Study guide
10.3 Guard Duty, the Three General Orders, and Operations Security
Army Promotion Board SGT/SSG
Track your progress as you read
Finished sections get a check mark.
1 The Promotion Board Process, Eligibility, and Preparation
1.1 AR 600-8-19 Board Eligibility, TIS/TIG Zones, and PME Requirements 1.2 Board Proceedings, Protocol, Uniform Inspection, and Boardroom Bearing 1.3 Promotion Points, the AFT Conversion, IPPS-A, and Monthly Cutoff Scores 1.4 Board Preparation: Study Plan, Current Events, and World Affairs 1.5 Situational Questions, ICTL Proficiency, and Board Scenario Technique
2 Uniform Standards, Grooming, and Awards (AR 670-1, AD 2025-18, AR 600-8-22)
2.1 ASU and AGSU Configuration, Insignia, Badges, and Awards Placement 2.2 Hair, Cosmetics, Fingernails, and Jewelry Standards (AD 2025-18) 2.3 Wear of Combat Uniforms, Duty Accessories, and Body Modification & Tattoo Policies 2.4 Facial Hair, Medical Exceptions to Policy, and Religious Accommodation 2.5 The Army Awards and Decorations System (AR 600-8-22)
3 Army Leadership & Doctrine (ADP 6-22 & FM 6-22)
3.1 The Army Leadership Requirements Model: Attributes and Competencies 3.2 Leadership Levels, Dynamics, Command Climate, and the Warrior Ethos 3.3 The Counseling Process (ATP 6-22.1 & DA Form 4856) 3.4 The Evaluation Reporting System & NCOER (AR 623-3 & DA Form 2166-9 Series)
4 Customs, Courtesies, and Military Traditions (AR 600-25 & TC 3-21.5)
4.1 Saluting Protocols, Courtesies to Officers, and Hand Salute Standards 4.2 National Flag Etiquette, Colors, Reveille, Retreat, and Honors to the Nation 4.3 Drill and Ceremonies Fundamentals (TC 3-21.5) and Formations 4.4 Rank Structure, Chain of Command, the NCO Support Channel, and Unit Organization
5 Army History, Heritage, and Creeds
5.1 Army Birthday, Continental Army Foundations, and Historical Milestones 5.2 Evolution of the NCO Corps and the Sergeant Major of the Army 5.3 Major American Campaigns and Military Battle History 5.4 The Army Values, The Soldier's Creed, and The NCO Creed
6 Army Programs, Command Policy, and Soldier Readiness
6.1 SHARP Under AR 600-52: Reporting Options, Complaint Processing, and the OSTC 6.2 The Military Equal Opportunity and Harassment Prevention Program (AR 600-20, Chapter 6) 6.3 Army Substance Abuse Program (ASAP) and SUDCC (AR 600-85) 6.4 Soldier and Family Support Programs: AER, Red Cross, ACS, EFMP, and BOSS 6.5 Suicide Prevention, Behavioral Health, and Resilience 6.6 Prohibited Activities: Extremism, Retaliation, Prohibited Relationships, and Political Activity 6.7 Retention, Reenlistment, and the Career Counseling of Subordinates
7 Tactical Combat Casualty Care & First Aid (TC 4-02.1 & ATP 4-02.83)
7.1 TCCC Phases of Care: Care Under Fire, Tactical Field Care, and TACEVAC 7.2 MARCH PAWS Assessment: Massive Hemorrhage and Airway Management 7.3 Respiration, Circulation, Shock, Burns, and Environmental Injuries 7.4 9-Line MEDEVAC Request Protocol and Tactical Evacuation Procedures
8 CBRN Defense & Force Protection (ATP 3-11.32 & AR 525-13)
8.1 CBRN Hazards, Chemical Agent Classifications, and Physiological Effects 8.2 MOPP Gear Levels, Protective Mask PMCS, and Decontamination 8.3 Antiterrorism, Physical Security, and Force Protection Conditions (AR 525-13)
9 Weapons, Land Navigation, and Physical Readiness
9.1 M4/M16 Rifle Characteristics, Clearing, Malfunctions, and Weapons Safety (TC 3-22.9) 9.2 Map Reading, Grid Coordinates, and Marginal Information (TC 3-25.26) 9.3 Land Navigation: Terrain Features, Azimuths, Intersection, and Resection 9.4 Holistic Health and Fitness, the Army Fitness Test, and the Combat Field Test 9.5 The Army Body Composition Program and the Waist-to-Height Standard (AD 2026-13) 9.6 Crew-Served Weapons, Sidearms, and Munitions
10 Military Justice, the Law of War, and Duty
10.1 The UCMJ, Article 15 Non-Judicial Punishment, and Courts-Martial 10.2 The Code of Conduct, the Law of War, and Rules of Engagement 10.3 Guard Duty, the Three General Orders, and Operations Security
11 Training Management and Unit Sustainment
11.1 Training Management: ICTL, the Digital Job Book, and Sergeant's Time Training 11.2 Maintenance, Supply Discipline, and Property Accountability
10.3 Guard Duty, the Three General Orders, and Operations Security
Key Takeaways Explain This Topic AI
The three general orders are to guard everything within the limits of my post and quit my post only when properly relieved; to obey my special orders and perform all my duties in a military manner; and to report violations of my special orders, emergencies, and anything not covered in my instructions to the commander of the relief.
General orders apply to every Soldier on guard; special orders apply only to a specific post and are issued in writing by the commander of the guard.
