Free Worlds League Information
Centre
Twelve Principles of
Command
Twelve Principles
of Command
- Objective. Always keep a clear goal in mind.
Without it, the lives you lose are meaningless.
- Offensive. When given the chance, attack and
remain on the offensive for as long as possible. The enemy is weakest when
backing up, and so are you.
- Unity of Command. Always know who is above and
below you in the chain of command and what they are doing. It will not only
help you in times of trouble, but it will also give you a better sense of how
your mission fits into the overall picture.
- Strength. Never willingly enter battle at a
numerical disadvantage. Even the sloppiest army can defeat you if it is
bigger.
- Economy of Force. Do not waste your effort and
supplies. Use just enough of your force to inflict the maximum amount of havoc
on the enemy in the minimum amount of time. Save the rest of your strength to
exploit your gains or protect yourself from counterattack.
- Maneuver. Learn the value of maneuverability.
Being able to speed across the battlefield in a coordinated wave of force can
overwhelm the toughest opponent with a minimum of bloodshed.
- Surprise. The element of surprise effectively
doubles your force.
- Intelligence. Information is like eggs, the
fresher the better. A good guess might win a battle, but a bad one can
eventually lose a campaign.
- Simplicity. If a plan looks messy on paper or in
a computer simulation, it is too complicated to succeed. The best plans often
turn out to be ones drawn in the dirt and explained with a few hand gestures.
A good solution applied with vigor immediately is better than a perfect
solution ten minutes later.
- Maintenance of Morale. Instill pride and sense of
duty, worthiness, and loyalty into your soldiers. Keep them informed, rested,
and happy. Officers should visit the front often, not to meddle but for
personal contact with the troops.
- Administration. This is the dullest, most
mind-numbing of chores, but doing it properly is infinitely better than facing
the enemy without ammunition.
- Mercy. Be firm and win the day, but once the
fighting is over, treat your prisoners with respect and courtesy. Not only is
it the correct and moral thing for a soldier of the Star League to do, but
once enemy soldiers hear of your merciful treatment, they might also be more
willing to surrender.
-From "A Primer to Tactics and Strategy": 34th
Edition, edited by General Aleksandr Kerensky, SLDF Press,
2742