Combat Effectiveness

The readiness of a military unit to engage in combat based on behavioral, operational, and leadership considerations. Combat effectiveness measures the ability of a military force to accomplish its objective.

The effectiveness of a military unit to perform its mission depends on its capabilities (including equipment and personnel) and its ability to use those capabilities, which involves indoctrination, training, and leadership. Soldiers must be instructed in the use of their weapons, as well as in the battlefield tactics needed to fight as a coordinated team. They also must be trained to follow orders and to make difficult decisions under intense pressure. Indoctrination and leadership play key roles, as a soldier must know his or her role and be willing to perform it. Officers must be able to bring out the best in their troops and know how to motivate them to become an effective fighting force.

Thus, simply having a large or well-equipped force does not guarantee success on the battlefield. Rather, it is the combination of advanced technology, comprehensive training, experienced leadership, and proper military indoctrination that produces an effective military. Military planning also plays an important role in combat effectiveness. Identifying the adversary and developing a strategy that combines the most appropriate weapons, unit types, and combat plan to implement against that particular adversary enhances military effectiveness.

Contemporary studies of military effectiveness have evaluated the behavior of a state's armed forces based on leadership, training, experience, and flexibility. [Page 142]These studies have identified considerations such as fortifications, vulnerability, mobility, weapons sophistication, command and control, and intelligence as important indicators of how well a military will function in the event of a war.