2024/2025
The Law of War, also known as the Law of Armed Conflict, is the part of international law that regulates
the resort to armed force and belligerent occupation. What else does it regulate? - ✔✔The conduct of
hostilities and the protection of war victims in both international and non-international armed conflict
and the relationship between belligerent, neutral and non-belligerent states.
DoDD 2311.01E, DoD Law of War Program, requires each military department to design a program to
ensure Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC) observance and prevent LOAC violations. What else does it
require? - ✔✔That each military department 1.) ensures prompt reporting of alleged LOAC violations 2.)
appropriately trains all forces in the LOAC 3.) completes a legal review of all new weapons
The LOAC trainings is an obligation of the US under the provisions of what treaty? - ✔✔1949 Geneva
Conventions
Which publication requires that all personnel receive instruction on the principles and rules of the LOAC
commensurate with their duties and responsibilities? - ✔✔AFI 51-401, Training and Reporting to Ensure
Compliance with the LOAC
Name three groups who receive additional specialized LOAC training to address unique issues they may
encounter. - ✔✔Aircrews, medical personnel and security forces
What is the foundation of the LOAC? - ✔✔Customary internal law and treaties (Everyone subject to US
laws must observe the US' LOAC obligations)
Which Article of the US Constitution states that treaty obligations of the US are the "supreme law of the
land"? - ✔✔Article VI
T/F: According to the US Supreme Court, US international legal obligations and customs are not part of
US law. - ✔✔False
, Why must military personnel, civilians and contractors authorized to accompany the armed forces in
combat follow the LOAC when planning and executing combat operations? - ✔✔Because treaties and
international agreements enjoy equal status to laws passed by Congress and sign by the President.
(Those who violate the LOAC may be criminally liable and court-martialed under the UCMJ)
What five important LOAC principles govern armed conflict? - ✔✔1.) Military necessity 2.) distinction 3.)
proportionality 4.) humanity 5.) honor
Which LOAC principle justifies the use of all measures needed, that are not prohibited by the law of war,
to defeat the enemy as quickly and efficiently as possible? - ✔✔Military necessity
According to the LOAC principle of military necessity, which classes of persons are considered military
objectives and may become objects of attack? - ✔✔1.) Combatants 2.) unprivileged belligerents 3.)
civilians taking a direct part in hostilities
List some examples of military objectives that may be targeted under the LOAC. - ✔✔Tanks, military
aircraft, bases, supplies, lines of communications and HQs.
T/F: Under the LOAC, military necessity does not authorize all military action and destruction. - ✔✔True
(Military actions never authorizes actions specifically prohibited by the LOAC)
Which LOAC principle forbids unnecessary suffering, cruelty, wanton violence or making enemy
combatants the object of attack when they have been placed hors de combat? - ✔✔Humanity
Give several examples of weapons banned because they cause superfluous injury, unnecessary suffering
and are inherently indiscriminate. - ✔✔Posion of poisoned weapons and chemical, biological and
bacterial weapons.
T/F: Rifles are lawful weapons that may be used unlawfully to shoot POWs, strafe civilians, or fire on
shipwrecked mariners or downed aircrews. - ✔✔True
Under the LOAC, _______ mean discriminating between the civilian population (or individual civilians
not directly participating in hostilities) and combatant forces. - ✔✔Distinction