Joint Targeting

Appendix A
c. Distinctive Medical Emblems. The Red Cross, Red Crescent, and Red Crystal
Emblem are the three internationally recognized protected emblems or symbols for
designating protected medical activities and clearly marked ambulances and medical
vehicles. Some countries use other distinctive emblems, such as a Red Cedar tree by
Lebanon and the Red Star of David by Israel. Although not recognized in the Geneva
Conventions, when parties to the conflict are placed on notice that another party is using a
unique emblem to mark its medical facilities, such facilities must be given due respect as
such. The key purpose of the Geneva Conventions is not the emblem, but rather the notice
that a facility is a protected medical installation. Governments and combatants have a duty
to identify these places with distinctive and visible signs.
(1) These emblems may be used to mark civilian and military medical personnel,
ambulances and medical transport vehicles, and hospitals. The International Committee of
the Red Cross and national Red Cross societies also use these symbols.
(2) The Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time
of War authorizes use of symbols to mark zones established for the wounded and sick.
Safety zones for wounded, sick, aged, expectant mothers, children under 15, and mothers
with children under 7 are to be marked with an oblique red band on a white background.
d. Religious, Cultural, and Charitable Buildings and Monuments. As long as
buildings and monuments devoted to religion, art, charitable purposes, or historical sites are
not used for military purposes, they may not be targets. Governments and combatants have a
duty to identify such places with distinctive and visible signs. When these buildings are used
for military purposes, they may qualify as military objectives. Lawful military targets
located near protected buildings are not immune from attack, but the principle of
proportionality must be carefully applied. The Hague Convention for the Protection of
Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (1954) established a royal blue and white
shield as the distinctive emblem for protected cultural property in war.
e. Prisoner of War Camps. POWs may not be targets, be kept in a combat zone, or be
used to render an area immune from military operations. When military considerations
permit, the letters “PW” or “PG” clearly visible from the air identifies POW camps. The use
of POW camp markings for any other purpose is prohibited.
8. Environmental Considerations
a. Joint operations have the potential to adversely affect natural and cultural resources.
Consistent with operational requirements, action should be taken to identify these resources
and develop plans to prevent or mitigate adverse effects. These include historic,
archeological, and other natural resources in the OA. Attacks against installations containing
dangerous natural forces—including dams, dikes, and nuclear power facilities—must be
carefully considered for potentially catastrophic collateral damage.
b. It is generally lawful under the laws of war to cause collateral damage to the
environment during an attack on a legitimate military target. However, the commander has
an affirmative obligation to avoid unnecessary damage to the environment to the extent that
A-6 JP 3-60