The challenge and password procedure requires a sentry to halt an approaching person at a distance where they can be dealt with, challenge them quietly, and require the correct password before allowing them to advance.
Deadly force is authorized only to protect life, and only where lesser means have been exhausted or would be inadequate, under the standards in AR 190-14 and the applicable rules for the use of force.
The five-step OPSEC process is identify critical information, analyze the threat, analyze vulnerabilities, assess risk, and apply countermeasures.
Last updated: September 2026
Guard Duty, the Three General Orders, and Operations Security
Core Principle: The three general orders are the oldest recitation in the Army board, and they are asked verbatim. They are also the shortest complete statement of what a sentry does: guard the post, follow instructions, and report what is not covered .
- 1. The Three General Orders
- General Order Number 1
I will guard everything within the limits of my post and quit my post only when properly relieved.
General Order Number 2
I will obey my special orders and perform all my duties in a military manner.
General Order Number 3
I will report violations of my special orders, emergencies, and anything not covered in my instructions to the commander of the relief.
Recite them verbatim, at the position of attention, with full projection . Board members will stop a candidate who paraphrases.
General orders vs. special orders
- General orders Special orders
- Scope Apply to every Soldier on guard , everywhere Apply to a specific post
- Source Fixed and universal Issued in writing by the commander of the guard
Content The three orders above Post limits, hours, what to challenge, whom to admit, what to report, use-of-force guidance
Change Never Change with the mission and the threat
A sentry must be able to state both — the three general orders and the special orders for the post they are standing.
2. Guard Organization and the Relief
Position Role
Commander of the guard Responsible for the entire guard; the sentry's reporting authority under General Order 3
- Sergeant of the guard Senior NCO of the guard; supervises the reliefs and conducts inspections
- Commander of the relief Supervises one relief; posts and relieves the sentries
- Sentinel (sentry) Guards the post
Guard mount is the formation at which the guard is inspected, briefed, and posted. Sentries arrive with a serviceable weapon, the prescribed uniform, and their special orders.
A relief is typically two hours on and four hours off , though the duration is set by the order.
A sentry quits the post only when properly relieved. The relieving sentry states that they understand the special orders before the outgoing sentry departs.
3. Challenge and Password
The challenge and password protect the post from infiltration. The sequence:
Halt the person at a distance where the sentry can deal with them and where they cannot see or hear anything they should not.
Challenge quietly : "Halt! Who goes there?"
Require identification : the person answers with their identity and purpose.
Advance one to be recognized : bring the person forward far enough to be identified, keeping the rest of the group where they are.
Give the challenge and require the password. The sentry gives the challenge word; the person must answer with the correct password.
Admit or detain. If the answer is correct, the person is admitted. If not, the sentry detains them and calls the commander of the relief.
The challenge and password are classified , changed on a set schedule, and are never written on the post or discussed off duty. A sentry who forgets them calls the commander of the relief rather than guessing.
4. Use of Force
Guard duty is one of the few peacetime duties in which a Soldier may be armed against another person. The governing framework — AR 190-14 and the applicable rules for the use of force — establishes:
Deadly force is authorized only to protect life , and only where lesser means have been exhausted or would be inadequate.
Typical authorized circumstances include self-defense and defense of others , and the protection of assets whose loss would create an immediate danger to life — nuclear weapons, chemical agents, and designated arms rooms among them.
A verbal warning — "Halt! Halt or I will fire!" — is given when time and circumstances permit .
Warning shots are prohibited unless expressly authorized by the applicable rules for the use of force.
Minimum force necessary is the default for everything short of a threat to life.
5. Operations Security
Operations security (OPSEC) is the process of denying an adversary information about friendly capabilities and intentions. AR 600-20 lists operations security among the commander's responsibilities, and every Soldier executes it.
The five-step OPSEC process
Identify critical information — what an adversary needs to know to hurt you.
Analyze the threat — who wants it and what collection capability do they have.
Analyze vulnerabilities — how could they get it.
Assess risk — how likely and how damaging.
Apply countermeasures — what you change to close the vulnerability.
Essential Elements of Friendly Information
Common critical information includes:
- Deployment and movement dates, routes, and manifests
- Unit strength, readiness percentages, and equipment shortfalls
- Names and locations of key leaders
- Communication frequencies, call signs, and passwords
- Base defense plans, gate schedules, and patrol patterns
- Casualty information before next-of-kin notification
- Where OPSEC actually fails
Not in classified spaces. It fails on social media — geotagged photographs, a countdown to a deployment, a spouse's post naming a departure date — and in public conversation in dining facilities, airports, and gyms. It also fails through aggregation : a dozen individually unclassified facts assembled into a classified picture.
Related programs: the Insider Threat Program in AR 600-20, and antiterrorism awareness , where the reporting mechanism is "If you see something, say something" through the chain of command and military police.
6. Board Answers
"State your three general orders." Recite verbatim. Do not paraphrase.
"What is the difference between a general order and a special order?" General orders apply to every Soldier on guard; special orders are issued in writing for a specific post.
"What do you do if someone approaches your post and does not know the password?" Halt them at a distance, detain them, and call the commander of the relief. Do not let them advance and do not guess at the password.
"When may you use deadly force on guard?" Only to protect life, when lesser means have been exhausted or would be inadequate, in accordance with the rules for the use of force for that post.
"What are the five steps of the OPSEC process?" Identify critical information, analyze the threat, analyze vulnerabilities, assess risk, apply countermeasures.