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U.S. Marines Basic Knowledge Trivia Quiz

If you attended Marine Corps Recruit Training, this is the information you would have memorized upon departing the Recruit Depot.

A multiple-choice quiz by rickusmc. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
rickusmc

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
254,104

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
25

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
14 / 25

Plays
3920

Awards
Top 5% quiz!

Last 3 plays: Guest 32 (9/25), Guest 67 (19/25), Guest 149 (10/25).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 25

1. I was the first Commandant of our beloved Corps, who am I? Hint

Capt. Samuel Nichols

George Washington

John A. LeJeune

Archibald Henderson

NEXT>

Question 2 of 25

2. Semper Fidelis, the Marine Corps Motto, is Latin for what? Hint

Always Faithful

Always Friendly

Always Prepared

Always Fighting

NEXT>

Question 3 of 25

3. I am the only U.S. Marine to win 5 Navy Crosses, who am I? Hint

Smedley Butler

Presley O'Bannon

Dan Daly

Chesty Puller

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Question 4 of 25

4. It is for this battle that Marine Noncommissioned Officers (NCOs) wear the blood stripe on our Dress Blue Trousers. Which battle was it? Hint

Okinawa

Chapultepec

Chosin Reservoir

Iwo Jima

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Question 5 of 25

5. I am the "Grand Old Man" of our Marine Corps. Who am I? Hint

Dan Daly

Chesty Puller

Archibald Henderson

Presley O'Bannon

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Question 6 of 25

6. I just got PCS orders to 2D MAW. What base am I reporting to? Hint

MCAS Yuma

MCAS New River

MCAS Miramar

MCAS Cherry Point

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Question 7 of 25

7. My CO just instructed me to recite my General Orders. How many General Orders did I have to recite? Hint

NEXT>

Question 8 of 25

8. I am 39 years old and I just completed my PFT, achieving only the bare minimum to pass. What were my scores? Hint

3 Pull-Ups, 45 Sit-ups, 29:00 3 Mile run

2 Pull-Ups, 45 Sit-ups, 28:00 3 Mile Run

3 Pull-Ups, 50 Sit-ups, 28:00 3 Mile Run

3 Pull-Ups, 45 Sit-ups, 30:00 3 Mile Run

NEXT>

Question 9 of 25

9. I am considered the Father of Marine Corps Aviation. Who am I? Hint

Arnold D. Cummings

Allan B. Cunningham

Alfred A. Cunningham

Alfred A. Westmoreland

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Question 10 of 25

10. Not including the Navy Corpsman, how many Marines raised the SECOND (and most famous) flag atop Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima in WWII? Hint

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Question 11 of 25

11. The mission of the Marine Rifle Squad is "To locate, close with, and destroy the enemy, by fire and maneuver, or repel the enemy assault by fire and close combat."

True

False

NEXT>

Question 12 of 25

12. The first Marines were recruited at this location, what is it? Hint

Philadelphia City Hall

Central Park, New York City

Washington, D.C.

Tun Tavern

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Question 13 of 25

13. I commanded the assault and capture of the fortress at Derna, Tripoli in 1805, and was presented with what would become the famous Marine Corps Officer's Sword. Who am I? Hint

Lt. Presley O'Bannon

John A. LeJeune

Archibald Henderson

Smedley Butler

NEXT>

Question 14 of 25

14. I was a Marine who fought during the first offensive Marine Corps Battle of WWII, where did I fight? Hint

Tarawa

Guadalcanal

Iwo Jima

Okinawa

NEXT>

Question 15 of 25

15. There are 14 Marine Corps Leadership Traits. Which of the below is NOT considered one of those traits? Hint

Judgment

Honor

Dependability

Enthusiasm

NEXT>

Question 16 of 25

16. "Train Your Marines to be Solid Marksmen" is considered one of the Marine Corps' Leadership Principles.

