Which characteristic of offense is associated with the element of the unexpected?

The characteristic of offense that is associated with the element of the unexpected is surprise. Surprise plays a crucial role in military operations as it allows one force to catch an adversary off guard, thereby disrupting their ability to respond effectively. When an attacking force can execute operations in a manner that the enemy does not expect, it can create significant advantages, such as sowing confusion, causing disarray in enemy ranks, and rendering their plans ineffective.

In combat, achieving surprise can be accomplished through various tactics such as moving rapidly, using deception, or executing unexpected maneuvers. The element of surprise can lead to decisive victories, as it can overwhelm the enemy before they have a chance to react or organize a defense.

Other characteristics of offense, while important, do not specifically center on unexpectedness. For instance, audacity deals more with boldness and willingness to take risks. Tempo refers to the speed and rhythm of operations, which can enhance the effectiveness of an attack but does not inherently involve the unexpected nature of the action. Concentration focuses on the massing of combat power at a decisive point, which is more about the allocation of forces than about delivering a surprising element to the opponent.