Rules of engagement of the Stormwind army

*Written on a view able document by Stormwind army personnel on the Command Center noticeboard*

The Rules of Engagement of the Stormwind army

Description

– These rules are to be used by the Stormwind army against any faction that is at war with the Kingdom of Stormwind.
– These rules are to be followed always, when they serve the Kingdom of Stormwind army aims on the field and in reserve.
– These rules are not to be used to hinder the Kingdom of Stormwind army efficiency in war.
– If these rules of engagement make Kingdom of Stormwind army standpoint in war less beneficial for victory against hostile factions, these rules can be discarded, but one must remember that there may be repercussions, if there is a war crime in question, for example.
– These rules are not forced to be used by any order, but the rules here are an introductory, that may be used as a guideline for each individual order to make the rules of engagement for their particular order.

General use of force
1.
Any faction or individual declared as an enemy by the Kingdom of Stormwind is allowed to be taken prisoner and in extreme cases harmed or killed, if the faction or individual is considered to be life threatening towards Kingdom of Stormwind citizens or allies.
1.1.
Causing physical harm to individual or faction, declared as an enemy of the Kingdom of Stormwind, requires threat of physical harm towards Stormwind citizens or its allies in any form. For example an armed soldier from hostile faction.
1.1.1.
Civilians when unarmed are not considered life threatening and so may not be harmed, but are allowed to be captured or set on guard, if found or even assumed to be helping the hostile faction or individuals.
1.2.
Factions or individuals considered as permanently hostile towards the Kingdom of Stormwind (for example the Scourge), are allowed to be: killed, harmed or captured without any immediate threat towards Kingdom of Stormwind citizens or allies. However there is problem on recognizing the faction or individual, so there is to be used deadly or physical force only when necessary, and to use caution before attempting the capture.
1.2.1.
These factions and individuals are such, which are mostly non-negotiable and life threatening towards Kingdom of Stormwind citizens and allies. Factions belonging to the Horde are excluded from belonging to these. Horde factions are so considered not to be permanently hostile towards the Kingdom of Stormwind or its allies.

Prisoners
2.
Capturing a member or a group from hostile faction as prisoners of war, is considered to be priority, if this is possible to be done without increased threat of harm towards Kingdom of Stormwind citizens or its allies.
2.1.
If there is no clear signal from the member or group from hostile faction, that they are willing to be taken as prisoner (laying weapons on the ground, raising their hands in the air, raising a white clothe in the air), they are allowed to be approached as any armed member of a hostile faction, with the intention to disarm, harm or kill the member or group of the hostile faction.

Battle commands situations
3.
In battle situation, there are four options. To try to advance, defend, retreat or to be taken prisoner. From all of these there are possibilities for repercussions, if done against the order of the officer of the Kingdom of Stormwind army.
3.1.
When advancing and defending soldiers are to follow the command of their commanding officer and squad leaders. Squad leaders are responsible of their actions to their higher ranked officers. There may be repercussions, if soldier doesn’t follow the command to advance or defend or if the soldier advances or remains in defense without the general consent of their higher ranked.
3.2.
Retreating from battle is also done by the command of the commanding officer. There are repercussions, if soldier retreats without or against the command given by his higher ranked. There are also tactical retreats, where one must follow the instructions of their commanding officer and be prepared to advance, when there is a command for advancing after tactical retreat.
3.2.1.
In situations with no command given to the soldier and the battle is not going in favor of the Kingdom of Stormwind army or its allies, the soldier has to be willing to risk his own life by continuing to fight.
3.2.2.
If the soldier is in situation where risking his own life, would bring no benefit to the Kingdom of Stormwind army or its allies, he may retreat, yet there may be repercussions, if the judgment by the soldier was done in mutiny against his higher ranked or leaving his fellow soldiers to fight alone. There is a wall between cowardice and surviving with honor by retreating, so one must use the option of retreating only by having the benefit of the Kingdom of Stormwind army or its allies in mind.
3.3.
To be taken prisoner is the least favorable option, which is to be done only, if retreating or fighting attempts would bring no benefit to the Kingdom of Stormwind army or its allies. This is to be done either by command of higher ranked, or if no higher ranked are able to give command, one must evaluate the benefit for the Kingdom of Stormwind army in the situation, where as the last option is to be taken prisoner.
3.3.1.
If soldier surrenders as prisoner, there are repercussions, if done in mutiny against his higher ranked, in cowardice and specially if one gives information to the hostile faction that may cause harm to the Kingdom of Stormwind army or its allies.

ps.
These rules are not yet affirmed by the Ministry of Defense as complete, but this is a first draft, that will go through more iterations based on ideas, comments and suggestions.

Thank you Reyxor. As soon these rules will be reviewed I will make them sticky.