Warfighting Quotes

“Boldness is superior to timidity in every instance although boldness does not always equate to immediate aggressive action. A nervy, calculating patience that allows the enemy to commit himself irrevocably before we strike him can also be a form of boldness. Boldness is based on strong situation awareness: We weigh the situation, then act. In other words, boldness must be tempered with judgment lest it border on recklessness.”
― U.S. Department of the Navy, Warfighting

“We should base our decisions on awareness rather than on mechanical habit.”
― U.S. Department of the Navy, Warfighting

“The essence of the problem is to select a promising course of action with an acceptable degree of risk and to do it more quickly than our foe.”
― U.S. Department of the Navy, Warfighting

“Trust is a product of confidence and familiarity. Confidence among comrades results from demonstrated professional skill. Familiarity results from shared experience and a common professional philosophy.”
― U.S. Department of the Navy, Warfighting

“Of course, we may also have to adjust our policy objectives to accommodate our chosen means. This means that we must not establish goals outside our capabilities. It is important to recognize that many political problems cannot be solved by military means. Some can, but rarely as anticipated. War tends to take its own course as it unfolds.”
― U.S. Department of the Navy, Warfighting

“Because we can never eliminate uncertainty, we must learn to fight effectively despite it. We can do this by developing simple, flexible plans; planning for likely contingencies; developing standing operating procedures; and fostering initiative among subordinates.”
― U.S. Department of the Navy, Warfighting