Abstract. The paper outlines the essence and the basic content of the methodical aspects of the substantiation of the staff of armed forces of а state from the standpoint of the theory of prevented damage of own troops in an operation. The purpose is to attain a prescribed level of their combat capacity and ability to perform appointed tasks in an operation that lasts T days.

Keywords: fighting potential, combat capacity, combat staff, fighting means, prevented damage, mathematical model and methodical apparatus.