They are also unlikely to find it inspiring to refer to them and the military they lead as fat and unqualified. Rules of engagement are ad hoc guidelines applied to our troops about how they’re permitted to act during missions. No more politically correct and overbearing rules of engagement, just common sense, maximum lethality and authority for warfighters,” said the Secretary. Rules of engagement are meant to prevent the indiscriminate killing of civilians and the atrocities we’ve seen play out during war. This dismissive attitude toward having to care about our bombs landing on children disqualifies Hegseth from leading our military all on its own.