This monograph discusses the alignment of policy and doctrine for the successful conduct of US detention operations. A historical survey of US prisoners in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, Desert Storm, and the Global War on Terror highlights the unique challenges each conflict presented but also the consistently avoidable lack of planning.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)