ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Small Wars Manual

Okay, so imagine you and your friends like to play make-believe games where you pretend to be soldiers. Sometimes you might play a game where you're fighting against each other, and sometimes you might play a game where you're all on the same team and trying to protect something important.

The Small Wars Manual is like a big book of instructions for grown-up soldiers who are playing a similar game, but in real life. Instead of pretend battles, they're fighting in real wars, trying to protect their country or help people in other parts of the world who are in trouble.

Inside the Small Wars Manual, there are lots of different ideas and strategies that soldiers can use to do their job better. Some of these ideas might be about how to talk to people who live in the area where they're fighting, to understand their customs and needs. Other parts of the manual might be about how to set up a camp, how to search for hidden weapons, or how to work with other soldiers from different countries.

The Small Wars Manual is important because it helps soldiers do their job better and keep themselves and the people around them safe. Just like you and your friends have rules and guidelines for your make-believe games, soldiers have rules and guidelines too, so that everyone knows what to expect and what to do.