What is the principle of economy of force?

• A. Using all available forces at every opportunity.
• B. Concentrating power at one point.
• C. Using minimum essential combat power to achieve the objective, preserving strength for future actions.
• D. Withholding any decisive action to avoid casualties.

Answer: (C)

Economy of force means allocating only the minimum amount of combat power needed to achieve the objective while keeping some strength in reserve for future actions. This approach avoids wasting resources on tasks that don’t drive the mission, prevents overcommitment that could leave you vulnerable, and preserves capability to respond to changes, exploit opportunities, or press a decisive effort later. The option that describes using the least essential force to accomplish the objective and preserving strength for what comes next captures this balance between accomplishing the mission and maintaining ongoing capability. Other ideas described—using all forces everywhere, massing all power at a single point, or delaying action to avoid casualties—do not reflect the prudent, flexible allocation that economy of force requires.