CORPORALS COURSE LEADERSHIP 2 EXAM 2023-2024
ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS(VERIFIED ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED A+
RANK STRUCTURE - ANSWER An established rank structure aids the Marine Corps in carrying
out its mission by organizing the duties, responsibilities, and authority necessary to succeed.
Without this organizational structure, our institution would be shapeless and ineffective at
carrying out our assigned missions.
The success of the Marine Corps and of our Marines depend greatly on the Marines who carry
out these duties and responsibilities of leadership.
HISTORY OF ORGANIZED RANKS - ANSWER The leadership position of the Marine NCO did
not begin with the birth of the United States Marines Corps. This position evolved over
centuries of military action and was influenced by different cultures.
Historically, armies consisted of officers and groups of men they enlisted to be in their charge.
As the first professional army in history, the Roman Legion formalized a military rank
structure that recognized subordinate ranks to the centurion who was the equivalent of
today's company commander.
These individuals assisted the centurion in the running of the unit.
optio - ANSWER the centurion's second in command and oversaw all training of the century.
In battle, the optio commanded the rear of the formation and was identified by a white and
black plume and the wooden staff he carried to enforce orders
tesserarius - ANSWER the head of the guard, keeper of the watch, and second in command
to the optio. This noncommissioned officer oversaw fatigue and guard duties for the
company.
signifier - ANSWER the treasurer and also carried the "standard," a medallion decorated
staff that identified the company rally point. He was third in command of the century and
wore a draped bear's hide.
decantus - ANSWER the first rank a legionary could be promoted to. Supervising a section of
eight men, they oversaw camp set-up and training while enforcing personal hygiene and
maintenance of equipment. They were identified by two feathers attached to the side of their
helmets
ORIGIN OF TERMS: CORPORAL - ANSWER The term corporal is derived from 15th century
Italy.
,The Italian army's main tactical formation was the squadra which translates into square. The
squadra was commanded by a reliable veteran known as the capo de squadra, or head of the
square.
A hundred years later, during the 17th century, the term was shortened to caporale. At that
same time, the French picked up the term pronouncing it in various ways, one of them being
corporal.
By the 17th or 18th century, the British adopted the rank of corporal. In 1803, when they
began using chevrons, British corporals received two stripes.
During the American Revolution, both British and French regulations influenced the military
structure of the continental forces.
ORIGIN OF TERMS: SERGEANT - ANSWER The term sergeant began as serviens, Latin for
servant, to a knight in 13th century France.
The serviens were experienced warriors that rode horses, but were not wealthy enough to
afford all the equipment and retainers to qualify as a knight. Serviens would be called upon to
take charge of a group of serfs forced to serve in the army. They were responsible for
conducting training, leading serfs into battle, and keeping order. At the time it was an
occupation, not a rank.
The English adopted the word from the French and began pronouncing it SAR-gent. The
colonies continued to supply both soldiers and Marines to the British empire. Therefore,
when the American colonies created their own military it was only natural to include the rank
of sergeant. Over the years, technical advances and many different duties and responsibilities
have led to several grades of sergeant.
RESOLUTION - ANSWER More than just our emblem was derived from the British Royal
Marines. In the 17th and 18th century American colonists were notably a maritime people.
England found the colonists to be well acclimated to service upon the sea and therefore, a
,large number were raised to serve the British fleet as Royal Marines.
On 10 Nov 1775, as the Second Continental Congress resolved that two battalions of Marines
be raised, numerous colonists possessed the training and experience that made them the best
sort for an efficient Marine force.
The resolution specified structure to include one colonel, two lieutenant colonels, two majors,
and officers as usual in other regiments. "Other regiments" is a reference to land forces.
Corporals and sergeants were included among these officers as they were in the British Royal
Marines.
TRANSFORMATION - ANSWER In 1777, as the Continental Army moved into winter quarters
at Valley Forge they were low on discipline, supplies, and victories. The British had taken the
American capital of Philadelphia and routed them at the Battles of Brandywine and
Germantown.
Painfully aware of his army's shortcomings, General Washington requested an
inspector-general to transform them into a professional fighting force. The request was
answered with the arrival of the Prussian Baron Friedrich Wilhelm Von Steuben.
The great efforts of Inspector General Von Steuben transformed this ragtag army into a
cohesive and disciplined fighting force that would defeat the elite British military.
His Revolutionary War Drill Manual or Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops
of the United States commonly called "The Blue Book" established:
•Standardized drill
•Camp sanitation
•Unit structure
•Leadership qualities
•Leadership duties and responsibilities
Much of what is done today stems from these teachings
VALLEY FORGE: CONTINENTAL MARINES - ANSWER Just before the Battle of Trenton (1776),
Major Samuel Nicholas was attached to the Continental Army with three companies of
Marines and assigned to serve as both infantry and artillery under Colonel Cadwalader.
