Nine Principles of War
Objective
Define a decisive and attainable objective for every military operation.
Offensive
Seize, retain, and exploit the initiative.
Mass
Apply sufficient force to achieve the objective.
Economy of Force
Focus the right amount of force on the key objective, without wasting
force on secondary objectives.
Maneuver
Place the enemy in a position of disadvantage through the flexible
application of combat power.
Unity of Command
For every objective, there must be a unified effort and one person
responsible for command decisions.
Security
Never permit the enemy to acquire an unexpected advantage.
Surprise
Strike the enemy at a time and/or place and in a manner for which he
is unprepared.
Simplicity
Prepare clear, uncomplicated plans and clear, concise orders.
Carl von Clausewitz