Posted on 02/08/2003 3:22:15 PM PST by sonofatpatcher2
Marine gunfight rules
With U.S. military forces ready for war with Iraq, troops around the nation are preparing to ship out for the Middle East. The Marines have taken a lighter look at some rules of ground combat, and we obtained a copy of them.
Among the 24 rules are such gems as, No. 1: "Bring a gun. Preferably, bring at least two guns. Bring all of your friends who have guns," and, No. 2, "Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice. Ammo is cheap. Life is expensive."
Rule No. 7 is: "In 10 years nobody will remember the details of caliber, stance, or tactics. They will only remember who lived." And No. 8: "If you are not shooting, you should be communicating, reloading and running."
Rule No. 10 addresses a worst-case scenario: "Someday someone may kill you with your own gun, but they should have to beat you to death with it because it is empty." And No. 11: "Always cheat; always win. The only unfair fight is the one you lose."
As for prisoners, the rule is: Be careful. No 18: "Watch their hands. Hands kill. (In God we trust. Everyone else, keep your hands where I can see them)."
And advice for warriors in combat, Nos. 21 and 22: "Be polite. Be professional. But have a plan to kill everyone you meet. Be courteous to everyone, friendly to no one."
In a dig at other services, the Marines offer this: "U.S. Navy rules: 1. Adopt an aggressive offshore posture. 2. Send the Marines. 3. Drink Coffee."
Army rules: "Show up after fight to provide security and help hand out food to all of the displaced civilians."
Air Force rules: "Watch this all on cable in a BOQ [Bachelor Officers´ Quarters] while drinking a beer."
Bill Gertz and Rowan Scarborough are Pentagon reporters. Gertz can be reached at 202/636-3274 or by e-mail at bgertz@washingtontimes.com. Scarborough can be reached at 202/636-3208 or by e-mail at rscarborough@washingtontimes.com.
(Excerpt) Read more at gertzfile.com ...
};^)
Which is why I joined the Air Force. Besides, PT makes me dizzy. ;>)
/john
A google search turned it up all over the place. For example: http://www.geoffmetcalf.com/rules_20021121.html
I like #24: "Do not attend a gunfight with a handgun, the caliber of which does not start with a '.4'".
1. You are not superman. 2. Guided missiles - aren't. 3. Suppressive fire - isn't. 4. If it's stupid but works - it's not stupid. 5. Don't look conspicuous - it draws fire. 6. Never draw fire - it irritates those around you. 7. When in doubt, quickly empty the magazine. 8. Remember, your weapon was made by the lowest bidder. 9. Never share a foxhole with anyone braver than you are. 10. If your attack is going really well, it's an ambush. 11. If you can't remember, the Claymore is pointed towards you. 12. All 5-second grenade fuses are 3 seconds. 13. Try to look unimportant - the enemy may be low on ammo. 14. If you are forward of your position, the artillery will be short. 15. The enemy diversion you are ignoring is the main attack. 16. The easiest route is always mined. 17. The important things are always simple. 18. The simple things are always hard. 19. If you are short of everything except the enemy, then you are in combat. 20. No OPLAN survives first contact with the enemy. 21. When you are in a secured area, don't forget to tell the enemy. 22. Incoming fire has the right of way. 23. No combat-ready unit has ever passed inspection. 24. No inspection-ready unit has ever passed combat. 25. Working as part of a team is essential - it gives the enemy other people to shoot at. 26. If the enemy is in range - so are you. 27. Remember: tracers work both ways. 28. Beer math means that 2 beers times 37 grunts in a platoon equals 49 cases. 29. Friendly fire - isn't. 30. Anything you do can get you shot - including doing nothing. 31. If you make it too tough for the enemy to get in, then you can't get out. 32. The only thing more accurate than incoming fire is incoming friendly fire. 33. Radios fail in direct proportion to your need for help. 34. If you take more than your share of objectives, you will be assigned more than your share to take. 35. When both sides are convinced they are about to lose - they're both right. 36. Professionals are predictable - too bad the world is full of amateurs. 37. Murphy is a logistician, or . . . 37a. Murphy was a Grunt.... 38. Recoiless rifles - aren't. 39. Automatic weapons - aren't. 40. A sucking chest wound is nature's way of telling you it's time to slow down. 41. The enemy attacks on only two occasions - when you're ready and when you're not. 42. Body count math is 2 NVA + 1 blood trail = 21 enemy KIA. 43. Things which must be together to work can't be shipped together. 44. The most dangerous thing in a combat zone is an officer with a map. 45. The quartermaster has only two sizes - too large and too small. 46. If you really need an officer in a hurry - take a nap. 47. The only time suppressive fire works is when it's used on abandoned positions. 48. There is nothing more satisfying than having someone take a shot at you and miss. 49. Don't be conspicious. In a combat zone, it draws fire; out of the combat zone, it draws sergeants. 50. If the sergeant can see you, so can the enemy. (And from our brothers in the Navy): 51. Splinter shields will. 52. Accurate fire from a moving boat isn't. 53. The ammo passer doesn't always. 54. Armor plate on a patrol boat isn't.
Which is why I joined the Air Force. Besides, PT makes me dizzy. ;>)
The only service where the enlisted send the officers off to do battle!
LVM - USAF Ret.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/838056/posts
/john
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