Publisher's Synopsis
Field Manual (FM) 3-50.1 is the Army's doctrinal publication for personnel recovery. It presents doctrinal guidance and direction for Army personnel recovery operations and is the foundation for developing tactics and techniques, handbooks, and unit standard operating procedures. It provides operational direction for commanders, staffs, and trainers at all echelons, from company through theater army. This doctrine helps ensure all echelons of the Army organize, train, and equip to conduct personnel recovery and prevent isolation incidents. This FM supersedes and builds on the groundbreaking work of FM 3-50.1, Army Personnel Recovery, 10 August 2005, by articulating the importance of the commander in successful personnel recovery operations, enlarging its scope to include stability operations and defense support of civil authorities operations, and addressing unified land operations. This updated manual incorporates the doctrinal concepts in FM 1, The Army; ADP 3-0, Unified Land Operations; FM 3-07, Stability Operations; and FM 3-28, Civil Support Operations. Army personnel recovery doctrine is consistent with joint personnel recovery doctrine, applicable Department of Defense directives (DODDs) and instructions (DODIs), Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff instructions and manuals, Army policy and regulation, and federal law. It is Department of Defense (DOD) policy, established in DODD 3002.01E, to preserve the lives and well-being of individuals who are in danger of becoming, or already are, beleaguered, besieged, captured, detained, interned, or otherwise missing or evading capture while participating in activities or missions sponsored by the United States. The target audience for FM 3-50.1 is Army commanders and staffs responsible for the planning, preparation, execution, and assessment of personnel recovery operations. This manual provides guidance for other Service commanders and staffs who command and work with Army forces. This manual is also a resource for United States government agencies and other unified action partners who seek to understand the role of the Army in safeguarding and recovering Soldiers. This manual is organized into five chapters and three appendixes: Chapter 1 describes personnel recovery principles. It defines Army personnel recovery and discusses personnel recovery conducted as part of unified land operations. It explains how the Army organizes for personnel recovery, together with unified action partners. The discussion includes mission command of personnel recovery operations, personnel recovery components, and personnel recovery proficiencies. Chapter 2 addresses the personnel recovery responsibilities of commanders at all echelons and staffs at battalion and above. The discussion includes responsibilities as well as supporting tools for headquarters from battalion and brigade to theater army. Chapter 3 discusses personnel recovery considerations for offense and defense in major combat operations, including pertinent characteristics, causes of isolation incidents, and integration of personnel recovery into the operations process. Chapter 4 addresses personnel recovery considerations for stability operations. This includes pertinent characteristics, isolation risk and risk reduction, and coordination with partners. Chapter 5 describes personnel recovery considerations for defense support of civil authorities operations. It includes pertinent characteristics, capabilities, and additional guidance for commanders and staffs. Appendix A provides sample checklists for several important personnel recovery activities. Appendix B describes the reports and formats helpful in the mission command of personnel recovery operations. Appendix C describes personnel recovery aids.
