You have been provided some basic rules to show what you can and cannot do in a wartime situation, as they relate to the laws of armed conflict. This section provides instructions on what action to take if the rules are violated by other personnel.

You must prevent violations of the laws of armed conflict by others because they are criminal acts. When you see a criminal act about to happen, you should try to prevent it by

l arguing against it.

l threatening to report the criminal act.

l repeating the orders of your superiors.

l stating your personal disagreement, or asking a senior individual present to intervene.

You should be able to do this when you are totally familiar with the country in which you are operating and are knowledgeable about the rules of war. In the event the criminal act immediately endangers your life or the lives of others, you may use the exact amount of force needed to prevent the crime, but do this only as a last resort. You should immediate y report the criminal act through your chain of command. When the criminal act is committed or about to be committed by your immediate superior, report the act to his immediate superior. You are required to do this by the laws of armed conflict. Conversely, you are not required to commit a crime under the laws of conflict. If you are ordered to commit a crime under the rules of war, you must refuse to follow the order and report your refusal to the next higher authority. You can be prosecuted for carrying out an unlawful act under the laws of war, so you must know what is legal and act by following the rules of armed conflict.