Air Assault Phase 2 Test FY 2026 –
Comprehensive Practice Questions &
Verified Answers (A+ Graded Study Guide,
Latest Update)
• This is a comprehensive 200-question practice exam for Air Assault Phase 2,
designed to mirror the actual test format with verified answers, clear EXPERT
RATIONALE, and full topic coverage.
• Study by reading each question carefully, selecting your answer before checking
the highlighted correct option and EXPERT RATIONALE below it — repetition builds
retention.
1. What is the primary mission of Air Assault operations?
A. To provide close air support for ground troops
B. To conduct deep strike missions behind enemy lines
C. To insert, sustain, and extract forces by helicopter to exploit tactical
opportunities
D. To establish forward operating bases in contested areas
E. To conduct reconnaissance missions for division-level commanders
C. To insert, sustain, and extract forces by helicopter to exploit tactical
opportunities
EXPERT RATIONALE: Air Assault operations are defined by the use of helicopters to
maneuver combat forces into, within, and out of the battlefield to exploit tactical
situations and achieve operational objectives.
2. What are the nine principles of Air Assault operations?
A. Surprise, firepower, maneuver, unity, mass, economy, offensive, simplicity,
security
B. Objective, offensive, mass, economy of force, maneuver, unity of command,
security, surprise, simplicity
,C. Speed, surprise, maneuver, firepower, economy, mass, flexibility, simplicity,
security
D. Offensive, security, surprise, economy, mass, maneuver, flexibility, simplicity,
unity
E. Objective, mass, flexibility, surprise, maneuver, security, firepower, simplicity,
economy
B. Objective, offensive, mass, economy of force, maneuver, unity of
command, security, surprise, simplicity
EXPERT RATIONALE: These are the nine principles of war as applied to Air Assault
operations, guiding commanders in planning and execution.
3. The five-paragraph operations order (OPORD) follows which format?
A. Situation, Mission, Execution, Administration and Logistics, Command and Signal
B. Situation, Mission, Maneuver, Fires, Command and Control
C. Mission, Situation, Execution, Fires, Logistics
D. Situation, Mission, Fires, Logistics, Command
E. Objective, Mission, Execution, Administration, Signal
A. Situation, Mission, Execution, Administration and Logistics, Command
and Signal
EXPERT RATIONALE: The five-paragraph OPORD uses the SMEAC format: Situation,
Mission, Execution, Administration and Logistics, Command and Signal — the standard
Army operations order format.
4. What does METT-TC stand for?
A. Mission, Enemy, Terrain, Troops, Time, Civilians
B. Maneuver, Enemy, Terrain, Training, Time, Command
,C. Mission, Equipment, Terrain, Troops, Time, Command
D. Mission, Enemy, Training, Terrain, Time, Control
E. Maneuver, Equipment, Troops, Terrain, Time, Civilians
A. Mission, Enemy, Terrain, Troops, Time, Civilians
EXPERT RATIONALE: METT-TC is the Army's standard framework for analyzing tactical
situations. It guides commanders and staff in mission analysis during the Military
Decision-Making Process (MDMP).
5. What is the maximum load for a sling load operation?
A. It depends solely on the aircraft type
B. It is determined by the weakest link in the rigging system
C. It is always 2,000 pounds regardless of aircraft
D. It is set by the ground commander
E. It is determined by the aerial gunnery range
B. It is determined by the weakest link in the rigging system
EXPERT RATIONALE: In sling load operations, the maximum load capacity is governed
by the weakest component — whether that is the hook, the leg, or the chain — to ensure
safety throughout the lift.
6. How many personnel make up a standard pathfinder team?
A. 4
B. 6
C. 8
D. 10
E. 12
, C. 8
EXPERT RATIONALE: A standard pathfinder team consists of eight personnel — a team
leader, assistant team leader, and six team members — capable of independently
establishing and operating a landing zone.
7. What is the purpose of a STRIP map in Air Assault operations?
A. To show the full operational area of the brigade
B. To provide pilots with a linear route map from PZ to LZ
C. To coordinate fires along the flight route
D. To identify alternate landing zones
E. To track enemy positions along the flight corridor
B. To provide pilots with a linear route map from PZ to LZ
EXPERT RATIONALE: A STRIP map is a navigation aid used by pilots depicting the flight
route in a linear format from the Pickup Zone (PZ) to the Landing Zone (LZ), showing key
terrain features and checkpoints.
8. What is the minimum safe distance from a helicopter when approaching
from the rear?
