Army Questionnaire: Questions for the soldiers of Firebase Deh Rahwood concerning their observations and experience in dealing with detainees, training before deployment and Rules of Engagement. The questionnaire appears to be in response to the accusations of detainee abuse and an effort to elicit information on the matter. The questions and answers are reduced to general responses and the number of positive and negative responses.
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DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
COMBINED/JOINT TASK FORCE (CJTF)-180
OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, AFGHANISTAN
APO AE 09354
REPLY TO ATTENTION OF
CJTF-180-IG 28 FEB 04
MEMORANDUM FOR Commander, CJTF-180, Bagram, Afghanistan, APO AE 09354
SUBJECT: Inspector General Sensing Session, Firebase Deh Rahwod, 16 February
2004
1.
The CJTF-180 IG conducted two sensing sessions at Firebase Deh Rahwod as part of an inspection on detainee operations on 16 February 2004. The first sensing session consisted of NCOs and the second group consisted of junior enlisted both from Special Forces and soldiers from 10 th Mountain Division. The following paragraphs contain comments from this session. These comments are perceptions of soldiers who participated and are not necessarily founded facts.
2.
Sensing Session Group 1 7. NCOs. The first sensing session held was for NCOs. Their questions and responses are as follows:
Question #1 Do you have a unit SOP to take, handle, and care for detainees/PUCs?
23 of 24 12 NCOs replied yes that they had an SOP.
Question #2 How quickly do you hand over PUCs to MPs?
1 of 24 stated within 3 days. 14 replied that they didn't know and 9 stated that it was
within a week to two weeks.
Question #3 Is mistreatment of a PUC an SIR? 24 of 24 12 NCOs replied yes and that
whoever had first hand knowledge would report it.
Question #4 Did your unit train on Law of War prior to deploying or during deployment?
21 of 24 soldiers stated that they had trained on use of force, but that they really needed
hands-on training. 2-22 IN stated that their training. records were back in the states.
The SF stated that their records were present here, everything that they had that is.
FOR OFFICI E ONLY "This documen ins information
"Disseminatio is ohibited except EXEMPT FROM ATORY DISCLOSURE
authoriz d b AR 20-1." under the FO emptions 5 & 6 apply."
Pape 314
AFZS-IG (20)
SUBJECT: Inspector General Sensing Session, Firebase Deh Rahwod, 16 February
Question #5 What do you use to track and account for captured personnel? 19 Don't
know, 4 of 24 say that they have tracking mechanism, 1 of 24 says there isn't any
tracking mechanism.
Question #6 How do you account for money taken from captured/detained personnel?
They secure the money. Provide everything that is captured over to SF interrogators.
Question #7 What do you allow a captured/detained person to keep on their person?
24 OF 24 NCOs stated that they allowed a detained person to keep nothing. 1 of 24
soldiers stated that they might let a detained .person keep eyeglasses.
Question #8 Do you tag captured or detained persons or their property? 24 of 24
NCOs stated yes. 18 of 24 NCOs stated that they use the EPW tag.
Question#9 Does your SOP cover the 5 S's? 19 of 24 stated yes.
Question #10 Does your SOP include the date of capture, grid coordinates of capture,
and how the person was captured?. 24 of 24 NCOs stated yes.
Question #11 How do you prevent physical or mental torture or coercion of the
detained person? Don't do it. They stated that they prevented it through training,
educations, SOPs, supervision, and safeguarding the prisoners.
Question #12 If a detained person refuses to answer your questioning can threaten the Detainee? Can you insult the Detainee? 18 of 24 stated yes, that they could threaten the PUC but not with violence. 24 of 24 NCOs stated that you could not insult the PUC.
25 of 24 NCOs stated that they are not allowed to turn over PUCs to AMF.
Question #13 How do you take care of prisoners basic needs for food, water, clothing, shelter, and medical treatment? 24 of 24 NCOs replied that they feed PUCS the same as soldiers and provide them as much water as they request.
Question #14 Do you keep detainees near fuel, ammo, or commo equipment? 24 of 24 NCOs replied no, that these are high value targets and the PUC could be injured. Also, for OPSEC so that the enemy could not exploit them.
2
FOR OFFIC L SE ONLY
"This document cont n nformation "Disseminati i rohibited except
EXEMPT FROM MAN T RY DISCLOSURE
autho ' ed y AR 20-1."
under the FOIA. em Ions 5 & 6 apply."
DA IG
AFZS-IG (20)
SUBJECT: Inspector General Sensing Session, Firebase Deh Rahwod, 16 February
Question #15 Do you believe that you are required to report acts of poor treatment of
detainees or PUCs? 24 of 24 said yes.
Question #16 . Do you know whom you could report violations of detainees or PUCs
rights to? Chain of command, IG, and SJA.
Question #17 Has anyone ever witnessed anyone murder anyone? 24 of 24 NCOs
replied No.
Question #18 Have you ever seen anyone torture or beat anyone? 24 of 24 NCOs
replied No.
Question #19 Have you ever seen anyone deprive a PUC of their 5 senses? If so, why and for how long. 24 of 24 NCOs replied Yes. They stated that they did this during movement.
Question #20 Has anyone seen anyone cruelly treat or degrade a PUC? 24 of 24
NCOs replied No.
