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she represents. 539 Thus, POWs distributed in different sections of a camp, according to theirnationality, language, or customs, shall have for each section their own POW Representative. 540In practice, it is advisable for the POW Representative to be a POW as opposed to aretained person. Medical personnel have their own representative for issues related to theiractivities. 541 In addition, the duties of the POW Representative and the duties of retainedpersonnel could interfere with one another, and special provision is made in the GPW to ensurethat other duties not interfere with the duties of retained personnel or the duties of the POWRepresentative. 5429.24.2 Procedure for Selecting POW Representatives, Advisers, and Assistants. Theprocedure for selecting POW Representatives, and their advisers (POWs who are officers) andassistants (POWs who are not officers), depends on the rank of the POWs in the camp.9.24.2.1 Camps With Officer POWs. In camps for officers and persons ofequivalent status or in mixed camps, the senior officer among the POWs shall be recognized asthe camp POW Representative. 543 A mixed camp refers to camps composed of both officers andother ranks. 544The senior officer is the officer of highest rank, not the oldest officer. 545 The seniorofficer is also a member of the armed forces, as opposed to a person of equivalent status (e.g.,such as a person authorized to accompany the armed forces who is of senior status). 546In camps for officers, the POW Representative shall be assisted by one or more adviserschosen by the officers. 547 These advisers may assist the POW Representative if his or her health539 GPW art. 79 (“In all cases the prisoners’ representative must have the same nationality, language and customs asthe prisoners of war whom he represents.”).540 GPW art. 79 (“Thus, prisoners of war distributed in different sections of a camp, according to their nationality,language or customs, shall have for each section their own prisoners’ representative, in accordance with theforegoing paragraphs.”).541 Refer to § 7.9.5.7 (Senior Medical Officer in the Camp).542 Refer to § 7.9.5.6 (No Other Compulsory Duties); § 9.24.4.1 (Limitations on Other Work Assignments).543 GPW art. 79 (“In camps for officers and persons of equivalent status or in mixed camps, the senior officer amongthe prisoners of war shall be recognized as the camp prisoners' representative.”).544 See GPW COMMENTARY 393 (“As may be seen from the record of the discussions at the Diplomatic Conference,the expression [“mixed camp”] refers to camps comprising both officers and other ranks.”).545 See GPW COMMENTARY 392 (“In camps for officers, the prisoners’ representative is appointed according toseniority and not by election. The term ‘the senior officer’ (in French, ‘le plus ancien dans le grade le plus élevé’)has sometimes been taken as meaning the oldest officer with the highest rank. If the words are to have a precisemeaning, however, as they must have, it should be what the English text says, viz. the senior officer of the highestrank. Age will only be the determining factor where two officers of the same rank were promoted on the samedate.”).546 Refer to § 4.15 (Persons Authorized to Accompany the Armed Forces).547 GPW art. 79 (“In camps for officers, he shall be assisted by one or more advisers chosen by the officers;”).585