A. You should never approach from the rear
B. 25 meters
C. 50 meters
D. 100 meters
E. 10 meters
A. You should never approach from the rear
Comprehensive Practice Questions &
Verified Answers (A+ Graded Study Guide,
Latest Update)
• This is a comprehensive 200-question practice exam for Air Assault Phase 2,
designed to mirror the actual test format with verified answers, clear EXPERT
RATIONALE, and full topic coverage.
• Study by reading each question carefully, selecting your answer before checking
the highlighted correct option and EXPERT RATIONALE below it — repetition builds
retention.
1. What is the primary mission of Air Assault operations?
A. To provide close air support for ground troops
B. To conduct deep strike missions behind enemy lines
C. To insert, sustain, and extract forces by helicopter to exploit tactical
opportunities
D. To establish forward operating bases in contested areas
E. To conduct reconnaissance missions for division-level commanders
C. To insert, sustain, and extract forces by helicopter to exploit tactical
opportunities
EXPERT RATIONALE: Air Assault operations are defined by the use of helicopters to
maneuver combat forces into, within, and out of the battlefield to exploit tactical
situations and achieve operational objectives.
2. What are the nine principles of Air Assault operations?
A. Surprise, firepower, maneuver, unity, mass, economy, offensive, simplicity,
security
B. Objective, offensive, mass, economy of force, maneuver, unity of command,
security, surprise, simplicity
,C. Speed, surprise, maneuver, firepower, economy, mass, flexibility, simplicity,
security
D. Offensive, security, surprise, economy, mass, maneuver, flexibility, simplicity,
unity
E. Objective, mass, flexibility, surprise, maneuver, security, firepower, simplicity,
economy
B. Objective, offensive, mass, economy of force, maneuver, unity of
command, security, surprise, simplicity
EXPERT RATIONALE: These are the nine principles of war as applied to Air Assault
operations, guiding commanders in planning and execution.
3. The five-paragraph operations order (OPORD) follows which format?
A. Situation, Mission, Execution, Administration and Logistics, Command and Signal
B. Situation, Mission, Maneuver, Fires, Command and Control
C. Mission, Situation, Execution, Fires, Logistics
D. Situation, Mission, Fires, Logistics, Command
E. Objective, Mission, Execution, Administration, Signal
A. Situation, Mission, Execution, Administration and Logistics, Command
and Signal
EXPERT RATIONALE: The five-paragraph OPORD uses the SMEAC format: Situation,
Mission, Execution, Administration and Logistics, Command and Signal — the standard
Army operations order format.
4. What does METT-TC stand for?
A. Mission, Enemy, Terrain, Troops, Time, Civilians
B. Maneuver, Enemy, Terrain, Training, Time, Command
,C. Mission, Equipment, Terrain, Troops, Time, Command
D. Mission, Enemy, Training, Terrain, Time, Control
E. Maneuver, Equipment, Troops, Terrain, Time, Civilians
A. Mission, Enemy, Terrain, Troops, Time, Civilians
EXPERT RATIONALE: METT-TC is the Army's standard framework for analyzing tactical
situations. It guides commanders and staff in mission analysis during the Military
Decision-Making Process (MDMP).
5. What is the maximum load for a sling load operation?
A. It depends solely on the aircraft type
B. It is determined by the weakest link in the rigging system
C. It is always 2,000 pounds regardless of aircraft
D. It is set by the ground commander
E. It is determined by the aerial gunnery range
B. It is determined by the weakest link in the rigging system
EXPERT RATIONALE: In sling load operations, the maximum load capacity is governed
by the weakest component — whether that is the hook, the leg, or the chain — to ensure
safety throughout the lift.
6. How many personnel make up a standard pathfinder team?
A. 4
B. 6
C. 8
D. 10
E. 12
, C. 8
EXPERT RATIONALE: A standard pathfinder team consists of eight personnel — a team
leader, assistant team leader, and six team members — capable of independently
establishing and operating a landing zone.
7. What is the purpose of a STRIP map in Air Assault operations?
A. To show the full operational area of the brigade
B. To provide pilots with a linear route map from PZ to LZ
C. To coordinate fires along the flight route
D. To identify alternate landing zones
E. To track enemy positions along the flight corridor
B. To provide pilots with a linear route map from PZ to LZ
EXPERT RATIONALE: A STRIP map is a navigation aid used by pilots depicting the flight
route in a linear format from the Pickup Zone (PZ) to the Landing Zone (LZ), showing key
terrain features and checkpoints.
8. What is the minimum safe distance from a helicopter when approaching
from the rear?
A. You should never approach from the rear
B. 25 meters
C. 50 meters
D. 100 meters
E. 10 meters
A. You should never approach from the rear
