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War

• A violent struggle between two hostile, independent, and irreconcilable wills, each trying to impose itself on the other.
• Shaped by human nature and is subject to the complexities, inconsistencies, and peculiarities which characterize human behavior.
• An interactive social process of continuous mutual adaptation, of give and take, move and counter move.

Friction

• The force that resists all action and saps energy.
• Makes the simple difficult and the difficult seemingly impossible.
• The very essence of war as a clash between opposed wills creates friction.
• Mental or physical.
• Internal or external.

Uncertainty

• All actions in war take place in an atmosphere of uncertainty - fog of war.
• Cannot be eliminated or even come close to it.
• At best, we can hope to determine possibilities and probabilities.
• Good judgement is vital.

Risk

• Dealing with uncertainty involves the estimation and acceptance of risk.
• Risk is equally common to both action and inaction.
• Risk may be related to gain; greater potential gain often requires greater risk.
• The practice of concentrating combat power toward the main effort necessitates the willingness to accept prudent risk elsewhere.

Nonlinearity

• Causes and effects can be disproportionate.
• Minor incidents or actions can have decisive effects.
• Outcomes of battles can hinge on the actions of a few individuals.

Fluidity

• Each episode in war is the temporary result of a unique combination of circumstances, presenting a unique set of problems and requiring an original solution.
• Nevertheless, no episode can be viewed in isolation.
• Each episode merges with those that precede and follow it, creating a continuous, fluctuating flow of activity replete with fleeting opportunities and unforeseen events.

Disorder

• In an environment of friction, uncertainty, and fluidity, war gravitates naturally toward disorder.
• It is precisely this natural disorder which creates the conditions ripe for exploitation by an opportunistic will.
• The best we can hope for is to impose a general framework of order on the disorder, to influence the general flow of action rather than to try to control each event.

Planning

• Must fight effectively despite uncertainty.
• Develop simple and flexible plans.
• Plan for likely contingencies.
• Develop standard operating procedures.
• Foster initiative among subordinates.

Mindset

• Fight effectively despite the existence of friction.
• Minimize self-induced friction.
• Your will helps you overcome friction.
• You prevail over friction through persistent strength of mind and spirit.