text: Army Personnel Recovery Operations
  Unit or Recovery Force
  1-29. The second personnel recovery focal group is the unit or recovery force. The immediate or deliberate
  recovery of isolated Soldiers or others normally falls to the responsibility of the person’s unit of assignment
  as designated in the operation plan (OPLAN) or operation order (OPORD). Units generally execute an
  immediate recovery of any isolated unit member when practical. This is especially important for isolation
  caused by enemy action where the friendly force can conduct the recovery before the enemy knows of the
  isolation. If an immediate recovery is not possible, that unit or another designated recovery force may
  conduct a directed recovery mission. The unit or other designated recovery force, as a personnel recovery
  focal group, integrates several responsibilities within the personnel recovery components.
  Receive the Mission and Conduct the Operations Process
  1-30. The unit or recovery force receives the mission and conducts the operations process. As time is
  critical in personnel recovery, this may be an abbreviated process based on guidance from higher
  headquarters where mission analysis leads to a rapid (or directed) course of action (COA) development,
  COA analysis and approval, and production of the order.
  Execute the Order
  1-31. The unit or recovery force executes the order. Execution includes an update on the friendly and
  enemy situation or environmental hazard, marshalling the required unit resources and maneuvering to the
  location of the isolated person. The recovery force may have to fight for the recovery and must come
  prepared for combat. In the case of isolation by an environmental hazard, such as a chemical spill or
  biological contamination, the force must prepare for contingencies, including the need for decontamination
  or lifesaving medical treatment.
  Deliver the Isolated Person or Group to Postisolation Reintegration
  1-32. The unit or recovery force delivers the isolated person or group to reintegration. Postisolation
  reintegration activities follow successful recovery of the isolated person or group. Depending on the
  circumstances of and the length of time a recovered person was isolated or in the control of the enemy,
  reintegration may be a short local activity requiring little planning or a long and involved process. If
  possible, commanders ensure reintegration activities are planned in detail to avoid undue stress to the
  isolated person or group.
  Isolated Persons
  1-33. The primary task of an isolated person is to try to regain contact with friendly forces as soon as
  possible. When all three personnel recovery focal groups base their actions on the ISG, they facilitate the
  coordination and synchronization of recovery efforts. Adherence to the ISG provides some predictability to
  the isolated person or group that their actions will be more easily monitored, thus making recovery more
  certain.
  PERSONNEL RECOVERY OPTIONS
  1-34. Joint personnel recovery doctrine describes three personnel recovery options: military, diplomatic,
  and civil. The only option commanders can select is the military option; the other two are at the USG or
  citizen level.
  Military Option
  1-35. In most cases, a unit conducts a recovery making full use of the in-place personnel recovery
  capabilities and the designated recovery forces. Army commanders consider four general approaches
  (sometimes referred to as methods) to conduct personnel recovery: unassisted, immediate, deliberate, or
  external supported.