text: Chapter 3
  of the United States Army is that Article 24 personnel will not be used for this purpose. Adherence
  to this policy should avoid any issues regarding their status under the GWS due to a temporary
  change in their role from noncombatant to combatant. Medical personnel may guard their own
  unit without any concurrent loss of their protected status.
  IDENTIFICATION CARDS AND ARMBANDS
  3-19. Medical personnel who meet the exclusively engaged criteria of Article 24, GWS, are entitled to wear
  an armband bearing the distinctive emblem of the Red Cross and carry the medical personnel identification
  card authorized in Article 40, GWS (in the U.S. Armed Services, DD Form 1934 [Geneva Conventions
  Identity Card for Medical and Religious Personnel Who Serve in or Accompany Armed Forces]). Article 25
  personnel and medical personnel serving in positions that do not meet the exclusively engaged criteria of
  Article 24 are not entitled to carry the medical personnel identification card or wear the distinctive emblem
  armband. Such personnel carry a DOD Common Access Card, and under Article 25, may wear an armband
  bearing a miniature distinctive emblem when executing medical duties.
  The following paragraph implements STANAGs 2060, 2454, and 2931.
  PROTECTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF MEDICAL UNITS,
  ESTABLISHMENTS, BUILDINGS, MATERIEL, AND MEDICAL
  TRANSPORTS
  3-20. There are two separate and distinct forms of protection: protection from intentional attack and
  protection when falling into the hands of the enemy.
  PROTECTION FROM INTENTIONAL ATTACK
  3-21. The first is protection from intentional attack if medical units, establishments, or transports are
  identifiable as such by an enemy in a combat environment. Normally, this is facilitated by medical units or
  establishments flying a white flag with a Red Cross and by marking buildings and transport vehicles (aircraft
  or ground) with the distinctive emblem.
  * It follows that if we cannot attack recognizable medical units, establishments, or transports, we
  should allow them to continue to give treatment to the wounded in their care as long as this is
  necessary.
  * All vehicles employed exclusively on medical transport duty are protected in the operational area.
  Medical vehicles being used for both military and medical purposes, such as moving wounded
  personnel during an evacuation and carrying retreating belligerents, are not entitled to protection.
  * Medical aircraft, like medical transports, are protected from intentional attack, but with a major
  difference—they are protected “. . . while flying at heights, times and on routes specifically agreed
  upon between the belligerents concerned.” (Article 36, GWS.) Such agreements may be made
  for each specific case or may be of a general nature, concluded for the duration of hostilities. If
  there is no agreement, belligerents use medical aircraft at their own risk and peril.
  * Article 37, GWS specifies that “. . . medical aircraft of Parties to the conflict may fly over the
  territory of neutral Powers, land on it in case of necessity, or use it as a port of call.” The medical
  aircraft will “. . . give the neutral Powers previous notice of their passage over the said territory
  and obey all summons to alight, on land or water.” The aircraft will be “ . . . immune from attack
  only when flying on routes, at heights and at times specifically agreed upon between the Parties
  to the conflict and the neutral Power concerned.” It further states that “The neutral Powers may,
  however, place conditions or restrictions on the passage or landing of medical aircraft on their
  territory.”
  * The second paragraph of Article 19 imposes an obligation upon those responsible to “. . . ensure
  that the said medical establishments and units are, as far as possible, situated in such a manner that
  attacks against military objectives cannot imperil their safety.” Hospitals should be sited alone,