Professional Documents
Culture Documents
LAW OF WAR
Unclassified
1
Terminal Learning
Objective
Action: Identify what actions are legal and
what actions are illegal as they relate to the
treatment of captured personnel.
Environment
Considerations
NONE
Evaluation
Student Checks
Testable Block of Instruction
Performance
3
Procedure
➣Sources of Law
6
Humane Treatment
(GPW, Art. 13, 20, 27; FM 27-10, para. 88 - 96, 266)
➣Everyone is Entitled
➣No Degrading or Humiliating Treatment
➣Protected From Violence & Intimidation
➣Shielded From Insults & Public Curiosity
➣Given Respect for Their Persons & Honors
➣No Reprisals Allowed
7
Torture and Coercion
(GPS, Art. 13,; GPW, Art. 13, 17; GC, Art. 31, 32;
FM 24-10, para. 93; FM 34-52, p. 1-8)
➣POWs “may NOT be threatened, insulted, or
exposed to disadvantageous treatment of
ANY kind.”
➣Torture?
➣“The infliction of intense pain to body or mind to
extract a confession or information, or for sadistic
pleasure.” “Free Will”
➣Coercion?
➣“Actions designed to unlawfully induce another to
commit an act against one’s will.”
8
Physical Torture
(FM 34-52, p. 1-8)
➣Electric Shock
➣Pain Through Chemicals
➣Pain Through Bondage
➣Legitimate Use of Restraints to Prevent Escapes
➣Forced to Stand, Sit, or Kneel in Abnormal
Positions for Prolonged Periods of Time
➣Food Deprivation
➣Any Form of Beating
9
Mental Torture
(FM 34-52, p. 1-8)
➣Mock Executions
13
Status of Captured
Personnel
➣Retained Personnel
➣Protected Personnel
14
Retained Personnel Status
(GPW, Art. 33; FM 27-10, para. 67, 68)
➣Medical Personnel (GPS, Art. 24; FM 27-10, para. 67, 68)
➣Must Provide Medical Support Exclusively
➣Includes Admin. Staff at Medical Unit
➣NOT Medics, Combat Lifesavers, etc.
(GPS, Art. 25, 29; FM 27-10, para. 68)
16
Protected Persons Status
(GC, Art. 4, 5; FM 27-10, para. 247, 248)
➣Includes Civilian NON-Combatants & Unlawful
Combatants in the Hands of a “Foreign Party”
to the Conflict or Occupying Power.
➣All Persons Who do NOT Qualify for POW
Status who have Engaged in Hostile or
Belligerent Conduct.
➣If Unsure About a Captive’s Status?
➣ Treat captive as a POW until Article 5 Tribunal
determines otherwise. (GPW, Art. 5; FM 27-10, para. 71)
17
Protected Persons’ Rights
(cont.)
(FM 27-10, para. 266, 267, 270 - 273)
18
Protected Persons’ Rights (cont.)
(FM 27-10, para. 266, 267, 270 - 273)
➣Protection From:
➣Being Taken Hostage.
➣Being Used as Human Shields to Render Certain
Areas Immune From Military Operations.
➣Physical or Moral Coercion.
➣Murder, Torture, Corporal Punishment, Mutilation,
Medical Experiments, & ANY Other Forms of
Brutality.
➣Collective Penalties, Pillage, Reprisals,
Intimidation, & Terrorism
19
Limitations on
Protected Persons’ Rights
(FM 27-10, para. 266, 267, 270 - 273)
20
Questions?
21
Prisoner of War Initial Handling
➣Identification Information (GPW. Art. 17; FM 27-10, para. 93)
➣Required Information?
➣Name, Rank, Service Number, DOB
➣w/o Liable for Restriction of Privileges
➣Identification Cards
➣Do NOT question?
➣Physically and/or Mentally Incapacitated
(FM 27-10, para. 93)
➣MUST be Cleared by Competent Medical Personnel
➣Question POW in Language He Understands
(FM 27-10, para. 93)
22
POW Categories
(FM 27-10, para. 136)
➣Category I - Below Sergeant
➣Category II - All NCOs
➣Category III - Warrant and
Commissioned Officers below Major
(Company Grade Officers)
➣Category IV - Major through Colonel
(Field Grade Officers)
➣Category V - General Officers
23
POW STATUS
(GPW, Art. 4; FM 27-10, para. 61 - 66, 68, 70)
24
POW STATUS (cont.)
(GPW, Art. 4; FM 27-10, para. 61-66, 68, 70)
25
NON-POW Status
➣Armed forces members who deliberately
conceal themselves to pass behind enemy
lines to gain military information or to wage
war?
➣Disguise, Retained Person Status
➣To Be Disguised as an Enemy Soldier & Shoot
at Enemy Targets is ILLEGAL.
➣Article 5 Tribunal (GPW, Art. 5; FM 27-10, para. 71)
➣Used to Determine Status
26
NON-POW Status (cont.)
