text: Chapter 3
  Guarding Medical Units
  3-32. As a rule, a medical unit is to be guarded by its own personnel, however, it will not lose its protected
  status if the guard is performed by a number of armed Soldiers. The military guard attached to a medical
  unit may use its weapons, just as armed medical personnel may, to ensure the protection of the unit. But, as
  in the case of medical personnel, the Soldiers may only act in a purely defensive manner and may not oppose
  the occupation or control of the unit by an enemy who is respecting the unit’s privileged status. The status
  of such Soldiers is that of ordinary members of the armed forces. The mere fact of their presence with a
  medical unit will shelter them from attack. In case of capture, they will be POWs.
  Arms and Ammunition taken from the Wounded
  3-33. Wounded persons arriving in a medical unit may still be in possession of small arms and ammunition,
  which will be taken from them and handed to authorities outside the medical unit. Should a unit be captured
  by the enemy before it is able to get rid of these arms, their presence is not of itself cause for denying the
  protection to be accorded the medical unit under the GWS.
  Personnel and Materiel of Veterinary Services
  3-34. The presence of personnel and materiel of Veterinary Services with a medical unit is authorized, even
  where they do not form an integral part of such unit.
  Care of Civilian Wounded and Sick
  3-35. A medical unit or establishment protected by the GWS may take in civilians, as well as military
  wounded and sick, without jeopardizing its privileged status. This clause merely sanctions what is actually
  done in practice.
  THE 1977 PROTOCOLS TO THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS
  3-36. Amendments to the Geneva Conventions have been ratified by some of our allies and potential
  adversaries. The U.S. representative to the diplomatic conference signed these amendments, but they have
  not been officially ratified by our government.
  COMPLIANCE WITH THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS
  3-37. The U.S. is a party to the 1949 Geneva Conventions. Two of these Conventions afford protection for
  medical personnel, facilities, and evacuation platforms (to include aircraft on the ground). All medical
  personnel should thoroughly understand the provisions of the Geneva Conventions that apply to medical
  activities. Violation of these Conventions can result in the loss of the protection afforded by them. Medical
  personnel should inform the operational commander of the consequences of violating the provisions of these
  Conventions. The consequences can include the following:
  * Medical evacuation assets subjected to attack and destruction by the enemy.
  * Medical capability degraded. Captured medical personnel becoming POWs rather than retained
  persons. They may not be permitted to treat fellow prisoners.
  * Loss of protected status for medical unit, personnel, or evacuation platforms (to include aircraft
  on the ground).
  3-38. Because even the perception of impropriety can be detrimental to the mission and U.S. interests,
  medical commanders must ensure that they do not give the impression of impropriety in the conduct of
  medical operations. For example, the MMB commander included in the operational SOP rules governing
  the use of crew-served weapons, it would give the impression that the unit possessed and intended to use
  these types of weapons. Under the provisions of the GC, medical units are only authorized individual small
  arms and squad automatic weapons for use in the defense of the patients under their care and for themselves.
  Even though the unit did not possess these types of weapons, the entry in the operational SOP could be
  misinterpreted and a case made that the commander intended to use these weapons in violation of the Geneva
  Conventions.