A force multiplier is a military term referring to a factor that dramatically increases (hence, "multiples") the combat-effectiveness of a given military force. Sometimes this factor may apply more or less under different cirmcumstances.
Some common force multipliers:
- Technology
- Morale
- Geographic Features
- Weather
- Recruitment through diplomacy
Examples
A small group of well-equipped soldiers holding a fortified position at the top of a mountain, with the sun at their backs, may be far more effective than a larger group of soldiers with worse equipment in an exposed position with the sun in their faces.
A given infantry division may be able to advance 12 miles (20 km) in a day. Assigning trucks to this division will act as a "force-multiplier," allowing the division to advance 40 miles (65 km) in a day. Air support, artillery, and other specialized weapons systems are other examples of factors that may dramatically increase the division's capabilities.
Modern Western militaries are highly force-multiplied forces, in that a relatively small number of troops can successfully defeat much larger numbers of less well-trained and equipped enemies. Witness, for example, the Battle of Mogadishu, in which two Special Forces soldiers held off hundreds of militia for hours. However, some military analysts believe that the overwhelming combat capabilities of advanced military forces may lead to a false assumption of their capabilities in every situation. For this reason, these strategists may argue that greater emphasis needs to be placed on "boots on the ground" (the actual number of troops present).