text: Army Personnel Recovery Operations
  agreements or internationally recognized territorial sovereignty. Modes of cooperation can be formal or
  informal.
  1-41. Units most often use direct government-to-government cooperation when formal diplomatic relations
  exist between the United States and the host nation. Whether the isolation results from hostile action, an
  accident, or environmental conditions, the HN government willingly assists in the recovery activities. At a
  minimum, this assistance permits U.S. recovery forces access to ground and water or overflight rights to the
  sovereign territory. Direct government-to-government support involving several governments complicates
  a recovery effort.
  1-42. Certain situations require an indirect approach. Coordination sometimes occurs through clandestine
  contacts by American Embassy personnel in the host country or by meetings between envoys of affected
  countries in other locations. The result of such contacts may be full and open support to recovery efforts or
  permission to conduct the operations—including negotiations for release—without attracting public notice.
  1-43. In situations when the USG has no direct diplomatic relations with a nation-state, or it appears more
  advantageous for both parties to have no direct contact, third parties may act as surrogates. These
  individuals act as diplomatic go-betweens for the United States and the nations involved.
  Civil Option
  1-44. Civilians or civilian organizations sometimes facilitate the recovery of isolated persons.
  Occasionally, the USG requests the assistance of partners such as the United Nations, the International
  Committee of the Red Cross, or the Organization of American States. In many locations, organizations
  such as these have built trust with national, regional, and local governments. Occasionally, members of
  partner organizations assume the responsibility to secure the release of an isolated person or group without
  the request or sanction of the U.S. or HN governments. Influential private citizens—such as distinguished
  individuals from the host nation or region—sometimes are asked or volunteer to facilitate personnel
  recovery. Distinguished members of the international community, such as Nobel Prize laureates, revered
  religious figures, or well-known retired politicians or military members sometimes become involved. The
  decision to accept support from such partners usually lies beyond the authority of the geographic combatant
  commander. Commanders do not use a civil option; they only use the military option. The military can
  employ local forces or civilians to influence a recovery for an external supported recovery; however, the
  military is still in the lead.
  PERSONNEL RECOVERY TASKS
  1-45. The PRCS and other elements of echelon above brigade Army headquarters respond according to the
  unit’s SOP, the current OPLAN, and the latest changes to the order issued in the fragmentary order
  (FRAGORD). The guide to execution in figure 1-4 on pages 1-10 and 1-11 uses the personnel recovery
  tasks discussed in paragraphs 1-48 through 1-74.