True

False

NEXT>

Question 17 of 25

17. "We fight our country's battles, in the air, on land, and sea" is a line from what? Hint

Marine's Prayer

Rifleman's Creed

The Marines Hymn

Code of Conduct

NEXT>

Question 18 of 25

18. Which of the below is NOT a Marine Corps "Core Value"? Hint

Honor

Loyalty

Courage

Commitment

NEXT>

Question 19 of 25

19. You have been assigned to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), which base will you report to? Hint

Camp Pendleton

Camp Lejeune

Naval Station Norfolk

Camp Hanson, Okinawa

NEXT>

Question 20 of 25

20. My grandfather fought in the battle of the Chosin Reservoir, in which war did this battle take place? Hint

WWII

Vietnam

WWI

Korean War

NEXT>

Question 21 of 25

21. 220 Marines died as a result of a suicide bomb at this location in 1983. Where is it? Hint

Oklahoma City, OK

Kobar Towers, Al-Khobar

Beirut, Lebanon

Baghdad, Iraq

NEXT>

Question 22 of 25

22. The Battle of Belleau Wood was a major Marine battle in WWI that took place in what country? Hint

France

Poland

Germany

Russia

NEXT>

Question 23 of 25

23. She was the first female to enlist in the Marine Corps. Who was she? Hint

Minnie Spotted-Wolf

Anne Lentz

Carol A. Mutter

Opha Mae Johnson

NEXT>

Question 24 of 25

24. In what year did female US Marine recruits first train at MCRD Parris Island? Hint

1980

1956

1935

1949

NEXT>

Question 25 of 25

25. Who is/was the 34th Commandant of the Marine Corps? Hint

General Hagee

General Pace

General Krulak

General Conway

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. I was the first Commandant of our beloved Corps, who am I?

Answer: Capt. Samuel Nichols

After the 2nd Continental Congress authorized two battalions of a new Marine Corps for the Naval Forces, Captain Nichols was at Tun Tavern when the first Marines were recruited for service.

2. Semper Fidelis, the Marine Corps Motto, is Latin for what?

Answer: Always Faithful

Semper Fi is more than just a motto, it is a way of life for Marines. The motto was adopted in 1883.

3. I am the only U.S. Marine to win 5 Navy Crosses, who am I?

Answer: Chesty Puller

Chesty Puller is the most decorated and most revered Marine in Marine Corps history. He went on to serve 37 years in our Corps and achieved the rank of Lieutenant General (3 stars).

4. It is for this battle that Marine Noncommissioned Officers (NCOs) wear the blood stripe on our Dress Blue Trousers. Which battle was it?

Answer: Chapultepec

Marine Junior Officers and NCOs overcame poor senior leadership that bloody day to accomplish their mission. The Battle of Chapultepec occurred in 1847 during the Mexican-American War.

5. I am the "Grand Old Man" of our Marine Corps. Who am I?

Answer: Archibald Henderson

Archibald Henderson served his Corps for 53 years. Wow!

6. I just got PCS orders to 2D MAW. What base am I reporting to?

Answer: MCAS Cherry Point

1st Marine Air Wing has its headquarters at Okinawa, Japan, while the 3rd MAW is at Miramar, California. Cherry Point is in North Carolina.

7. My CO just instructed me to recite my General Orders. How many General Orders did I have to recite?

Answer: 11

The Marine Corps requires every Marine to know all 11 General Orders, as they are the fundamental orders every Marine must follow, without instruction, while posted as a sentry on Duty. Stay tuned for a quiz regarding these General Orders!

8. I am 39 years old and I just completed my PFT, achieving only the bare minimum to pass. What were my scores?

Answer: 3 Pull-Ups, 45 Sit-ups, 29:00 3 Mile run

To achieve a "maximum score", a Marine would have to do 20 pull-ups, 100 sit-ups, and run a 18:00 3 mile, regardless of age. The MINIMUM pull-up requirements for our Personal Fitness Test (PFT) is 3 for all ages. The minimum sit-up requirement for ages 17-26 is 50, for ages 27-45 it is 45, and for ages 46 and up it is 40. For the 3 mile run, Marines up to age 26 must run under 28 minutes, 27-39 must run 29 minutes, 40-45 must run 30 minutes, and 46 and up must run 33 minutes.

9. I am considered the Father of Marine Corps Aviation. Who am I?

Answer: Alfred A. Cunningham

Lt. Alfred Cunningham was the first Marine Corps Aviator.

