CORPORALS COURSE 2026 STUDY GUIDE
COMPLETE MILITARY LEADERSHIP AND
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
◉ Reenlistments. Answer: •All Marines applying for reenlistment
must have a minimum proficiency and conduct mark average of
4.0/4.0 during the current enlistment contract and extensions to
that contract.
•The reference is MCO 1040.31, Enlisted Retention and Career
Development Manual.
◉ Certain Duty Assignments. Answer: As special duty and
independent duty assignments involve demanding duties or duties
with an unusual degree of responsibility, Marines must meet special
requirements which include minimum proficiency and conduct
marks.
•Marine Recruiter Duty: Corporals applying for recruiting duty must
have a minimum 4.6/4.6 Proficiency/Conduct mark average.
•Marine Security Guard Duty: Marine security guard applicants must
have a minimum 4.2/4.2 Proficiency/Conduct mark average.
•Independent Duty: Marines going on independent duty must have a
minimum 4.4/4.4 Proficiency/Conduct mark average.
,The reference is MCO P1326.6D, Selecting, Screening, and Preparing
Enlisted Marines for Special Duty Assignments and Independent
Duties.
◉ Characterization and Discharge. Answer: •Honorable
characterization of service is the highest quality characterization
and is appropriate when the quality of the Marine's service has met
the standards of accepted conduct and performance of duty for
military personnel. Therefore, characterization will be honorable for
Marines with an average proficiency mark of 3.0 or higher and
average conduct mark of 4.0 or higher.
•This is important as a less than honorable characterization may
reduce employment opportunities and the benefits received from
Veterans Affairs after discharge.
•The reference is MCO 1900.16, Separation and Retirement Manual.
◉ Purpose of Pros and Cons. Answer: •The purpose of proficiency
(pro) and conduct (con) marks is to indicate how proficiently
individual Marines performed their primary duties, and how they
conducted themselves during the rating period.
◉ responsibility of NCO. Answer: The responsibilities of staff
noncommissioned officers (SNCOs) and noncommissioned officers
(NCOs) include training and supervising Marines in the performance
of their duties. This close relationship gives NCOs the ability to
record information on a Marine's performance and to evaluate their
performance during the reporting period. NCOs' responsibilities
,include providing a fair and balanced recommendation for pro and
con marks to the commander.
◉ responsibility of CO. Answer: The commanding officer establishes
unit policies and procedures for recommending and assigning
proficiency and conduct marks. Since the commanding officer
cannot physically observe all corporals and below on a daily basis,
the commander will rely on SNCOs and NCOs to evaluate the
performance of their Marines and to submit recommended
proficiency and conduct marks. Although the commander should
review and consider the recommended marks, the commander has
sole responsibility in the assignment of marks for each Marine. The
commanding officer is the deciding authority and is responsible for
maintaining an equitable proficiency and conduct performance
evaluation system for Marines in his/her charge.
◉ Pro and Cons Policy. Answer: Marine Corps Order P1070.12K,
Individual Records Administration Manual, or IRAM, provides
SNCOs, NCOs, and commanders with the guidance necessary to
recommend and assign proficiency and conduct marks. The IRAM
establishes guidelines to create consistency in the evaluation
process, measuring specific factors expected of all Marines.
Marks are required for corporals and below. The process for
assigning proficiency and conduct marks is founded in the belief that
the commander who assigns these marks and the SNCOs or NCOs
who recommend them are familiar with paragraph 4005 of the
IRAM. Paragraph 4005 provides guidance in three major areas:
, •Occasions when proficiency and conduct marks are assigned
•Attributes to examine when doing a performance evaluation
•Rating scale to use when recommending or assigning marks
◉ occasions that require pro and con marks. Answer: transfer - Both
temporary disability retired list - Both
discharge - Both
promotion to cpl or sgt - Both
reduction - Both
declared deserter - Only active
last day prior to declared deserter - Only active
temporary additional duty (TAD) - Only active
TAD complete - Only active
change of primary duty - Both
service school complete - Both
semi annual ( 31 jan. and 31 jul) - Only active
annual - only reservists
completion of annual training - only reservists
recommended (mco p1400.32) - both
active duty special work - only reservists
COMPLETE MILITARY LEADERSHIP AND
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
◉ Reenlistments. Answer: •All Marines applying for reenlistment
must have a minimum proficiency and conduct mark average of
4.0/4.0 during the current enlistment contract and extensions to
that contract.
