Initiative: The act of first sight, first strike. Initiative does not always give you the upper hand, but it certainly increases the odds. The initiative can only be really successful through good reconnaissance. The idea is to see the enemy before he sees you. It goes without saying that this works best when approaching the enemy from behind or from the side. You can also achieve this by placing yourself in a position that allows the enemy to put himself in your gun sights (see Turtle Backing in the field manual). 

Confusion: Causing a state of confusion may also give you the advantage. Attacking the enemy from two different directions will cause them to become disoriented. Confusion is another way of  gaining the initiative.  
 
Deterrence:   

Misdirection:   

Moral: Breaking an enemy can be done in many ways, but the most common is through both sniping and demolitions.  

Mass: O  

Staging: O  

Murphy's Laws of Combat: 

1) You are not a superman. 

2) If it's stupid but works, it's not stupid. 

3) Don't look conspicuous, it draws fire.  

4) When in doubt, empty your magazine. 

5) Never share a foxhole with anyone braver than you are. 

6) Remember:  Your weapon was made by the lowest bidder. 

7) If your attack is going really well, it's an ambush. 

8) No plan survives the first contact intact. 

9) All 5-second grenade fuses will burn out in 3. 

10) Try to look unimportant.  The enemy may be low on ammo. 

11) If you are forward of your position the artillery will always fall short. 

12) The important things are always simple. 

13) The simple things are always hard. 

14) The easy way is always mined. 

15) If you are short of everything except enemy, you're in combat. 

16) When you have secured an objective, don't forget to let the enemy know about it. 

17) Incoming fire has the right of way. 

18) If the enemy is in range, SO ARE YOU. 

19) No combat ready unit ever passed inspection. 

20) Beer math: two beers times 37 men equal 49 cases. 

21) Body count math: two guerillas plus one portable plus two pigs equal 37 enemy KIA. 

22) Things that must be together to work usually can't be shipped together. 

23) Radios will fail as soon as you need fire support desperately. 

24) Anything you do can get you shot, including doing nothing. 

25) Tracers work both ways. 

26) The only thing more accurate than incoming enemy fire is incoming friendly fire. 

27) Make it tough for the enemy to get in any you can't get out. 

28) If you take more than your fair share of objectives, you will have more than your fair share of objectives to take. 

29) When both sides are convinced that they are about to lose, they are both right. 

30) Professional soldiers are predictable, but the world is full of amateurs. 

31) Murphy was a grunt. 
 

The Special Forces Creed  

I am an American Special Forces soldier. A professional! I will do all that my nation requires of me.  

I am a volunteer, knowing well the hazards of my profession. 

I serve with the memory of those who have gone before me: Roger's Rangers, Francis Marion, Mosby's Rangers, the first Special Service Forces and Ranger Battalions of World War II, The Airborne Ranger Companies of Korea. I pledge to uphold the honor and integrity of all I am - in all I do. 

I am a professional soldier. I will teach and fight wherever my nation requires. I will strive always, to excel in every art and artifice of war. 

I know that I will be called upon to perform tasks in isolation, far from familiar faces and voices, with the help and guidance of my God. 

I will keep my mind and body clean, alert and strong, for this is my debt to those who depend upon me.  

I will not fail those with whom I serve. I will not bring shame upon myself or the forces. 

I will maintain myself, my arms, and my equipment in an immaculate state as befits a Special Forces soldier. 

I will never surrender though I be the last. If I am taken, I pray that I may have the strength to spit upon my enemy. 

My goal is to succeed in any mission - and live to succeed again. 

I am a member of my nation's chosen soldiery. God grant that I may not be found wanting, that I will not fail this sacred trust. 
 

Rogers' Rangers Standing Orders  

By Major Robert Rogers, 1759 

1. Don't forget nothing. 

2. Have your musket clean as a whistle, hatchet scoured, sixty rounds powder and ball, and be ready to march at a minute's warning. 

3. When you're on the march, act the way you would if you was sneaking up on a deer. See the enemy first. 

4. Tell the truth about what you see and do. There is an army depending on us for correct information. You can lie all you please when you tell other folks about the Rangers, but don't never lie to a Ranger or officer. 

5. Don't never take a chance you don't have to. 

6. When we're on the march we march single file, far enough apart so one shot can't go through two men. 

7. If we strike swamps, or soft ground, we spread out abreast, so it's hard to track us. 

8. When we march, we keep moving til dark, so as to give the enemy the least possible chance at us. 

9. When we camp, half the party stays awake while the other half sleeps. 

10. If we take prisoners, we keep 'em separate til we have had time to examine them, so they can't cook up a story between 'em. 