In the fall of 1777, the Marines would follow the Continental Army into winter quarters at
Valley Forge where Maj. Nicholas continued to assist Col. Cadwalader as muster master and
quartermaster. During this period, Nicholas and the Marines would witness the great
, transformation of the Continental Army.
Congress judged that prescribing some invariable rules for order and discipline of troops was
inherently important and ordered that the decided regulations be observed by all troops of
the United states. At this time, Marines were held to both Navy regulations, while at sea, and
Army regulations, while on land.
General Von Steuben's regulations remained the official military guide until the War of 1812.
Its relevance can still be seen in modern use today especially in our recruit training.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SERGEANT AND CORPORAL (1779) - ANSWER In his instructions,
General Von Steuben first addressed the dress and arming of officer and enlisted leadership.
In Chapter 2, he begins to lay out their responsibilities. In these responsibilities, he addresses
the noncommissioned officers' duty as technical expert, instructor, and enforcer of military
regulations.
To the commanding officers, Von Steuben addressed the importance of selecting
noncommissioned officers when he stated "The order and discipline of the regiment depends
so much upon their behavior..."
The instructions to sergeants and corporals more specifically details the duties of the NCO
within the company while cautioning against the pitfalls of fraternization and hazing.
These are timeless leadership practices as relevant today as they were during the
transformation of the Continental Army in 1779.
CONTINENTAL MARINE CORPS: DECOMMISSIONING - ANSWER In 1785, Congress sold off
the last of the naval vessels and with that the Continental Marines turned in their equipment
and mustered out of service. Although the thought of reorganizing the Navy and Marine Corps
did exist, at the conclusion of the war, finances of the new government were in no condition
to permit such a luxury.
The record indicates that 131 officers were commissioned in the Continental Marines. The
exact number of noncommissioned officers and enlisted Marines is not known, but likely did
not exceed 2,000. In comparison to the Army and Navy, the Corps of Continental Marines was
relatively small, but for more than seven years it contributed measurably to the British defeat
on both land and sea.
RECONSTITUTING THE MARINE CORPS - ANSWER On 11 July 1798, as war with France drew
near, Congress would send President John Adams "An Act for Establishing and Organizing a
Marine Corps."
The act provided that, in addition to the military establishment, there should be raised and
ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS(VERIFIED ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED A+
RANK STRUCTURE - ANSWER An established rank structure aids the Marine Corps in carrying
out its mission by organizing the duties, responsibilities, and authority necessary to succeed.
Without this organizational structure, our institution would be shapeless and ineffective at
carrying out our assigned missions.
The success of the Marine Corps and of our Marines depend greatly on the Marines who carry
out these duties and responsibilities of leadership.
HISTORY OF ORGANIZED RANKS - ANSWER The leadership position of the Marine NCO did
not begin with the birth of the United States Marines Corps. This position evolved over
centuries of military action and was influenced by different cultures.
Historically, armies consisted of officers and groups of men they enlisted to be in their charge.
As the first professional army in history, the Roman Legion formalized a military rank
structure that recognized subordinate ranks to the centurion who was the equivalent of
today's company commander.
These individuals assisted the centurion in the running of the unit.
optio - ANSWER the centurion's second in command and oversaw all training of the century.
In battle, the optio commanded the rear of the formation and was identified by a white and
black plume and the wooden staff he carried to enforce orders
tesserarius - ANSWER the head of the guard, keeper of the watch, and second in command
to the optio. This noncommissioned officer oversaw fatigue and guard duties for the
company.
signifier - ANSWER the treasurer and also carried the "standard," a medallion decorated
staff that identified the company rally point. He was third in command of the century and
wore a draped bear's hide.
decantus - ANSWER the first rank a legionary could be promoted to. Supervising a section of
eight men, they oversaw camp set-up and training while enforcing personal hygiene and
maintenance of equipment. They were identified by two feathers attached to the side of their
helmets
ORIGIN OF TERMS: CORPORAL - ANSWER The term corporal is derived from 15th century
Italy.
,The Italian army's main tactical formation was the squadra which translates into square. The
squadra was commanded by a reliable veteran known as the capo de squadra, or head of the
square.
A hundred years later, during the 17th century, the term was shortened to caporale. At that
same time, the French picked up the term pronouncing it in various ways, one of them being
corporal.
By the 17th or 18th century, the British adopted the rank of corporal. In 1803, when they
began using chevrons, British corporals received two stripes.
During the American Revolution, both British and French regulations influenced the military
structure of the continental forces.
