text: Chapter 7
  commander about whether and under what conditions they may wish to engage in non-hostile relations with
  that force.
  7-45. While it is not a legally recognized form of surrender, a white flag hoisted by an individual Soldier
  may also express a genuine desire or intent to surrender. Its display, however, does not mean that a unit, or
  the person waving it, is prepared to surrender—nor should this be assumed by opposing forces. Nor does it
  mean that other enemy soldiers in the immediate area have the same intent. Friendly forces seeing a white
  flag hoisted by an enemy soldier whom the friendly forces believe is genuinely attempting to surrender should
  consider whether it is feasible to accept such surrender. Soldiers or Marines must not intentionally direct fire
  against the person carrying the white flag or a person near him or her unless there is a clear manifestation of
  hostile intent by those persons.
  7-46. Prohibited uses of a white flag include use of a flag of truce to feign an intent to surrender or to
  negotiate (HR art. 23(f)). To feign an intent to surrender or negotiate in order to kill or wound enemy
  personnel is perfidy (HR art. 23(b)) (see discussion on perfidy in paragraphs 2-151 through 2-153). Improper
  use of a flag of truce also includes its use while engaging in attacks or in order to shield, favor, or protect
  one’s own military operations, or otherwise to impede military operations (DOD Law of War Manual,
  12.4.2.1). For example, forces may not use the bearer of a white flag as cover to advance or maneuver for
  hostile purposes.
  MILITARY PASSPORTS, SAFE-CONDUCTS, SAFEGUARDS,
  CARTELS, AND OTHER SPECIAL AGREEMENTS
  7-47. A military passport is a document issued by order of a commander of belligerent forces that
  authorizes a person or persons named therein and residing or sojourning within territory occupied by
  such forces to travel unmolested within the territory, with or without permission to pass, or to pass
  and return, by designated routes, through the lines, subject to conditions or limitations imposed by the
  commander. A military passport differs from a passport issued by a government agency for peacetime travel,
  such as a passport issued by the U.S. Department of State for personal, official, or diplomatic travel.
  7-48. A safe-conduct pass is similar to a military passport. It is a document issued by a commander of
  belligerent forces, but to persons residing or traveling outside territory occupied by such forces, to
  enter and remain within or pass through areas occupied by such forces. Safe-conduct passes may also
  refer to similar documents the same authority issues to persons that permit them, whether they reside within
  or outside areas occupied by the authority’s forces, to carry specified goods to or from designated points
  within those areas and to engage in trade otherwise forbidden by the general rule of non-intercourse (see
  paragraphs 7-1 through 7-8 for discussion of the general rule of non-intercourse). A safe-conduct pass to
  engage in a specified trade for goods to which the grantee is given a continuing right for a prescribed period,
  or until further ordered, may also be referred to as a license to trade.
  7-49. Ambassadors and other diplomatic agents of neutral governments accredited to the opposing party to
  the conflict may receive a safe-conduct pass through territory under opposing force control. A request for a
  safe-conduct pass is typically granted to them absent military or other security reasons to the contrary,
  including the safety of the personnel in question, unless they may reach their destination conveniently by
  another route. There is no legal requirement, however, for issuing such a safe-conduct pass. A safe-conduct
  pass is usually granted by national level authorities. Refusal of a request is not to be regarded as an
  international or national affront.
  7-50. A safeguard is a detachment, guard, or detail posted by a commander for the protection of persons,
  places, or property of the enemy, or of a neutral (see Manual for Courts-Martial (2016), part IV, para. 26 (art.
  102)). A safeguard falls within LOAC only when granted and posted by arrangement with the enemy or a
  neutral. For example, guards posted by a belligerent for the protection of its own personnel or property would
  not be governed by LOAC. Military personnel on duty as safeguards, on the other hand, occupy a protected
  status under LOAC. They may not be attacked, and it is customary to send them back, together with their
  equipment and arms, to their own armed forces when the locality is occupied by the enemy and as soon as
  military exigencies permit.