Definition
The infantry's core mission statement, meaning to physically close the distance to the enemy and eliminate them, usually through aggressive frontal assault. It's the least subtle mission description in military doctrine.
Example Usage
The platoon's mission was simple: close with and destroy enemy forces occupying the ridgeline.
Origin
Traditional infantry doctrine codified in U.S. Army field manuals, emphasizing the unique role of ground forces
Fun Fact
This phrase is so central to infantry identity that it's been shortened to 'CWD' in some units, though that somehow makes violently assaulting enemy positions sound like a business acronym.
Source: Infantry doctrine and mission statements
Related Terms
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See “close with and destroy” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
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