The relations of the United States' with the country that you are entering may be good, bad, or somewhere between these two extremes. The government of the country may want the Seabees to be there, but some of its people may not. You may encounter situations or actions from the enemy, from the government, or from the general population that will try your patience. They may treat you as "Yankee, Go Home!" If so, you must maintain your self-control and not violate the principles you have learned under the laws of armed conflict. You should be familiar with our relations with the country you are entering. This knowledge can serve you well in preventing the creation of a situation where you might violate the rules of war.

Basically, what you have just read can be summed up in eight words: Know the country into which you are going. That is as important as knowing terrain features and enemy tactics.

Along with knowledge of the country in which you are operating, make sure you understand your mission fully. Because while conducting your mission, a situation may develop where you will have an opportunity to succeed or fail in your practice of the laws of armed conflict.

When you complete this chapter, you should have sufficient knowledge of what to do and what not to do under most combat situations. This knowledge protects you from violating the laws of armed conflict. When you encounter a situation where you are unsure of what action(s) to take in carrying out your mission, get clearance from the next higher authority before continuing. For example, when military action by you might endanger the lives of some local civilians and you are not sure how to proceed, be certain to get approval for your next action from the next higher authority.