Combat readiness is a condition of the

armed forces A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...

and their constituent units and formations,

warship A warship or combatant ship is a naval ship that is built and primarily intended for naval warfare. Usually they belong to the armed forces of a state. As well as being armed, warships are designed to withstand damage and are usually faster a ...

aircraft An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air. It counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines ...

, weapon systems or other

military technology and equipment Military technology is the application of technology for use in warfare. It comprises the kinds of technology that are distinctly military in nature and not civilian in application, usually because they lack useful or legal civilian application ...

to perform during

combat Combat ( French for ''fight'') is a purposeful violent conflict meant to physically harm or kill the opposition. Combat may be armed (using weapons) or unarmed ( not using weapons). Combat is sometimes resorted to as a method of self-defense, or ...

military operation A military operation is the coordinated military actions of a state, or a non-state actor, in response to a developing situation. These actions are designed as a military plan to resolve the situation in the state or actor's favor. Operations may ...

s, or functions consistent with the purpose for which they are organized or designed, or the managing of resources and personnel training in preparation for combat. Most armed forces maintain varying levels of readiness by the troops to engage in combat due to economic considerations which vary from minutes to months.Jordan, pp.2-3 In modern armed forces troops designated

special forces Special forces and special operations forces (SOF) are military units trained to conduct special operations. NATO has defined special operations as "military activities conducted by specially designated, organized, selected, trained and equip ...

are usually those kept at the highest state of readiness for combat, and are often alerted only a few hours before being committed to combat. Where time is of the essence in

military action War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular ...

being initiated, the troops, such as pilots of

interceptor aircraft An interceptor aircraft, or simply interceptor, is a type of fighter aircraft designed specifically for the defensive interception role against an attacking enemy aircraft, particularly bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. Aircraft that are cap ...

, may be kept in constant state of combat readiness.

References

Citations

*Andrews, Robert P. & Shambo, James F., (thesis), ''A system dynamics analysis of the factors affecting combat readiness'', Faculty of the School of Systems and Logistics of the Air Force Institute of Technology, Air Uhiversity, June 198

*Jordan, Thomas M., Col. (US Army), Improving Combat Readiness: Developing and Implementing Effective Training, ''Infantry Magazine'', Sept-Dec 200

*Kruys, G.P.H., ''Combat readiness with specific reference to armies'', (Chapter Five), Institute for Strategic Studies, University of Pretoria, Institute for Strategic Studies 200

See also

References

Citations

Further reading