Army Study Guide — Board Questions by Publication

The Army

The Army's history, values, trust, esprit de corps, landpower missions, force structure, and the Army profession.

Operational Terms & Military Symbols

Common doctrinal terms, military symbols, framed and unframed symbol categories, key control measures (phase lines, LOA, LD, FLOT, FEBA, battle positions, fire support coordination measures), and the common language that enables clear communication during operations.

Intelligence

The intelligence warfighting function, ISR, intelligence disciplines, PED, and the Army intelligence process.

Operations

Multi-Domain Operations (MDO), decisive action, combined arms, six warfighting functions (C2 replaces Mission Command WFF), offensive/defensive/stability operations, operational framework, operations process, information advantage, and unified action.

Special Operations

ARSOF mission, two critical capabilities (surgical strike and special warfare), three core principles (discreet/precise/scalable), four characteristics of Army special operations, 12 imperatives, five regional mechanisms, unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, counterterrorism, and joint operational phases.

Stability

Six Army stability tasks, four fundamentals of stabilization, five end state conditions, four stability mechanisms (compel/control/influence/support), five stability sectors, legitimacy factors, DDR, SSR, peace operations, lines of effort, and assessment tools.

Fires

Fires warfighting function, two core competencies (field artillery and ADA), three critical capabilities, five principles of fires, five characteristics, D3A targeting methodology, fire support coordination, electronic attack, and air and missile defense.

Information

Five information activities (enable, protect, inform, influence, and attack), information advantage framework, nature of information, OPSEC, MISO, MILDEC, cyberspace operations, electromagnetic attack, and information as a dynamic of combat power in Multi-Domain Operations.

Defense Support of Civil Authorities

DSCA definition and primary purpose, four primary Army tasks, four defining characteristics, three warfighting functions for DSCA, National Preparedness Doctrine (Goal/NIMS/NRF), 15 Emergency Support Functions, tiered response, Posse Comitatus Act, duty status categories, Rules for Use of Force, and National Guard roles.

Protection

Five protection principles, 18 protection warfighting function tasks (including 2026 additions: cyber/EW and space operations support), critical asset list, defended asset list, scheme of protection, CBRN, survivability, fratricide avoidance, planning, preparation, execution, and assessment.

Offense and Defense

Art and science of tactics, four types of offensive operations (movement to contact, attack, exploitation, pursuit), four characteristics of the offense, three types of defensive operations (area defense, mobile defense, retrograde), five forms of maneuver, seven steps of engagement area development, defeat mechanisms, and key control measures.

Sustainment

Three major elements (logistics, personnel services, health service support), eight principles of sustainment, five principles of personnel services, six Army Health System principles, theater sustainment organizations (TSC/ESC/TEC), operational reach, endurance, force projection, theater opening/closing, and joint sustainment.

Operations Process

Planning, preparing, executing, assessing, MDMP steps, Troop Leading Procedures, Mission Command, CCIR, EEFI, PMESII-PT, METT-TC, running estimates, and the one-third/two-thirds rule.

Command and Control

Seven principles of mission command (competence, mutual trust, shared understanding, commander's intent, mission orders, disciplined initiative, risk acceptance), C2 system components, C2 warfighting function tasks, C2 nodes, and the art and science of command and control.

Army Leadership

Three levels of leadership (Direct, Organizational, Strategic); three leader attributes (Character, Presence, Intellect) with all sub-elements including Humility; three leader competencies (Leads, Develops, Achieves) and their sub-elements; toxic leadership; trust; empathy; followership; leading by example; and the three conditions of leader development.

Training

Nine principles of training, training management cycle, collective task proficiency ratings (T/P/U), 8-step training model, MET/METL/battle tasks, multiechelon training, AAR, and commander/NCO training responsibilities.

Army Programs

ASAP, ACS, ACES, AER, SHARP, Equal Opportunity, American Red Cross, Safety, Total Army Sponsorship Program, and DEERS.

Military Justice (UCMJ Nonjudicial Punishment)

UCMJ nonjudicial punishment, Article 15 types (Summary, Company Grade, Field Grade), maximum punishments, appeals, suspension, mitigation, remission, DA Form 2627, and the 2-year statute of limitations.

NCOES & NCOPD

One Army School System (OASS), ATRRS, BLC/ALC/SLC/MLC/SMC, Structured Self-Development (SSD) levels, APFT and body fat standards for NCOES, deferments, disenrollment, and the Noncommissioned Officer Development Program (NCODP).

Code of Conduct / SERE

Six Articles of the Code of Conduct, Geneva Convention Prisoner of War (GPW) standards, PW rights and responsibilities, command structure in captivity, SERE training levels (A, B, C), and the history of the Code of Conduct.

Personnel Recovery

Personnel Recovery (PR) program, Code of Conduct (COC), Isolated Personnel (IP), ISOPREP / DD Form 1833, COC training levels (A, B, C), the three phases of reintegration, and PRMS.

Army Command Policy

Command authority and responsibility, grade and precedence of rank, chain of command, NCO support channel duties, military discipline and corrective measures, hazing, bullying, discriminatory harassment, fraternization policy, extremist organizations, Family Care Plans, religious accommodations, Human Relations Readiness Training, and memorial ceremonies.

Army MEO Program

Purpose and goals of the MEO program, key definitions (discrimination, disparaging terms, sexual orientation), MEO professionals and EOLs, Command Climate Assessment timelines, MEO and harassment complaint processing, formal vs. informal complaints, DA Form 7279, investigation procedures and timelines, and corrective actions.

