USMC CUSTOMS, COURTESIES, AND TRADITIONS EXAM QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE 2026

USMC CUSTOMS, COURTESIES, AND TRADITIONS EXAM QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE 2026 purpose - Answers to review the history of the corps, customs, cpurpose - Answers to review the history of the corps, customs, courtesies, and all traditions that are expected of all Marines customs are - Answers habitual practices of a person or a group of people Courtesies are - Answers polite gestures or remarks traditions are - Answers passage of doctrine or beliefs Rank Structure- Grade - Answers pay grade, allows the DoD to define monthly pay entitlement Rank Structure- Rank - Answers identifies a service member in the armed forces, Rank is associated with pay grade Rank Structure- Insignia - Answers device worn on uniform to identify rank of service member Private - Answers E-1 no insignia Private First Class - Answers E-2, 1 stripe up Lance Corporal - Answers E-3, 1 stripe up, cross rifles in center Corporal - Answers E-4, 2 stripes up, cross rifles in the center Sergeant - Answers E-5, 3 stripes up, cross rifles in the center Staff Sergeant - Answers E-6, 3 stripes up, 1 rocker down, cross rifles in center Gunnery Sergeant - Answers E-7, 3 stripes up, 2 rockers down, cross rifles in center Master Sergeant - Answers E-8, 3 stripes up, 3 rockers down, cross rifles in center First Sergeant - Answers E-8, 3 stripes up, 3 rockers down, diamond in center Master Gunnery Sergeant - Answers E-9, 3 stripes up, 4 rockers down, bursting bomb in center Sergeant Major - Answers E-9, 3 stripes up, 4 rockers down, star in the center Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps - Answers E-9, 3 stripes up, 4 rockers down, marine corps insignia in the center Warrant Officer - Answers W-1, 1 gold bar, 2 red squares Chief Warrant Officer 2 - Answers W-2, 2 gold bars, 3 red squares Chief Warrant Officer 3 - Answers W-3, 1 silver bar, 2 red squares Chief Warrant Officer 4 - Answers W-4, 2 silver bars, 3 red squares Chief Warrant Officer 5 - Answers W-5, silver bar with one red stripe 2nd Lt - Answers O-1, 1 gold bar 1st Lt - Answers O-2, 1 silver bar Captain - Answers O-3, 2 silver bars Major - Answers O-4, Gold oak leaf Lieutenant Colonel - Answers O-5 Silver Oak Leaf colonel - Answers O-6 Silver Eagle Brigadier General - Answers O-7 1 Silver Star Major General - Answers O-8 2 Silver Stars Lieutenant General - Answers O-9 three silver stars General - Answers O-10 four silver stars Blood Stripe - Answers marine corps tradition maintains that the red stripe worn on the trousers of officers and noncommissioned officers commemorates those marines killed storming the castle of Chapultec in 1847 quatrefoil - Answers stems from the practice of marine ships detachment officers during the war of 1812, placing a piece of knotted rope on top of their covers so that they could be recognized by their marine marksmen in the fighting tops Officers sword (Mameluke) - Answers the single weapon of LONGEST use in American arms NCO Sword - Answers only service where NCO's carry swords, the oldest U.S. weapon in CONTINUOUS use saluting - Answers a traditional greeting among warriors of all nations salute- - Answers all commissioned and warrant officers of all U.S armed services, regular, reserved, in or out of uniform, officers of friendly powers, high civilian officials, and other enlisted in formations Do not salute when - Answers Engaged in routine work when a salute would interfere, Indoors, except under arms, Carrying with both hands, or when it would be impractical, Places where it would be inappropriate, While driving, A prisoner chaser doesn't salute an officer except when addressed by an officer in the line of duty, In formation, When within sight of the enemy Cake cutting ceremony - Answers The commander cuts the cake and hands the first piece to the guest of honor. Then the commander hands the second piece of cake to the oldest Marine present as a sign of honor and respect to experience and seniority. After taking a bite, the oldest marine passes the second piece of cake, and a clean fork, directly to the youngest marine present; this action symbolizes the passing of wisdom, knowledge, and experience, as well as trust and confidence in