Tango Company Gold Phase Comprehensive Military Study Guide

Unit Leadership: Chain of Command and Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) Support Channel

  • Organizational Structure and Roles:

    • The Chain of Command exercises operational authority, command, and legal responsibility through commissioned officers.
    • The NCO Support Channel operates parallel to the chain of command, executing policies, maintaining standards, supervising daily operations, and ensuring Soldier welfare and professional discipline.
    • Both channels require exact, verbatim spelling of names and titles for official administrative and evaluative documentation.

  • Tango Company Command Team and Higher Headquarters Appointments:

    • Company Level:
    • Company Commander: Captain Warsocki
    • First Sergeant (1SG): First Sergeant Burrell
    • Battalion Level:
    • Battalion Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Behar
    • Battalion Command Sergeant Major (CSM): Command Sergeant Major Burter Windham
    • Brigade Level:
    • Brigade Commander: Colonel Arroyo
    • Brigade Command Sergeant Major (CSM): Command Sergeant Major Ibrahim

The Seven Army Values

  • Definition and Overview:

    • The fundamental ethical bedrock guiding all Soldiers in decisions, actions, and conduct across both professional and personal domains.

  • Verbatim Core Values and Operational Definitions:

    • Loyalty:
    • Bear true faith and allegiance to the U.S. Constitution, the Army, your unit, and other Soldiers.
    • Duty:
    • Fulfill your obligations.
    • Respect:
    • Treat people as they should be treated.
    • Selfless Service:
    • Put the welfare of the nation, the Army, and your subordinates before your own.
    • Honor:
    • Live up to all the Army values.
    • Integrity:
    • Do what is right, legally and morally.
    • Personal Courage:
    • Face fear, danger, or adversity (physical or moral).

Army Customs, Courtesies, and Military Protocol

  • Speaking Positions and Bearing:

    • Addressing Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs): Soldiers stand at the position of Parade Rest when speaking with or being addressed by a Non-Commissioned Officer.
    • Addressing Commissioned Officers: Soldiers stand at the position of Attention when speaking with or being addressed by an Officer.

  • Ceremonial Bugle Calls:

    • Reveille:
    • The traditional bugle call played at dawn / morning to signal the raising of the national colors (the flag).
    • Retreat:
    • The ceremonial bugle call played at sunset / evening to signal the lowering of the national colors (the flag).
    • Taps:
    • The bugle call associated with lights out, remembrance, and military honors.

  • Official Motto:

    • The official motto of the United States Army is "This We'll Defend".

Regulations, Policies, and Phase Privileges

  • Uniform Standards and Appearance:

    • Army Regulation (AR) 670-1 governs the Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia.
    • Sets explicit regulatory guidelines regarding grooming, uniforms, ornamentation, accoutrements, and rank placement.

  • SHARP Program:

    • Acronym stands for Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention.
    • Dedicated Army directive designed to eliminate sexual harassment and sexual assault within ranks through proactive prevention, victim advocacy, support services, and comprehensive reporting procedures.

  • Physical Readiness Standards:

    • A minimum passing score of 60 points60\text{ points} is mandatory in each individual event on the Army Fitness Test.

  • Gold Phase Privileges and Off-Post Travel:

    • Soldiers granted Gold Pass Privileges must operate within strict authorized off-post mileage boundaries (radius evaluated between 10 miles10\text{ miles}, 15 miles15\text{ miles}, 20 miles20\text{ miles}, and 25 miles25\text{ miles} depending on installation commands).

The Three General Orders

  • General Order 1:

    • "I will guard everything within the limits of my post and quit my post only when properly relieved."

  • General Order 2:

    • "I will obey my special orders and perform all my duties in a military manner."

  • General Order 3:

    • "I will report violations of my special orders, emergencies, and anything not covered in my instructions to the commander of relief."

Military Map Reading and Land Navigation: Major Terrain Features

  • Five Major Terrain Features:

    • Hill: An area of high ground sloping downward in all directions.
    • Valley: Stretched-out groove in the land, usually formed by streams or rivers, with high ground on three sides.
    • Ridge: A sloping line of high ground extending across country.
    • Saddle: A dip or low point between two areas of higher ground.
    • Depression: A low point in the ground or a sinkhole, surrounded on all sides by higher ground.

  • Minor and Supplementary Features (for distinction):

    • Minor Features: Draw, Spur, Cliff.
    • Supplementary Features: Cut, Fill.

United States Army Rank Insignia Identification

Tango Company Gold Phase Exam rank insignia identification sheet

  • Enlisted Ranks (Junior Enlisted and Non-Commissioned Officers):

    • Private (PV1 / E-1):
    • Insignia: No insignia worn.
    • Private Second Class (PV2 / E-2):
    • Insignia: One chevron pointing upward.
    • Private First Class (PFC / E-3):
    • Insignia: One chevron pointing upward over one curved rocker/bar.
    • Specialist (SPC / E-4):
    • Insignia: A rounded shield bearing an embossed eagle silhouette.
    • Corporal (CPL / E-4):
    • Insignia: Two chevrons pointing upward.
    • Sergeant (SGT / E-5):
    • Insignia: Three chevrons pointing upward.
    • Staff Sergeant (SSG / E-6):
    • Insignia: Three chevrons pointing upward over one curved rocker.
    • Sergeant First Class (SFC / E-7):
    • Insignia: Three chevrons pointing upward over two curved rockers.
    • Master Sergeant (MSG / E-8):
    • Insignia: Three chevrons pointing upward over three curved rockers.
    • First Sergeant (1SG / E-8):
    • Insignia: Three chevrons pointing upward over three curved rockers with a central diamond (lozenge).
    • Sergeant Major (SGM / E-9):
    • Insignia: Three chevrons pointing upward over three curved rockers with a central five-pointed star.
    • Command Sergeant Major (CSM / E-9):
    • Insignia: Three chevrons pointing upward over three curved rockers with a central five-pointed star surrounded by a wreath.
    • Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA / E-9):
    • Insignia: Three chevrons pointing upward over three curved rockers with the Coat of Arms of the United States flanked by two stars in the center.

  • Commissioned Officer Ranks (Company, Field, and General Officers):

    • Second Lieutenant (2LT / O-1):
    • Insignia: One single gold bar.
    • First Lieutenant (1LT / O-2):
    • Insignia: One single silver bar.
    • Captain (CPT / O-3):
    • Insignia: Two connected silver bars.
    • Major (MAJ / O-4):
    • Insignia: One gold oak leaf.
    • Lieutenant Colonel (LTC / O-5):
    • Insignia: One silver oak leaf.
    • Colonel (COL / O-6):
    • Insignia: One silver eagle with outspread wings.
    • Brigadier General (BG / O-7):
    • Insignia: One silver five-pointed star.
    • Major General (MG / O-8):
    • Insignia: Two silver five-pointed stars arranged in a row.
    • Lieutenant General (LTG / O-9):
    • Insignia: Three silver five-pointed stars arranged in a row.
    • General (GEN / O-10):
    • Insignia: Four silver five-pointed stars arranged in a row.