Staff Sergeant–Technical Sergeant Professional Development Guide (PDG) 2026 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The correct choice is identifying that the Soviet Union and Cuba began constructing intermediate- and medium-range ballistic missile complexes in Cuba in 1963. This development was a crucial point in the Cold War, as it significantly escalated tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union.

Intermediate- and medium-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs and MRBMs) were capable of carrying nuclear warheads and had ranges that could target a large portion of the United States from Cuban territory. This strategic positioning was intended to strengthen the Soviet Union's deterrent capabilities in the Western Hemisphere and to counteract U.S. influence in the region.

The placement of these missile complexes was a response to U.S. missile installations in Turkey and Italy, which were capable of striking the Soviet Union. The action of placing missiles in Cuba was considered an aggressive move and ultimately led to the Cuban Missile Crisis, a 13-day confrontation that brought the two superpowers close to nuclear conflict.

Understanding the specific terms "intermediate" and "medium-range" is essential, as they indicate the range capabilities of the missiles involved, which were a significant part of the nuclear strategies employed during the Cold War.