Murphy's Law of Combat


VAT 69

  • You are not a superman.
  • If it's stupid but works, it's not stupid.
  • Don't look conspicuous, it draws fire.
  • When in doubt, empty your magazine.
  • Never share a foxhole with anyone braver than you are.
  • Remember: 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 5-second grenade fuses will burn out in 3.
  • Try to look unimportant. The enemy may be low on ammo.
  • If you are forward of your position the artillery will always fall short.
  • The important things are always hard.
  • The simple things are always simple.
  • The easy way is always hard.
  • If you are short of everything except enemy, you're in combat.
  • When you have secured an objective, don't forget to let the enemy know about it.
  • Incoming fire has the right of way.
  • If the enemy is in range, SO ARE YOU.
  • No combat ready unit ever passed inspection.
  • Beer math: two beers times 37 men equals 49 cases.
  • Body count math: two guerillas plus one portable plus two pigs equals 37 enemy KIA.
  • Things that must be together to work usually can't be shipped together.
  • Radios will fail as soon as you need fire support desperately.
  • 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.
  • Make it tough for the enemy to get in and you can't get out.
  • If you more than your fair share of objectives, you will have more than your fair share of objectives to take.
  • When both sides are convinced that they are about to lose, they are both right.
  • Professional soldier are predictable, but the world is full of amateurs.
  • Murphy was a Green Beret.


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