Explain proportionality as it applies to ROE.

• A. Force used must be proportionate to the threat and necessary to achieve a legitimate objective, avoiding excessive or unnecessary damage
• B. Proportionality means using more force than the threat
• C. Proportionality forbids any force
• D. Proportionality is about cost efficiency

Answer: (A)

Proportionality in ROE requires that any force used matches the scale of the threat and is necessary to achieve a legitimate objective, while avoiding excessive or unnecessary damage. In practice, you weigh the expected military advantage of taking action against the potential harm to civilians and civilian objects, and you choose the option that achieves the objective with the least harm possible. If the threat can be countered with restrained force or non-lethal means, those options should be used rather than escalating to heavy weapons. The principle also requires that there be a legitimate objective and that the force be necessary to achieve it; actions taken must be proportionate to the specific situation. It is not about using more force than the threat, forbidding force entirely, or chasing cost efficiency.