Marines learn to detain, hold enemy prisoners of war

Photo By Sgt. Erik Brooks | Lance Cpl. Ben G. Stauffer, a field military policeman with Combat Logistics Regiment 37 shows Marines from CLR-35 how to properly restrain an enemy during an instructional period about enemy prisoners of war at the Camp Fuji dojo here March 2. CLR-35 and CLR-37 are part of 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force.  

CAMP FUJI, OITA, JAPAN

03.28.2012

Story by Lance Cpl. Erik Brooks 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

CAMP FUJI, Japan - Marines with Combat Logistics Regiments 35 and 37 received classes and demonstrations on how to properly handle enemy prisoners of war here March 2.

The regiments, part of 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, were trained detainment tactics and proper use of force.

“Use of deadly force is the most important definition you must know when dealing with (enemy prisoners of war),” said Lance Cpl. Ben G. Stauffer, an instructor and field military policeman with CLR-37. “The use of deadly force is used with the purpose of causing death or serious bodily harm.”

There are seven justifications for the use of deadly force, said Stauffer.

The first is self defense or the defense of others, said Stauffer.
An example would be someone trying to break into an armory, said Lance Cpl. Richard M. Oliva, field military policeman with CLR-37.

Another time the use of deadly force is authorized is in the defense of property involving national security, such as an embassy.

To prevent or to interrupt serious actions against someone is another justification for use of deadly force. This means preventing any danger to surrounding civilians.

The use of deadly force while apprehending or arresting an EPW is another instance if the EPW is resisting and poses a threat to life, said Stauffer.

If a prisoner has escaped outside the walls and is known to cause harm, then deadly force is also authorized, said Stauffer.

The last justification for the use of deadly force is a lawful order by common authority. This justification requires troops to use sound judgment to decide if an order is lawful. With these justifications, any Marine put into a situation where deadly force is required, will know what to do, said Stauffer.

If deadly force is not needed, the enemy becomes a detainee, said Stauffer.

There are three classifications of detainees, said Lance Cpl. William B. Goudreau, a field military policeman with CLR-37.

“A detainee is any person captured and held by the Department of Defense,” said Goudreau.

The first classification applies to lawful and unlawful combatants. A lawful combatant is any person in a recognized uniformed military, while an unlawful combatant, would be someone not in an easily distinguishable organized military.

The second classification applies to a militia, or group of civilian soldiers.

The third group is civilians. In order for a civilian to be taken prisoner, they must pose a risk to security, military personnel or property.

After learning prisoner classifications, the Marines were taught how to stop, search and bring the suspected threat into custody.

“We taught the Marines the rules of use of force,” said Lance Cpl. Richard M. Oliva, a field military policeman with CLR-37. “Use of force includes verbal commands, show of force, physical force, non-lethal weapons, weapons of opportunity and deadly force.”

The instructors also covered the proper use of force. The main goal was to teach the Marines how to properly search the prisoners, said Oliva.

The use of force rules allowed the Marines to approach an enemy, stop them, perform a proper search and then bring the enemy to a holding facility.

There are three types of holding facilities: snap holding facility, 72-hour holding facility and a regional internment facility.

“A snap holding facility consists of concertina wire, engineer stakes, a sally port, gun trucks and two holding areas,” said Lance Cpl. Vladimir R. Charlemagne a field military policeman with CLR-37.

At the snap holding facility, detainees are stripped of possessions and separated by gender.

The EPW’s are then transferred to the 72-hour holding facility, said Stauffer. This holding facility is located on a forward observation base. Here the EPW’s are registered into the Biometric Automated Toolset. This allows the Marines to gather fingerprints, iris scans and a DNA sample. After getting entered into the BAT, the EPW’s are medically screened and separated into their respective groups.

“It is important to be careful when separating prisoners,” said Goudreau. “There are factors to consider such as religion and military status. You do not want to put a leader amongst their subordinates because they might try to formulate a plan of escape.”

When the EPW’s have been processed, they are transferred to the regional internment facility. This is where they will be interrogated and held until further release.

“With these classes, the Marines now have the knowledge to properly detain and hold EPWs,” said Stauffer. “If they ever find a situation where an enemy needs to be detained, they have the skill and knowledge to do so.”

• Date Taken: 03.28.2012
• Date Posted: 03.28.2012 20:35
• Story ID: 85917
• Location: CAMP FUJI, OITA, JP