What is meant by the term 'combined arms'?

The term 'combined arms' refers to the full integration of different branches of the military—such as infantry, armor, artillery, and air support—in a coordinated manner to exploit enemy vulnerabilities effectively. This approach leverages the strengths of each arm of the service to create a comprehensive combat capability that can adapt to various situations on the battlefield. By using combined arms operations, forces can achieve greater operational effectiveness, as they integrate maneuvers and firepower to overwhelm the enemy, disrupt their cohesion, and ensure success in combat situations. This method emphasizes cooperation and synergy among diverse military elements, enhancing overall performance and increasing the likelihood of mission success.

In contrast, independent operations by each branch lead to disunity and lack of effectiveness, whereas merely utilizing vehicles and aircraft together does not capture the depth of coordination implied in combined arms. The allocation of resources among various units, while important, does not encompass the strategic integration of different combat arms to exploit vulnerabilities in an enemy’s defense.