•The reference is MCO 1040.31, Enlisted Retention and Career
Development Manual.
◉ Certain Duty Assignments. Answer: As special duty and
independent duty assignments involve demanding duties or duties
with an unusual degree of responsibility, Marines must meet special
requirements which include minimum proficiency and conduct
marks.
•Marine Recruiter Duty: Corporals applying for recruiting duty must
have a minimum 4.6/4.6 Proficiency/Conduct mark average.
•Marine Security Guard Duty: Marine security guard applicants must
have a minimum 4.2/4.2 Proficiency/Conduct mark average.
•Independent Duty: Marines going on independent duty must have a
minimum 4.4/4.4 Proficiency/Conduct mark average.
,The reference is MCO P1326.6D, Selecting, Screening, and Preparing
Enlisted Marines for Special Duty Assignments and Independent
Duties.
◉ Characterization and Discharge. Answer: •Honorable
characterization of service is the highest quality characterization
and is appropriate when the quality of the Marine's service has met
the standards of accepted conduct and performance of duty for
military personnel. Therefore, characterization will be honorable for
Marines with an average proficiency mark of 3.0 or higher and
average conduct mark of 4.0 or higher.
•This is important as a less than honorable characterization may
reduce employment opportunities and the benefits received from
Veterans Affairs after discharge.
•The reference is MCO 1900.16, Separation and Retirement Manual.
◉ Purpose of Pros and Cons. Answer: •The purpose of proficiency
(pro) and conduct (con) marks is to indicate how proficiently
individual Marines performed their primary duties, and how they
conducted themselves during the rating period.
◉ responsibility of NCO. Answer: The responsibilities of staff
noncommissioned officers (SNCOs) and noncommissioned officers
(NCOs) include training and supervising Marines in the performance
of their duties. This close relationship gives NCOs the ability to
record information on a Marine's performance and to evaluate their
performance during the reporting period. NCOs' responsibilities
,include providing a fair and balanced recommendation for pro and
con marks to the commander.
◉ responsibility of CO. Answer: The commanding officer establishes
unit policies and procedures for recommending and assigning
proficiency and conduct marks. Since the commanding officer
cannot physically observe all corporals and below on a daily basis,
the commander will rely on SNCOs and NCOs to evaluate the
performance of their Marines and to submit recommended
proficiency and conduct marks. Although the commander should
review and consider the recommended marks, the commander has
sole responsibility in the assignment of marks for each Marine. The
commanding officer is the deciding authority and is responsible for
maintaining an equitable proficiency and conduct performance
evaluation system for Marines in his/her charge.
◉ Pro and Cons Policy. Answer: Marine Corps Order P1070.12K,
Individual Records Administration Manual, or IRAM, provides
SNCOs, NCOs, and commanders with the guidance necessary to
recommend and assign proficiency and conduct marks. The IRAM
establishes guidelines to create consistency in the evaluation
process, measuring specific factors expected of all Marines.
Marks are required for corporals and below. The process for
assigning proficiency and conduct marks is founded in the belief that
the commander who assigns these marks and the SNCOs or NCOs
who recommend them are familiar with paragraph 4005 of the
IRAM. Paragraph 4005 provides guidance in three major areas:
, •Occasions when proficiency and conduct marks are assigned
•Attributes to examine when doing a performance evaluation
•Rating scale to use when recommending or assigning marks
◉ occasions that require pro and con marks. Answer: transfer - Both
temporary disability retired list - Both
discharge - Both
promotion to cpl or sgt - Both
reduction - Both
declared deserter - Only active
last day prior to declared deserter - Only active
temporary additional duty (TAD) - Only active
TAD complete - Only active
change of primary duty - Both
service school complete - Both
semi annual ( 31 jan. and 31 jul) - Only active
annual - only reservists
completion of annual training - only reservists
recommended (mco p1400.32) - both
active duty special work - only reservists
