text: Chapter 5
  operations forces and members of the U.S. Coast Guard, if they are operating in the host nation. The RSO
  is responsible for arranging training for local national police and security officials. The RSO serves as point
  of contact and advises U.S. citizens travelling in the host country on safety and security procedures and
  threats. The RSO’s everyday contacts with these groups are invaluable in the case of an isolation incident;
  the contacts are already established.
  5-37. Many host nations require emergency action plans accountable for personnel recovery operations
  within that host nation. The embassy regional security office and its emergency action committee, with the
  help of the defense attachés, assist the chief of mission to develop the embassy emergency action plan. This
  tailored plan establishes procedures for contingencies including responding to natural disasters, evacuating
  embassy and local U.S. citizens, and recovering isolated persons. The typical emergency action plan
  requires the embassy to conduct periodic crisis management exercises and to maintain a list of the
  estimated number of U.S. citizens living, working, or travelling in the host nation.
  5-38. The emergency action plan addresses concerns of personnel recovery. The RSO, the defense
  attachés, and other emergency action committee members develop protocols in the sections of the embassy
  and with local law enforcement and security services to expedite a rapid response to any isolation incident.
  The objective is to leverage the formal and informal connections the embassy has within the host nation.
  The emergency action plan provides information on contact with local governmental agencies and lists the
  permanent, semi-permanent, and temporary USG assets available within the host nation to respond to an
  isolation incident.
  5-39. As is often the case, especially in small U.S. diplomatic outposts overseas, the embassy may lack
  adequate resources to exercise personnel recovery responsibilities. The DOS frequently relies on U.S.
  forces in those locations. Serving under the operational control of the chief of mission, the geographic
  combatant commander provides personnel recovery resources.
  DEPARTMENT OF STATE PERSONNEL RECOVERY OPERATIONAL CONCEPT
  5-40. The DOS bases its personnel recovery operational concept on the ideas that prevention and
  preparation are the keys to mitigating the risk, and the type and degree of risk depend on the location. The
  DOS focuses on preventing isolation and captivity through education, training, and information sharing.
  Foreign service officers and other representatives of the USG receive extensive training at the Foreign
  Service Institute before deployment overseas. These courses include information on individual security,
  environmental threats, hostage awareness training, regional security office operations, and personnel
  recovery roles and responsibilities. Department-level instruction includes courses on security operations in
  nontraditional or high-risk environments designed to mitigate those threats. Department-wide education
  and training combines with specific instructions on contingency planning at the embassy level. The
  emergency action plan contains a personnel recovery annex. Its instruction includes local nationals and
  contractors who work at embassies around the world. The DOS plans leverage all USG assets, including
  those of the DOD.
  DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AUTHORITY
  5-41. The authority for the DOD to conduct personnel recovery operations overseas is contained in
  10 USC 1501 and 1502. Section 1501 invests the DOD with the responsibility to investigate and recover
  missing persons, including actions related to search, rescue, escape, and evasion. This section directs the
  DOD to coordinate with other departments and agencies on all matters concerning missing persons. It
  defines a covered person as a member of the armed forces who becomes involuntarily absent because of
  hostile action or whose status is undetermined. Further, it identifies covered persons as members of the
  armed forces, DOD employees, and contractors. Section 1502 stipulates that its components inform DOD
  within ten days of all missing persons to establish accountability.
  5-42. The DOD and its subordinates are responsible for establishing an effective personnel recovery
  system for military personnel. The DOD has authority to recover an isolated Soldier or other designated
  person within the context of daily military operations. The DOS has the lead in all other cases; the DOD
  does not have authority to conduct personnel recovery operations unilaterally. Joint and Army forces
  conduct stability under the authority of the President, in accordance with treaties, conventions, and