Sean Linnane’s Rules Of Combat Leadership

The FF contributor who writes under the name “Sean Linnane” devoted 30 years of his life to the subject of irregular warfare. Over that time, he amassed a funny collection of rules and aphorisms about combat and leadership, which he has gathered here. They’re both screamingly funny and powerfully insightful. Some highlights ….

10. Never share a foxhole with anyone braver than yourself.  

12. Never forget that your weapon was made by the lowest bidder. 

13. If your attack is going really well, you’re walking into an ambush.  

31. If the enemy is within range, so are you.  

59. The side with the simplest uniforms wins.  [That one is the best short analysis of the Arab-Israeli conflict I have ever heard!] 

73. Field experience is something you don’t get until just after you need it. 

79. The tough part about being in charge is that the troops don’t know what they want, but they know for certain what they don’t want.

Read them all – and get ready to buy Sean’s forthcoming book!