ORIGIN OF TERMS: SERGEANT - ANSWER The term sergeant began as serviens, Latin for
servant, to a knight in 13th century France.
The serviens were experienced warriors that rode horses, but were not wealthy enough to
afford all the equipment and retainers to qualify as a knight. Serviens would be called upon to
take charge of a group of serfs forced to serve in the army. They were responsible for
conducting training, leading serfs into battle, and keeping order. At the time it was an
occupation, not a rank.
The English adopted the word from the French and began pronouncing it SAR-gent. The
colonies continued to supply both soldiers and Marines to the British empire. Therefore,
when the American colonies created their own military it was only natural to include the rank
of sergeant. Over the years, technical advances and many different duties and responsibilities
have led to several grades of sergeant.
RESOLUTION - ANSWER More than just our emblem was derived from the British Royal
Marines. In the 17th and 18th century American colonists were notably a maritime people.
England found the colonists to be well acclimated to service upon the sea and therefore, a
,large number were raised to serve the British fleet as Royal Marines.
On 10 Nov 1775, as the Second Continental Congress resolved that two battalions of Marines
be raised, numerous colonists possessed the training and experience that made them the best
sort for an efficient Marine force.
The resolution specified structure to include one colonel, two lieutenant colonels, two majors,
and officers as usual in other regiments. "Other regiments" is a reference to land forces.
Corporals and sergeants were included among these officers as they were in the British Royal
Marines.
TRANSFORMATION - ANSWER In 1777, as the Continental Army moved into winter quarters
at Valley Forge they were low on discipline, supplies, and victories. The British had taken the
American capital of Philadelphia and routed them at the Battles of Brandywine and
Germantown.
Painfully aware of his army's shortcomings, General Washington requested an
inspector-general to transform them into a professional fighting force. The request was
answered with the arrival of the Prussian Baron Friedrich Wilhelm Von Steuben.
The great efforts of Inspector General Von Steuben transformed this ragtag army into a
cohesive and disciplined fighting force that would defeat the elite British military.
His Revolutionary War Drill Manual or Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops
of the United States commonly called "The Blue Book" established:
•Standardized drill
•Camp sanitation
•Unit structure
•Leadership qualities
•Leadership duties and responsibilities
Much of what is done today stems from these teachings
VALLEY FORGE: CONTINENTAL MARINES - ANSWER Just before the Battle of Trenton (1776),
Major Samuel Nicholas was attached to the Continental Army with three companies of
Marines and assigned to serve as both infantry and artillery under Colonel Cadwalader.
In the fall of 1777, the Marines would follow the Continental Army into winter quarters at
Valley Forge where Maj. Nicholas continued to assist Col. Cadwalader as muster master and
quartermaster. During this period, Nicholas and the Marines would witness the great
, transformation of the Continental Army.
Congress judged that prescribing some invariable rules for order and discipline of troops was
inherently important and ordered that the decided regulations be observed by all troops of
the United states. At this time, Marines were held to both Navy regulations, while at sea, and
Army regulations, while on land.
General Von Steuben's regulations remained the official military guide until the War of 1812.
Its relevance can still be seen in modern use today especially in our recruit training.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SERGEANT AND CORPORAL (1779) - ANSWER In his instructions,
General Von Steuben first addressed the dress and arming of officer and enlisted leadership.
In Chapter 2, he begins to lay out their responsibilities. In these responsibilities, he addresses
the noncommissioned officers' duty as technical expert, instructor, and enforcer of military
regulations.
To the commanding officers, Von Steuben addressed the importance of selecting
noncommissioned officers when he stated "The order and discipline of the regiment depends
so much upon their behavior..."
The instructions to sergeants and corporals more specifically details the duties of the NCO
within the company while cautioning against the pitfalls of fraternization and hazing.
These are timeless leadership practices as relevant today as they were during the
transformation of the Continental Army in 1779.
CONTINENTAL MARINE CORPS: DECOMMISSIONING - ANSWER In 1785, Congress sold off
the last of the naval vessels and with that the Continental Marines turned in their equipment
and mustered out of service. Although the thought of reorganizing the Navy and Marine Corps
did exist, at the conclusion of the war, finances of the new government were in no condition
to permit such a luxury.
The record indicates that 131 officers were commissioned in the Continental Marines. The
exact number of noncommissioned officers and enlisted Marines is not known, but likely did
not exceed 2,000. In comparison to the Army and Navy, the Corps of Continental Marines was
relatively small, but for more than seven years it contributed measurably to the British defeat
on both land and sea.
RECONSTITUTING THE MARINE CORPS - ANSWER On 11 July 1798, as war with France drew
near, Congress would send President John Adams "An Act for Establishing and Organizing a
Marine Corps."
The act provided that, in addition to the military establishment, there should be raised and
