Army Personnel Recovery Practice

Which best describes MAJ Cornum's situation?

1. Unaccounted

2. Hostage

3. Prisoner of War

4. Illegally detained

The correct answer is: Prisoner of War

MAJ Cornum's situation is best described as a Prisoner of War (POW) because he was captured while serving in a combat role during military operations. The designation of POW applies to military personnel who are captured by an enemy during armed conflict and are entitled to certain protections under international law, specifically the Geneva Conventions. In this context, being classified as a POW means that MAJ Cornum was engaged in active hostilities when he was taken captive, which aligns with the definition and protections afforded to service members under international humanitarian law. This ensures they are treated humanely and have rights during captivity, which differ from other potential classifications like hostage or illegally detained. Unaccounted would suggest that a service member's fate is unknown, while hostage generally refers to someone taken unlawfully and held for ransom or other demands. Illegally detained implies a situation where an individual is held without legal justification or due process, which does not apply in Cornum's case given the context of his capture during war. Thus, the proper classification captures the nuances of his situation as a combatant who has been captured by enemy forces.