U.S. ARMY SPECIAL FORCES

sfpatch_sm.gif (15760 bytes)

MURPHY'S LAWS OF COMBAT

(RVN version)

 

1 YOU ARE NOT SUPERMAN!
2 If it's stupid but works, it's not stupid.
3 Don't look conspicuous; it draws fire.
4 When in doubt, empty your magazine.
5 Never share a foxhole with anyone braver than you are.
6 Remember:  Your weapon was made by the lowest bidder.
7 If your attack is going really well, it's an ambush.
8 No plan survives the first contact intact.
9 All 5-second grenade fuses will burn out in 3.
10 Try to look unimportant.   The enemy may be low on ammo!
11 If you are forward of your reported position, the artillary will always fall short.
12 The important things are always simple.
13 The simple things are always hard.
14 The easy way is always mined.
15 If you're short of everything except enemy, you're in combat.
16 When you have secured the objective, don't forget to let the enemy know about it.
17 Incoming fire has the right-of-way.
18 If the enemy is in range, SO ARE YOU!
19 No combat-ready unit ever passed inspection.
20 Beer math:  two beers times 37 men equals 49 cases.
21 Body count math: 2 Victor Charlie plus 1 captured rifle plus 2 water buffalo = 37 enemy KIA.
22 Things that must be together to work usually can't be shipped together.
23 Radios will fail as soon as you desperately need fire support.
24 Anything you do can get you shot...  including doing nothing!
25 Tracers work BOTH ways.
26 The only thing more accurate than incoming enemy fire is incoming friendly fire.
27 Make it tough for the enemy to get in any time you can't get out!
28 If you take more than your fair share of objectives, you'll have more than your fair share of objectives to take.
29 When both sides are convinced that they are about to lose, they are both right.
30 Professional soldiers are predictable... but the world is full of amateurs.

Copied from a web site that is no longer available and adapted for use here.    (.../armysof1/murphy.html)