Question #21 How do you treat PUCs or detainees? Good/Fair/Poor? 23 of 24 felt that we were treating PUCs good. 1 NCO felt that we wee treating them fair. He didn't believe that we were giving them an easy time and making their life excessively good even though they are getting better than they normally get in their normal environment.
Question #22 How do you safeguard a PUC against public curiosity? 23 of 24 felt that we were safeguarding .PUCs good. They cover them. Don't parade them around. They keep PUCs in a holding cell. You have to have operations permission to go into the detention facility because it is restricted access. One person stated that we safeguarded them fair because on missions they keep PUCs outside awaiting the end of the mission.
Question #23 Has anyone ever taken a picture of a PUC? 24 of 24 stated No.
Question #24 What is the rule for deadly for against a PUC in the event that they are escaping? 24 of 24 NCOs did not believe that deadly force was authorized against an escaping prisoner. They stated they would use the minimum amount of force necessary. They would use the necessary force to stop the threat.
3
FOR OFFI IA USE ONLY "This documen ins information
"Disseminaaprohibited except EXEMPT FROM ATORY DISCLOSURE
autho ze by AR 20-1." under the F xemptions 5 & 6 apply."
AFZS-IG (20)
SUBJECT: Inspector General Sensing Session, Firebase Deh Rahwod, 16 February
Question #25 How many times do you believe that you have to shout halt before firing?
0/1/2/3/4? 23 of 24 stated 3 times. 1 NCO stated you only had to shout halt twice.
3. Sensing Session Group 2 — Junior Enlisted Soldiers. The second sensing session was for Junior Enlisted Soldiers the questions and responses are as follows:
Question #1 How many people believe that you are required to report acts of poor treatment of prisoners or detainees/PUCs? 14 of 14 junior enlisted soldiers replied that they had to report violations.
Question #2 Do you know who you could report violations of prisoners' rights to? 11 of 14 soldiers knew that they could report violations to their chain of command, higher chain of command. 3 of 14 didn't know who they could report violations to. Some knew that they could report it to MPs or the 1G.
Question #3 Has anyone ever witnessed anyone murder anyone? 14 of 14 junior enlisted soldiers replied No
Question #4 Have you ever seen anyone torture or beat anyone? 12 of 14 junior enlisted soldiers replied No. Atlhis point two soldiers from 3/17 Cav reported that they knew of an instance where an E-5 kicked a soldier in the chest during a traffic check point near Kandahar 2 months a • o. We informed them to stay behind and took a sworn statement and later briefed COL -age he Task Force Warrior commander who ordered LTCcathe 2-22 Infantry Battalion Commander to conduct a commander's inquiry.
Question #5 Have you ever seen anyone deprive a PUC of their 5 senses? If so, why and for how long? 14 of 14 junior enlisted soldiers replied yes. We place a sandbag on their head for movement. 9 of the 14 soldiers are actually involved in guarding PUCs in the facility.
Question #6 Has anyone seen anyone cruelly treat or degrade a PUC? 14 of 14 replied no.
Question #7 How do you treat PUCs or detainees? Good/Fair/Poor? 12 of 14 felt that we treated detainees Good. 2 Soldiers felt that we treated them fair because it is not the Marriott hotel and we don't give them cable television.
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FOR OFFI I USE ONLY "This document c s information
"Dissemina is prohibited except EXEMPT FROM M TORY DISCLOSURE
autho d by AR 20-1." under the FOI mptions 5 & 6 apply."
Page 817
Question #8 How many people know what the 5 S's stand for? Search, Silence,
Segregate, Safeguard, and Speed to the rear? 12 of 14 soldiers knew the 5 S's.
Question #9 How do you safeguard a PUC against public curiosity? Good/Fair/Poor?
4 Soldiers replied Good, 10 Soldiers replied Fair. Those soldiers that stated Poor stated
that it was when we initially picked them up. The PUCs are outside all day in the open
camp. Further, that the Local National workers in the camp can see the PUCs being
moved to the latrine. The PUCs do have a sandbag on their head, but they can still be
seen.
.
Question #10 Has anyone ever taken a picture of a PUC? 14 of 14 junior enlisted soldiers replied No.
Question #11 What would you do if you found a PUC with large sums of money? Inventory money by type, US, Afghani, etc. It is of intelligence value.
Question #12 What is the rule for deadly force against a PUC in the event that they are escaping? 3 of 14 knew the rule for use of deadly force against an escaping prisoner. 11 of 14 did not think that you could use deadly force against an escaping prisoner. They all stated that if the PUC threatens your life or someone else's life that you can engage him.
Question #13 How many times do you believe that you have to shout halt before firing? 0/1/2/3/4? 23 of 24 state •, 4 of 14 soldiers stated that you had to yell halt
9 soldiers stated you had to yell hal imes, one soldier stated you had to fire warning shot. They all stated that you had to use the minimum amount of force in accordance with their ROE briefings.
4. Point of contact is the undersigned at DSN or
MAJ, IG CJTF-180 Inspector General
5
"This docum ntains information
FOR OFF I USE ONLY "Dissemin io is prohibited except EXEMPT FRO NDATORY DISCLOSURE auth nz by AR 20-1." under the F Exemptions 5 & 6 apply."