3 FAM 4140
GUIDELINES FOR PERSONNEL TAKEN HOSTAGE
(CT:PER-944; 05-15-2019)
(Office of Origin: DS/MGT/PPD)
3 FAM 4141 AuthoritIES
(CT:PER-925; 09-24-2018)
(State/USAID/USAGM/Commerce/Foreign Service Corps-USDA)
(Applies to Foreign Service and Civil Service Employees)
This chapter is issued under the following statutory
authorities:
(1) State Only:
(a) 5 U.S.C. 301;
(b) 22 U.S.C. 2651a; and
(c) Section 206 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as
amended (or 22 U.S.C. 3926).
(2) USAID Only:
(a) Section 202(a) (1) of the Foreign Service Act of
1980, as amended (or 22 U.S.C. 3922); and
(b) Section 206 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as
amended (or 22 U.S.C. 3926).
(3) USAGM Only:
(a) Section 202(a) (1) of the Foreign Service Act of
1980, as amended (or 22 U.S.C. 3922(a) (1)); and
(b) Section 206 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as
amended (or 22 U.S.C. 3926).
(4) Agriculture Only:
(a) Section 202(a) (2) of the Foreign Service Act of
1980, as amended (or 22 U.S.C. 3922(a) (2)); and
(b) Section 206 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as
amended (or 22 U.S.C. 3926).
(5) Commerce Only:
(a) Section 202(a) (3) of the Foreign Service Act of
1980, as amended (or 22 U.S.C. 3922(a) (3)); and
(b) Section 206 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as
amended (or 22 U.S.C. 3926).
3 FAM 4142 Definitions
(CT:PER-925; 09-24-2018)
(State/USAID/USAGM/Commerce/Foreign Service Corps-USDA)
(Applies to Foreign Service and Civil Service Employees)
Agencies mean the Department of
State, USAID, USAGM, Agriculture and Commerce.
U.S. Government personnel mean employees
of the agencies, both Foreign Service (except for locally employed staff and
non-U.S. citizen consular agents), and Civil Service, serving abroad, including
employees on detail.
3 FAM 4143 Guidelines for U.S.
Government Personnel Taken Hostage
(CT:PER-944; 05-15-2019)
(State/USAID/USAGM/Commerce/Foreign Service Corps-USDA)
(Applies to Foreign Service and Civil Service Employees)
a. The U.S. Government will make every effort to
recover U.S. Government personnel who are victims of a hostage taking incident
while serving abroad.
b. Individuals who are taken hostage should be aware
that their captors may seek to exploit their knowledge of sensitive information
to the detriment of the United States or their fellow hostages. Individuals
should be mindful that whatever they say may be used to mislead or punish their
colleagues, and that information obtained from one captive may be used when
interrogating another. Captured individuals should not divulge classified or
sensitive information and should not discuss sensitive aspects of the work of
any fellow hostages.
c. Individuals should be aware that active members of
the U.S. Armed Services who are taken captive are subject to different legal
authorities and organizational policies when they are captured, due to their
possible status as Prisoners of War. For additional information please
reference Executive Order 10631.
d. If detained with other captives, it is essential to
avoid internal conflicts within the group and maintain a unified approach to
the captors (e.g., group agrees not to discuss religion, politics or the
economy with the captors).
e. While awaiting rescue, individuals taken hostage
should make an effort to:
(1) Eat and drink to preserve their health and seek
opportunities to remain mentally active;
(2) Circumstances permitting, build rapport with their
captors by humanizing themselves;
(3) Leave evidence of their presence in each location
(such as strands of hair, fingerprints, blood, bits of fingernails, etc.); and
(4) Maintain faith in their individual beliefs and
have confidence in the efforts of their family and the U.S. Government to
obtain their release.
f. If asked to produce evidence of proof of life, such
as a photo or a video, it is advisable to do so as it confirms the individuals
continued survival to family and possibly the U.S. Government entities working
on your release, and aids in the negotiation process.
g. The decision to attempt escape rests with the
individuals concerned based on their judgment, environment, and level of
threat. However, the decision should be consistent with the considerations set
forth above.
h. In the event of a recovery operation, individuals
awaiting rescue should drop to the ground, ensure their hands and face are
visible, and identify themselves as American citizens.
i. For more information, Department personnel can
follow this link to the High Threat Security Overseas Seminar: Abduction:
Prevention, Preparation and Response for Individuals.
j. Hard and fast rules are not always helpful and the
U.S. Government recognizes that the ability of individuals to resist extreme
pressure differs. But, to the extent possible, one must help ones colleagues
and avoid exploitation. Sound judgment is essential.
3 FAM 4144 THROUGH 4149 UNASSIGNED