EPW and Detainees

EPW Search Team

- consists of a cover man and a search man - cover man at 90 degree offset, 4 to 6 feet, always eyes on EPW

Categories of EPW

1. A member of the armed forces, organized militia or volunteer corps. 2. A person who accompanies the armed forces without actually being a member thereof. 3. A member of a merchant marine or civilian aircraft crew not qualifying for more favorable treatment. 4. Individuals who, on the approach of the enemy, spontaneously take up arms to resist invading forces.

Other documents that may need to be filled out when dealing with EPWs

1. Coalition Provisional Authority Forces Apprehension Forms (CPA form) 2. DA Form 2823, Sworn Statements 3. NAVMC 11130, Statement of Force

Special policies of EPWs aboard US Naval Vessels

1. Detention of EPW on board naval vessels will be limited. 2. EPW recovered at sea may be temporarily held on board as operational needs dictate, pending a reasonable opportunity to transfer them to a shore facility, or to another vessel for transfer to a shore facility. 3. EPW may be temporarily held aboard naval vessels while being transported between land facilities. 4. Holding of EPW on vessels must be temporary, limited to the minimum period necessary to evacuate them from the combat zone or to avoid significant harm that would be faced if detained on land. 5. Use of immobilized vessels for temporary holding of EPW is not authorized without Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) approval.

References pertaining legal requirements of EPW

1. Geneva Convention (treaty b/w US and over 100 nations) 2. UCMJ 3. Marine regulations 4. Directives and orders

Three types of searches

1. Hasty 2. Detailed 3. Strip

Items that an EPW may retain

1. Items of identification 2. Religious items and badges of rank and personal decorations 3. Personal protective equipment, such as field protective mask, flak jacket, and helmet after they have been thoroughly searched.

Categories of Segregation of EPW's and OD's

1. Male and Female. 2. Officer and Enlisted. 3. Military and Civilian. 4. Ethnic groups. 5. Old and Young.

What are included in a capture tag?

1. Name of the EPW. 2. Rank. 3. Service number. 4. Date of birth. 5. Date of capture. 6. EPWs unit. 7. Location of capture. 8. Capturing unit. 9. Special circumstances of capture. 10. Description of weapons/documents.

Three parts of a capture tag are given to whom?

1. Part A is attached to the detainee with wire, string, or other type of durable material. 2. Part B is retained by the capturing unit and maintained in the unit's records. 3. Part C is attached to the property confiscated from the detainee, so that it may later be matched to that detainee.

Initial Actions upon Capture - STRESS

1. Search 2. Tag 3. Report 4. Evacuate 5. Segregate 6. Safeguard

Items that EPWs may not retain

1. Weapons. 2. Any item which may facilitate escape. 3. Documents or other items that will have intelligence value

Considerations when performing a search of an EPW

1. When conducting searches on female EPWs, the searcher should be a female, but if someone other than a woman is conducting the search, then the order of preference for the searcher is: a Medical Officer (doctor), officer, corpsman, or responsible enlisted Marine. 2. Search man either gives his weapon to cover man or secures it behind his back. 3. Locate and remove weapons from the EPW to prevent resistance or attack. 4. Before starting the search, determine if the EPW is dead or wounded. 5. Search from head to toe, one side of the body (left or right), then switch hands and search the other side. Ensure that the search is conducted in an organized and methodical manner. Searcher must also ensure that they search from head to toe, including all headgear, collar, sleeves, pockets, waist, legs, footgear, and all individual gear.

Enemy prisoner of War (EPW)

1. a detained person as defined in Articles 4 and 5 of the Geneva Convention. 2. one who, while engaged in combat under orders of his or her government, is captured by the armed forces of the enemy.

Other Detainee (OD)

1. individuals who are in the custody of the US Armed Forces but who have not been classified as an EPW. 2. treated as EPWs until their legal status is ascertained by competent authority.

How is medical care of segregation of EPWs and ODs classified during evacuation process?

1. walking wounded (MP EPW evac channel) 2. non-walking wounded or sick (delivered to nearest BAS)

What is given to EPW when their personal property is taken?

A written receipt

Detailed Search

a more thorough search, made in a secure location or before transport of the EPW. Before conducting the search, determine if the searcher will have the EPWs lined up facing a wall, prone position or the push up position.

Collection Point

a specific area where the prisoners are kept until coordination is made to move the EPWs to a permanent holding facility.

Strip Search

performed by removing all clothing and objects from the EPW. It is an in-depth search that only qualified personnel can perform

Hasty Search

the searcher quickly pats down the EPW looking for any obvious weapons and/or documents and equipment.