10. Not including the Navy Corpsman, how many Marines raised the SECOND (and most famous) flag atop Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima in WWII?

Answer: 5

There were two flag raisings at Mt. Suribachi, but the first flag was too small and could not be seen around the island, so 5 Marines and 1 Navy Corpsman raised the flag a second time, and the photograph of which quickly became the most famous photo of WWII.

11. The mission of the Marine Rifle Squad is "To locate, close with, and destroy the enemy, by fire and maneuver, or repel the enemy assault by fire and close combat."

Answer: True

Every Marine, regardless of trade, is a Rifleman first, and should know this mission by heart.

12. The first Marines were recruited at this location, what is it?

Answer: Tun Tavern

Hence the reason Tun Tavern, Philadelphia, PA is considered the birthplace of the Marine Corps.

13. I commanded the assault and capture of the fortress at Derna, Tripoli in 1805, and was presented with what would become the famous Marine Corps Officer's Sword. Who am I?

Answer: Lt. Presley O'Bannon

The Mamaluke sword is still carried by Marine Officers.

14. I was a Marine who fought during the first offensive Marine Corps Battle of WWII, where did I fight?

Answer: Guadalcanal

Okinawa was the LAST major Marine battle of WWII. Some 50,000 Marines still occupy the island.

15. There are 14 Marine Corps Leadership Traits. Which of the below is NOT considered one of those traits?

Answer: Honor

Honor is one of our core values, not a Leadership Trait. Marines have an acronym to remember the Leadership traits, which is "J.J. DID TIE BUCKLE" The traits are: Judgement, Justice, Dependability, Integrity, Decisiveness, Tact, Initiative, Endurance, Bearing, Unselfishness, Courage, Knowledge, Loyalty, and Enthusiasm.

16. "Train Your Marines to be Solid Marksmen" is considered one of the Marine Corps' Leadership Principles.

Answer: False

While marksmanship is highly regarded in our Corps, it is not considered one of our 11 Leadership Principles. Due to length, the 11 Principles are not listed here.

17. "We fight our country's battles, in the air, on land, and sea" is a line from what?

Answer: The Marines Hymn

It is a line from the first verse of our heralded Marine Corps Hymn. The final line to our Hymn states: "If the Army and the Navy ever looked on Heaven's scenes, they will find the streets are guarded by UNITED STATES MARINES!".

18. Which of the below is NOT a Marine Corps "Core Value"?

Answer: Loyalty

Marines live by our core values: Honor, Courage, Commitment. Marines are even instructed to carry in their uniform pocket a card with these values listed on it, to remind them on a daily basis.

19. You have been assigned to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), which base will you report to?

Answer: Camp Lejeune

When not deployed, the 26th MEU is based at Camp Lejeune for training. When deployed, the MEU Marines are attached to a Navy ship out of Norfolk, VA.

20. My grandfather fought in the battle of the Chosin Reservoir, in which war did this battle take place?

Answer: Korean War

"The Frozen Chosin" exposed Marines to terrible freezing cold conditions, with the cold weather being responsible for many of the casualties during that war.

21. 220 Marines died as a result of a suicide bomb at this location in 1983. Where is it?

Answer: Beirut, Lebanon

This blast led to the eventual withdrawal of peacekeeping forces in Lebanon that had been there since the 1982 Israeli invasion.

22. The Battle of Belleau Wood was a major Marine battle in WWI that took place in what country?

Answer: France

The Marines received their nickname, Devil Dogs, as a result of their fierce fighting during this battle.

23. She was the first female to enlist in the Marine Corps. Who was she?

Answer: Opha Mae Johnson

Minnie Spotted-Wolf was the first female American Indian to enlist, Carol Mutter was the first female Marine to achieve the rank of Major General, and Anne Lentz was the first female Marine Commissioned Officer.

24. In what year did female US Marine recruits first train at MCRD Parris Island?

Answer: 1949

Until 2021, Parris Island was the only female training depot. In that year they began training at MCRD San Diego as well.

25. Who is/was the 34th Commandant of the Marine Corps?

Answer: General Conway

General Conway became the 34th Commandant in November 2006.

Source: Author rickusmc

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor trident before going online.
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