27
POW Rights
➣ POWs MAY NOT Renounce Rights or Status
(GPW, Art. 7; FM 27-10, para. 87)
➣ Protection / Humane Treatment
(GPW, Art. 13, 20, 27; FM 27-10. para. 88 - 96, 266)
➣ Special Considerations for Women
➣Minimally as Equal Treatment to Men
(GPW, Art. 14; FM 27-10. para. 90)
➣Separate Dormitories (GPW, Art. 25)
➣Separate Latrines & Bathing Facilities (GPW, Art. 29)
28
Other POW Rights
➣ Respect & Honor (GPW, Art. 14; FM 27-10. para. 90)
➣ Property (GPW, Art. 18; FM 27-10, para. 94)
➣ Quarters (GPW, Art. 25; FM 27-10, para. 101)
➣ Rations (GPW, Art. 26; FM 27-10, para. 102)
➣ Clothing (GPW, Art. 27; FM 27-10, para. 103)
➣ Hygiene, Sanitation, and Medical Attention
(GPW, Art. 15, 29, 30; FM 27-10, para. 91,106 -
108)
➣ Human Evacuation (GPW, Art. 20; FM 27-10, para. 96)
➣ Protective Equipment (GPW, Art. 18; FM 27-10, para. 94)
➣ Killing of Prisoners (FM 27-10, para. 85)
29
Other POW Rights (cont.)
➣Religion & Faith (FM 27-10, para. 110 - 113)
➣Sending & Receiving Mail
(GPW, Art. 71, FM 27-10, para. 147, 150, & 152)
➣ 2 Letters & 4 Postcards Monthly (Minimum)
➣ Postage Free
30
Questions?
31
POW Responsibilities
➣Must Follow ALL Camp Rules
(FM 27-10, para. 117)
➣Rules MUST BE Posted in Camp
(In POW’s language)
➣Each POW MUST BE Given a Copy of Rules
(In POW’s language)
➣POWs are Subject to the Same Laws,
Regulations, Orders, & Penalties as Detaining
Power’s Forces (FM 27-10, para. 158, 163)
➣Detailed Punishments (FM 27-10, para. 158 - 184)
32
POW Labor
(GPW, Art. 50; FM 27-10, para. 125 -129)
34
POW Working Conditions
(FM 27-10, para. 125 - 144)
35
POW Wages
➣Pay for Labor (GPW, Art. 62; FM 27-10, para. 138)
➣1/4 of One Swiss Franc per Full Work Day
➣Mar “2000” = $0.15
➣Monthly Advance (GPW, Art. 60; FM 27-10, para. 136)
➣Category I - Below Sergeant = 8 Swiss Francs
➣Category II - All NCOs = 12 Swiss Francs
➣Category III - Warrant & Commissioned Officers below Major
(Company Grade Officers) = 50 Swiss Francs
➣Category IV - Major through Colonel
(Field Grade Officers) = 60 Swiss Francs
➣Category V - General Officers = 75 Swiss Francs
36
Escape
➣Successful Escape (GPW, 91)
➣Rejoins His or Ally’s Forces
➣Leaves Detaining Power’s or Detaining
Power’s Ally’s Territory
➣Entering Neutral County?
➣Still Held as POW by Neutral Country
➣Unsuccessful Escape
(GPW, 92 - 94; FM 27-10, para. 169)
➣Disciplinary Punishment for Escape
➣Judicial Punishment for Violence to Life or
Limb or Unjust Enrichment
37
Preventing Escape
➣MUST Use Least Extreme Means
➣Yelling Halt
➣Recapturing
➣Use of Weapons (FM 27-10, para. 118)
➣Considered to be an Extreme Measure
➣MUST Warn Before Using Weapons
➣Aim to Disable and NOT to Kill
➣Aiders and Abettors receive only
disciplinary punishment for helping
38
Preventing War
Crimes
39
War Crimes
➣ANY Violation of the Law of War Committed by
ANY Person During an Armed Conflict
(GC, Art. 146; GPW, Art. 129;
GPS, Art. 49; FM 27-10, para. 498, 499)
43
Dealing With Illegal Orders
➣Clarify Unclear Orders
➣If the Order is Illegal,
The Soldier MUST State So
➣Use Moral Arguments
➣Threaten to Report the Act
➣Ask the Senior Soldier to Stop the Act
➣Refuse to Obey the Order
➣If the Order is NOT Withdrawn, or
the Act IS Committed, Report Incident or
Order 44
Duty to Report War Crimes
45
Reasons for Reporting
War Crimes
➣Enemy War Crimes Can Be the Basis
for Legitimate Reprisals.
➣Publishing Enemy War Crimes Can Be
Used to Influence Public Opinion,
Including Soldier’s, Against the Enemy.
➣Reporting Allied War Crimes Helps us
follow Geneva Convention Rules on
Transferring Captives
46
HUMINT Collectors
Must NOT:
➣Impersonate Chaplains, Medical Personnel, or
Volunteer Aid Society Personnel
(e.g., Red Cross Personnel)
➣Interrogate an injured or ill POW UNTIL
Receiving a Medical Release Specifically for
Questioning
➣Delay Evacuation of a POW in a Danger Zone
for the Purposes of Interrogation
47
HUMINT Collectors
MUST:
➣Report Suspected War Crimes Encountered
during the Course of Their Duties
➣Conduct Yourself in a Professional Manner
When Dealing with POWs, Taking into
Consideration the Rank & Status of the POW
➣Ensure Your Security & That of the POW
48
Questions?
49
Summary
➣Sources of Law.
➣Captured Personnel Initial Handling.
➣Define POWs, Retained Personnel, &
Protected Persons.
➣Treatment of POWs.
➣Treatment of Retained Personnel.
➣Treatment of Protected Persons.
➣Preventing War Crimes.
50
Law of War
Examinatio
n
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