Murphy’s Laws of Combat

Rule 31 is real. I was a grunt for 15 years.

1. You are not Superman.
2. If it is stupid but works, it is not stupid.
3. Don’t look conspicuous – it draws fire.
4. When in doubt, call artillery.
5. Never share a foxhole with anyone braver than you.
6. Never forget, your weapons were made by the lowest bidder.
7. If your attack is going well – it’s an ambush.
8. No plan survives first contact.
9. Five-second grenade fuses are merely a suggestion – see rule 6.
10.  Try to look unimportant because snipers shoot at those that look important.
11.  If you are forward of your position, artillery will fall short.
12.  The enemy diversion you are ignoring is the main attack.
13.  The important things are always simple
14.  The simple things are always hard.
15.  The easy way is always mined.
16.  If you are short of everything except the enemy, you are in combat.
17.  When you have secured the area, make sure the enemy knows it.
18.  Incoming fire always has the right of way.
19.  Friendly fire – isn’t.
20.  If the enemy is in range, so are you.
21.  No combat unit has ever passed inspection.
22.  Beer math: Two beers times 40 men equals 60 cases.
23.  Things that must be together to work usually can not be shipped together.
24.  Radios fail as soon as you desperately need fire support.
25.  Anything you do can get you shot – including doing nothing.
26.  Tracers work both ways.
27.  The only thing more accurate than incoming enemy fire is incoming friendly fire.
28.  Making it tough for the enemy to get in makes it difficult for you to get out.
29.  If you take more than your fair share of objectives – command will give you more objectives to take.
30.  Professional soldiers are predictable. Unfortunately, the world is full of amateurs.
31.  Murphy was a grunt.