the battle. A defending unit may have a series of subsequent positions. Strong Point Battle Position - Answer- A heavily fortified battle position tied to a natural or reinforcing obstacle to create an anchor for the defense or to deny the enemy decisive or key terrain. Resupply Methods - Answer- Service station; tailgate resupply; in position resupply Service station resupply - Answer- Allows the squads to move individually to a centrally located resupply point. This method requires the soldiers to leave their fighting positions. Depending on the tactical situation a squad moves out of its position, conducts resupply operations, and moves back into position. Tailgate resupply - Answer- The first sergeant or platoon sergeant normally uses this method of re-supply in the AA. Individual soldiers rotate through the feeding area. While there, they pick up mail in sundries and refill or exchange water cans. In position resupply - Answer- This method of resupply is used during operations when contact with the enemy is imminent; this resupply method may be required to ensure adequate supplies are available to the squads. This method requires the company to bring forward supplies, equipment, or both to individual fighting positions. The platoon normally provides a guide to ensure the supplies are distributed to the most critical position first. CSDP (5 types of responsibilities) - Answer- Command; supervisory; direct; custodial; personal Command Responsibility - Answer- Commanders are obligated to ensure all government property within their command is properly used and cared for, and that proper custody, safekeeping, and disposition are provided. This type of responsibility is inherent in command and cannot be delegated. Supervisory responsibility - Answer- The obligation of a supervisor to ensure all government property issued to, or used by their subordinates is properly used and cared for, and that proper custody, safekeeping, and disposition are provided. It is inherent in all supervisory positions, is not contingent upon signed receipts or responsibility statements and cannot be delegated. Direct Responsibility - Answer- The obligation of a person to ensure all government property for which they have receipted, is properly used and cared for, and that proper custody, safekeeping, and disposition are provided. This type of responsibility results from assignment as an accountable officer, receipt of formal written delegation, or acceptance of the property on hand receipt from the countable officer. Custodial responsibility - Answer- The obligation of an individual for property in storage, awaiting issue, or turn in to exercise reasonable and prudent actions to properly care for, and ensure proper custody, safekeeping, and disposition of the property are provided. This type of responsibility results from assignment as a supply sergeant, supply custodian, supply clerk, or wareho