Combat Tactical Coordinator (COTAC) Board Practice Test

Which statement accurately describes deception in tactical operations?

Deception is limited to feints and never involves misdirection.

It should be avoided as it risks credibility.

Deception aims to mislead the enemy to fix or misdirect, such as feints to draw attention from the true objective.

Deception in tactical operations is about shaping the enemy’s perceptions to influence their decisions. The aim is to mislead the opponent so they fix on a false course of action or misdirect attention away from the real objective, often using feints to draw their attention and reaction to one area while you execute the true move elsewhere. A well-planned deception uses credible signals and timing to persuade the enemy to commit resources or respond in a way that benefits your mission, without always requiring a direct attack to be effective. It’s not limited to feints or inherently risky for credibility—when designed properly, deception can preserve or even enhance credibility by aligning actions with anticipated enemy responses. And deception can support actions beyond an outright assault, including maneuvering, withdrawal, or defense, not just direct attacks.

It always requires direct attack to be effective.