PRISONER OF WAR (POW)

A prisoner of war is a person held by the opposing side in a military conflict. They are often subjected to inhumane and degrading conditions and reprisal from the armed force running their detention. Prisoners of war are nominally protected by conventions of war adopted in International forums, but, with the exception of a few countries, are in fact punished severely for their actions. In the American Military, captured American fighting men and women are expected to maintain as much military discipline as possible and never accept their confinement with the ultimate goal of escaping or eluding their captors and returning to fighting status again. Few are able to succeed.