those who will continue to carry on our Marine Corps sies, and all traditions that are expected of all Marines customs are - Answers habitual practices of a person or a group of people Courtesies are - Answers polite gestures or remarks traditions are - Answers passage of doctrine or beliefs Rank Structure- Grade - Answers pay grade, allows the DoD to define monthly pay entitlement Rank Structure- Rank - Answers identifies a service member in the armed forces, Rank is associated with pay grade Rank Structure- Insignia - Answers device worn on uniform to identify rank of service member Private - Answers E-1 no insignia Private First Class - Answers E-2, 1 stripe up Lance Corporal - Answers E-3, 1 stripe up, cross rifles in center Corporal - Answers E-4, 2 stripes up, cross rifles in the center Sergeant - Answers E-5, 3 stripes up, cross rifles in the center Staff Sergeant - Answers E-6, 3 stripes up, 1 rocker down, cross rifles in center Gunnery Sergeant - Answers E-7, 3 stripes up, 2 rockers down, cross rifles in center Master Sergeant - Answers E-8, 3 stripes up, 3 rockers down, cross rifles in center First Sergeant - Answers E-8, 3 stripes up, 3 rockers down, diamond in center Master Gunnery Sergeant - Answers E-9, 3 stripes up, 4 rockers down, bursting bomb in center Sergeant Major - Answers E-9, 3 stripes up, 4 rockers down, star in the center Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps - Answers E-9, 3 stripes up, 4 rockers down, marine corps insignia in the center Warrant Officer - Answers W-1, 1 gold bar, 2 red squares Chief Warrant Officer 2 - Answers W-2, 2 gold bars, 3 red squares Chief Warrant Officer 3 - Answers W-3, 1 silver bar, 2 red squares Chief Warrant Officer 4 - Answers W-4, 2 silver bars, 3 red squares Chief Warrant Officer 5 - Answers W-5, silver bar with one red stripe 2nd Lt - Answers O-1, 1 gold bar 1st Lt - Answers O-2, 1 silver bar Captain - Answers O-3, 2 silver bars Major - Answers O-4, Gold oak leaf Lieutenant Colonel - Answers O-5 Silver Oak Leaf colonel - Answers O-6 Silver Eagle Brigadier General - Answers O-7 1 Silver Star Major General - Answers O-8 2 Silver Stars Lieutenant General - Answers O-9 three silver stars General - Answers O-10 four silver stars Blood Stripe - Answers marine corps tradition maintains that the red stripe worn on the trousers of officers and noncommissioned officers commemorates those marines killed storming the castle of Chapultec in 1847 quatrefoil - Answers stems from the practice of marine ships detachment officers during the war of 1812, placing a piece of knotted rope on top of their covers so that they could be recognized by their marine marksmen in the fighting tops Officers sword (Mameluke) - Answers the single weapon of LONGEST use in American arms NCO Sword - Answers only service where NCO's carry swords, the oldest U.S. weapon in CONTINUOUS use saluting - Answers a traditional greeting among warriors of all nations salute- - Answers all commissioned and warrant officers of all U.S armed services, regular, reserved, in or out of uniform, officers of friendly powers, high civilian officials, and other enlisted in formations Do not salute when - Answers Engaged in routine work when a salute would interfere, Indoors, except under arms, Carrying with both hands, or when it would be impractical, Places where it would be inappropriate, While driving, A prisoner chaser doesn't salute an officer except when addressed by an officer in the line of duty, In formation, When within sight of the enemy Cake cutting ceremony - Answers The commander cuts the cake and hands the first piece to the guest of honor. Then the commander hands the second piece of cake to the oldest Marine present as a sign of honor and respect to experience and seniority. After taking a bite, the oldest marine passes the second piece of cake, and a clean fork, directly to the youngest marine present; this action symbolizes the passing of wisdom, knowledge, and experience, as well as trust and confidence in those who will continue to carry on our Marine Corps se - Answers to review the history of the corps, customs, courtesies, and all traditions that are expected of all Marines customs are - Answers habitual practices of a person or a group of people Courtesies are - Answers polite gestures or remarks