Army SHARP Program

SHARP program overview, sexual harassment definition, categories and types of harassment (verbal, non-verbal, physical), five techniques for dealing with harassment, quid pro quo vs. hostile environment, hazing/bullying/discriminatory harassment, sexual assault definitions, restricted vs. unrestricted reporting, SARC, victim advocacy, and commander responsibilities.

NCOER — Evaluation Reporting

NCO Evaluation Report system, responsibilities, rating chain, and the standards every NCO must know.

Customs and Courtesies

When and how to render the hand salute, situations where salutes are not required, cannon salutes, national salutes, flag courtesies, reveille and retreat procedures, the Pledge of Allegiance, the official Army song, New Year's Day customs, and military funeral honors.

Leaves and Passes

Leave accrual, special leave accrual, advanced leave, Environmental Morale Leave (EML), R&R leave, convalescent leave, regular and special passes, Permissive Temporary Duty (PTDY), emergency leave, immediate family definitions, and DA Form 31.

Promotions and Reductions

Decentralized promotions (PV2–SPC), semi-centralized promotions (SGT/SSG), centralized promotions (SFC–CSM), enlisted rank structure, NCO duties and the NCO Support Channel, promotion policy fundamentals, DA Form 3355, board composition and conduct, FLAGS, reevaluations, removal from promotion lists, reductions for inefficiency, and Battlefield Promotions.

Army Body Composition Program

ABCP objectives, body fat standards by age and gender, circumference tape measurement procedures, enrollment and flagging actions, DA Forms 5500/5501, monthly assessments, medical conditions, pregnancy exemptions, and unsafe weight loss strategies.

Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia

Uniform wear policy, grooming standards (hair, facial hair, fingernails, cosmetics), tattoo and brand policy, jewelry, piercings, headgear, bags, electronic devices, eyewear, insignia devices, and badge categories.

Flags and Guidons

U.S. flag display rules and honor position, authorized installation flags, half-staff procedures, the three Army flags, streamers, guidons, finials, silver bands, and disposal of unserviceable flags.

The Counseling Process

Types of developmental counseling, the four stages of the counseling process, three approaches (directive, nondirective, combined), active listening, nonverbal indicators, DA Form 4856, and overcoming resistance to counseling.

Land Navigation

Map reading, compass use, terrain association, and navigation techniques every Soldier must master.

First Aid

Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC), lifesaving steps, and first aid procedures from TC 4.02-1 and STP 21-1.

Commander and Staff Organization and Operations

Four components of the C2 system (people/processes/networks/CPs), staff roles and duties, running estimates, liaison (four functions, three element types, LNO responsibilities), battle rhythm, types of meetings (BUB/CUB/ops sync/working groups/boards), knowledge management (data/information/knowledge/understanding), six information management tasks, PACE plan, types of command posts (main/tactical/rear/combat trains/field trains), and CP operations.

Operations

Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) framework, five domains, three MDO phases (competition/armed conflict/return to competition), decisive action (offense/defense/stability), large-scale combat operations, combined arms, eight elements of combat power, six warfighting functions, unified land operations, mission command seven principles, MDMP seven steps, TLP eight steps, five-paragraph OPORD, IPB four steps, four forms of reconnaissance, five forms of security, risk management, and consolidation of gains.

Army Health System

AHS mission (FHP and HSS), ten medical functions, six AHS principles (conformity/proximity/flexibility/mobility/continuity/control), four roles of medical care, TCCC three phases (care under fire/tactical field care/tactical evacuation), four triage categories (minimal/immediate/delayed/expectant), five MEDEVAC evacuation precedences, theater evacuation policy, medical command organizations (MEDCOM/MEDBDE/MMB), Geneva Conventions, dental levels, veterinary roles, COSC, and medical logistics.

Physical Readiness Training

PRT principles (precision, progression, integration), three training phases, components of strength/endurance/mobility, WTBD physical requirements, overtraining syndrome, corrective action exercises, and special conditioning programs.

The NCO Guide

History of the NCO Corps from the Continental Army to modern operations, Von Steuben's Blue Book, NCO duties and authority, leader development pillars, NCOES, inspections, on-the-spot corrections, and the NCO support channel.

Stewardship of the Army Profession

Our noble calling to serve the nation, uphold the Army Ethic, and steward the profession for future generations.

Trust

The bedrock of the Army profession — what trust is, how it is built, and why it is essential to mission command.

NCO 2020 Strategy

NCOPDS vision, seven leader development imperatives, and the three Lines of Effort: Development, Talent Management, and Stewardship of the Profession — including all sub-objectives.

Army Values (LDRSHIP)

Full definitions of all 7 Army Values — Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage — plus key concepts and the Medal of Honor.

M4/M16 Series Weapons

Characteristics, operation, maintenance, and marksmanship fundamentals for the M4 and M16 rifle series.

Drill and Ceremony

Commands, formations, marching procedures, manual of arms, squad-level leadership, and the history of drill from TC 3-21.5.

Property Accountability

Property accountability and responsibility, expendable vs. nonexpendable property, hand receipts, sensitive items, inventories, FLIPL/Report of Survey, financial liability, key DA forms, and commander and NCO responsibilities under AR 735-5.

Army Materiel Maintenance Policy

Maintenance levels, PMCS requirements, commander responsibilities, equipment readiness standards, and the 5988 from AR 750-1.