Rules of Combat:

          Remember!

• Combat experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
• Teamwork is essential; it gives the enemy other people to shoot at.
• Try to look unimportant; the enemy may be low on ammo and not want to waste a bullet on you.
• When you lose contact with the enemy, look behind you.
• Friendly fire - isn't.
• The cavalry doesn't always come to the rescue.
• If you find yourself in front of your section, they know something you don't.
• If it's stupid but it works, it isn't stupid.
• Never share cover with anyone braver than you.
• Never forget that your equipment was made by the lowest bidding contractor.
• If your attack is going really well, you're probably in an ambush.
• The enemy diversion you're ignoring is their main attack.
• The enemy always attacks:  a. When they're ready;  b. When you're not.
• There is no such thing as a perfect plan..
• There is no such thing as an atheist in combat.
• A retreating enemy is probably just falling back and regrouping.
• The easy way is always mined.  
• Don't look conspicuous; it draws fire.
• Never draw fire; it annoys everyone around you.
• If you are short of everything but the enemy, you're in the combat zone.
• When you've secured the area make sure the enemy knows it too.
• Incoming fire has right of way.
• If the enemy is within range - so are you.
• The only thing more accurate than incoming enemy fire is incoming friendly fire.
• Things which must be supplied as a set, aren't.
• Things that must work together can't be carried to the field that way.
• Radios will fail as soon as you need help.
• Radar tends to fail at night and in bad weather, and especially during both.
• Anything you do can get you killed, including nothing.
• Make it too tough for the enemy to get in and you won't be able to get out.
• Tracers work both ways.
• If you take more than your fair share of objectives you'll get more than your fair share of objectives to take.
• Military Intelligence is a contradiction.
• Mines are equal opportunity weapons.
• Fighting for peace is like screwing for virginity.
• The one item you need is always in short supply.
• Interchangeable parts aren't.
• It's not the one with your name on it; it's the one addressed "to whom it may concern" you've got to worry about.
• When in doubt, empty your magazine.
• The side with the simplest uniforms wins.
• If the Sergeant can see you so can the enemy.
• The most dangerous thing in the world is a Second Lieutenant with a map and a compass.
• Exceptions prove the rule, and destroy the battle plan.
• The enemy never watches until you make a mistake.
• The worse the weather the more you have to be out in it.
• When you have plenty of ammo you never miss. When you're low on ammo you can't hit the side of a barn.
• The more important the equipment the farther you will have to send it away to be repaired.
• No matter which way you have to march it's always uphill.
• The tough part about being an officer is that the troops don't know what they want, but they know for certain what they don't want.
• The bursting radius of a hand grenade is always a little bit more than you can jump.
• All-weather close air support doesn't work in bad weather.
• Every order that can be misunderstood, will be.
• Don't ever be the first, don't ever be the last and don't ever volunteer.
• If your ambush is properly set, the enemy won't walk into it.
• Odd objects attract fire - never hide behind one.
• Odd objects attract fire - you are odd.
• The more stupid and inexperienced the leader, the more important the mission.
• There is always a way - and it usually doesn't work.
• The quartermaster only has two sizes, too large and too small.
• When a combat soldier overhears two officers conferring, he’s fallen back too far.
• If at first you don't succeed, then bomb disposal probably isn't for you.