Which of the following is NOT a principle of the Rules of Engagement?

The principle of surprise is not included in the established principles of the Rules of Engagement (ROE). The ROE are designed to guide military personnel in the use of force and ensure that their actions are lawful, ethical, and consistent with military objectives.

The principle of necessity dictates that force may only be used to achieve a specific military objective, ensuring that actions taken are essential in the context of the mission. Proportionality emphasizes that the force used must be proportionate to the threat encountered, preventing excessive or unnecessary harm to people and property. Distinction requires combatants to differentiate between military targets and civilian objects, thereby minimizing civilian casualties and upholding the laws of armed conflict.

In contrast, surprise, while it may have operational advantages in military tactics, does not form a foundational principle of ROE. Instead, the focus of ROE is on legality, accountability, and the principles of just warfare, which do not explicitly incorporate the element of surprise as a guiding tenet.