11. Don't ever march home the same way. Take a different route so you won't be ambushed. 

12. No matter whether we travel in big parties or little ones, each party has to keep a scout 20 yards ahead, twenty yards on each flank and twenty yards in the rear, so the main body can't be surprised and wiped out. 

13. Every night you'll be told where to meet if surrounded by a superior force. 

14. Don't sit down to eat without posting sentries. 

15. Don't sleep beyond dawn. Dawn's when the French and Indians attack. 

16. Don't cross a river by a regular ford. 

17. If somebody's trailing you, make a circle, come back onto your own tracks, and ambush the folks that aim to ambush you. 

18. Don't stand up when the enemy's coming against you. Kneel down. Hide behind a tree. 

19. Let the enemy come till he's almost close enough to touch. Then let him have it and jump out and finish him up with your hatchet.  

The Ranger Creed  

 Recognizing that I volunteered as a Ranger, fully knowing the hazards of my chosen profession, I will always endeavor to uphold the prestige, honor, and high "esprit de corps" of my Ranger Regiment. 

Acknowledging the fact that a Ranger is a more elite soldier who arrives at the cutting edge of battle by land, sea, or air, I accept the fact that as a Ranger my country expects me to move further, faster and fight harder than any other soldier. 

Never shall I fail my commrades.I will always keep myself mentally alert, physically strong and morally straight and I will shoulder more than my share of the task whatever it may be. One Hundred-percent and then some. 

Gallantly will I show the world that I'm a specially selected and well trained soldier. My courtesy to superior officers, neatness of dress and care of equipment shall set the example for others to follow. 

Energetically will I meet the enemies of my country. I shall defeat them on the field of battle for I am better trained and will fight with all my might. Surrender is not a Ranger word. I will never leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy and under no circumstances will I ever embarrass my country. 

Readily will I display the intestinal fortitude required to fight onto the Ranger objective and complete the mission, though I be the lone survivor.  

RANGERS LEAD THE WAY! 
 

The Creation (Airborne Version)  

And the Lord spake forth unto the heavens  
and said, "let there be Airborne." 
The earth did tremble and quake  
and the waters did rise up  
and the clouds did part  
and there came forth  
a multitude of parachutes that filled the sky. 
God looked down and saw this was good.  
And they were good; they were AIRBORNE. 

God then spake forth unto the land and said: 
"Let there be Rangers." 
And all at once the day turned into darkness, 
and the winds did howl, 
and mountains crumbled into the sea, 
and the great rocks did part, 
and there sprang forth 
a horde of Mephistopheles' disciples  
wearing Ranger tabs and 
carrying all sorts of deadly weapons.  
God looked down and saw that this was bad. 
And they were bad; they were RANGERS. 

Then God spoke forth thrice,  
unto the sky, the earth, and the sea, and said:  
"Let there be Special Forces."  
Lightning did flash and echo across the sky.  
Mountains spewed molten rock  
and rained fire upon the land.  
Tidal waves surged against the shore.  
Dispair, disorder and turmoil did prevail.  
Forthwith, there did appear  
a band of twelve extraordinary men.  
A few came from beneath the waves;  
others jumped from the sky; 
and more still stalked silently from the dense forests.  
Each one was in camouflage battle dress,  
wearing a Green Beret.  
Working together, they brought peace unto the land.  
God looked down and saw that this was amazing. 
And they were amazing; 
they were SPECIAL FORCES. 

Besides himself,  
God now spake forth again and commanded:  
"Let all ye that be weak in mind and body,  
arise and go forth."  
And lo, from the abyss  
they crawled forward with indecision  
and limped weakly upon the earth.  
God looked down and shook His head,  
for this was pathetic. 
And they were pathetic; they were LEGS*. 

* LEGS: n, Pathetic ground-dwelling creatures that must walk to get to where they wish to go.  

The Art of War:  
Compiled more that two thousand years ago by a mysterious warrior-pholosopher, The Art of War is still perhaps the most prestigious and influential book of strategy in the world today, as eagerly studied in Asia by modern politicians and executives as it has been by military leaders since ancient times. The following are just excerpts of a much larger book. I only used material that seems to work well within the Delta force series.