follow them. Usually frontline troops, especially those employed several miles forward of the forward edge of the  battle  area,  shoot  first  and  ask  questions  later. Contacting these troops is, at the very least, sensitive and a calculated risk. However, in the absence of an opportunity to contact a friendly patrol, contact with frontline  troops  may  be  your  only  alternative. Generally, frontline troops are told to honor the display of a white flag or another white object and to advance the unknown person to be recognized. Once back in friendly hands, you’ll naturally want to talk about your exploits and will undoubtedly receive countless  questions  from  frontline  troops.  However, that is the time you should remain silent. If you talk at this point, you may endanger the lives of those who helped you. In addition, you may compromise methods other service personnel might use to evade the enemy and get out safely. Give only information of immediate tactical importance to frontline units. Advise the first officer or petty officer contacted that you are returning to duty from missing in action, prisoner of war, or internment status. Then request to be taken to someone authorized to receive evasion and escape information. These survival techniques are but a few of the ways you can stay alive and live to return to friendly forces. You  can  gain  an  in-depth  knowledge  of  survival, evasion, and escape techniques through special training. The Navy provides this special training at survival, evasion, resistance, and escape (SERE) schools located at strategic locations throughout the world. ESCAPE If I am captured I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy. —Code of Conduct, Art. III What happens if you become a prisoner of war (POW)? After all, it is possible. Isolation, fear, and injury all work in favor of the enemy to increase your chances of capture in spite of a determined effort on your  part  to  evade.  The  surrender  of  your  arms, h ow ev e r,   d o e s   n o t   m e a n   y o u   f o r f e i t   y o u r responsibilities as a member of the American armed forces.   The armed forces Code of Conduct directs that you begin planning your escape the minute you are taken prisoner. Escape is tough; making it work is even tougher. It demands  courage,  cunning,  and  much  planning  in seeking ways out, determining what routes to follow, and locating friends. Above all, it demands physical stamina  under  the  worst  conditions  imaginable. Experience has proven that “model” camps with regular rations and considerate treatment are the exception. But no matter what extremes you encounter as a POW, try to keep yourself physically able and sufficiently equipped to escape as soon as possible. If captured, try to make your escape early. You may never be in any better physical condition to escape than at the moment you are captured. Prison rations are barely enough to keep you alive; they certainly won’t supply you with a reserve of energy. The physical treatment, lack of medical care, and insufficient rations of prison life soon have effects such as physical weakness; night blindness; and loss of coordination, reasoning power, and morale. There are other reasons for making your escape early after your capture. Friendly artillery fire or air strikes occurring during that time may increase your chances of getting away. The first guards you will have are not as well trained in handling prisoners as those farther back from the front lines. Some of the line guards may even be walking wounded who are distracted by their own condition. In addition, you know something about the terrain where you are captured, and you know the approximate location of friendly units. Several days later and many miles away, you may be in strange territory. An escape from a prison camp is much more difficult and requires more detailed planning. It must be organized  and  supported  as  any  other  military operation.  The  method  you  should  use  to  escape depends on your particular situation. The only general rules are to make an early escape and to escape when the enemy’s attention is distracted. Save, Add to, Take Care of (S-A-T) Since the conditions in various POW camps differ, it is impossible to provide a specific escape or survival plan for each situation. What you need is a guide to help 15-27 Student Notes: