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Lessons learned from combat

Intro

Some lessons learned from professional warriors who have been in combat.

Lessons

  • You are not a superhero.
  • If it’s stupid but works, it isn’t stupid.
  • Don’t look conspicuous—it draws fire.
  • When in doubt, empty your magazine.
  • Never share a foxhole with anyone braver than you are.
  • Never forget that your weapon was made by the lowest bidder.
  • If your attack is going really well, it’s an ambush.
  • No plan survives the first contact intact.
  • All five-second grenade fuses will burn down in three seconds.
  • Try to look unimportant because the bad guys may be low on ammo.
  • If you are forward of your position, the artillery will fall short.
  • The enemy diversion you are ignoring is the main attack.
  • The important things are always simple.
  • The simplest things are always hard.
  • The easy way is always mined.
  • If you are short of everything except enemy, you are in combat.
  • When you have secured an area, don’t forget to tell the enemy.
  • Incoming fire has the right of way.
  • Friendly fire—isn’t.
  • If the enemy is in range, SO ARE YOU!
  • No combat-ready unit has ever passed inspection.
  • Things that must be together to work usually can’t be shipped together.
  • Radios will fail as soon as you desperately need fire support.
  • Anything you do can get you shot, including doing nothing.
  • Tracers work both ways.
  • The only thing more accurate than incoming enemy fire is incoming friendly fire.
  • If you make it tough for the enemy to get in, then you can’t get out.
  • If you take more than your fair share of objectives then you’ll have more than your fair share of objectives to take.
  • When both sides are convinced that they are about to lose, they’re both right.
  • Professional soldiers are predictable, but the world is full of amateurs.
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