Author: A Murphy's Military Law Page 4

If at first you don't succeed, call in an airstrike.

All five-second grenade fuses will burn down in three seconds.

Don’t ever be the first, don’t ever be the last and don’t ever volunteer to do anything.

If only one solution can be found for a field problem, then it is usually a stupid solution.

The only time suppressive fire works is when it is used on abandoned positions.

Surprise is an event that takes place only in the mind of a commander.

Make it too tough for the enemy to get in and you can't get out.

Things that must be together to work usually can't be shipped together; things which must be shipped together as a set, aren't.

The only thing more accurate than incoming enemy fire is incoming friendly fire.

If you are forward of your position, the artillery will fall short.

Radios will fail as soon as you need fire support desperately

Corollary: Radar tends to fail at night and in bad weather, and especially during both

Don’t look conspicuous – in the combat, it draws fire; out of the combat zone, it draws sergeants.

All-weather close air support doesn't work in bad weather.

Neutral countries – aren’t.

A retreating enemy is probably just falling back and regrouping.

Smart bombs have bad days too.

If enough data is collected, a board of inquiry can prove anything.

The combat worth of a unit is inversely proportional to the smartness of its outfit and appearance.

Friendly fire – isn’t.