Tactics as the art of winning engagements
The manual defines tactics as the concepts and methods for using forces to win in combat, distinct from strategy and operations. It stresses that tactics is an art of judgment, not a formula.
MCDP 1-3 Tactics (Marine Corps Doctrine)
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Achieving a decision through gaining advantage
Doctrine centers on generating and exploiting advantages, in tempo, surprise, and combined arms, to break the enemy's coherence. The goal is a decisive result, not attrition for its own sake.
Boldness and the exploitation of chance
The manual elevates initiative, acceptance of uncertainty, and rapid exploitation of fleeting opportunity. Commanders are taught to act decisively amid ambiguity rather than wait for certainty.