defense of other DoD Forces in the vicinity. (Unit Commanders
always retain the inherent right and obligation to exercise unit
self-defense in response to a hostile act or demonstrated
hostile intent. Unless otherwise directed by a unit commander
as detailed below, service members may exercise individual self-
defense in response to a hostile act or demonstrated hostile
intent. When individuals are assigned and acting as part of a
unit, individual self-defense should be considered a subset of
unit self-defense. As such, Unit Commanders may limit
individual self-defense by members of their unit.)
b. Defense of Others. Deadly Force is
authorized in defense of non-DoD persons in the vicinity when
directly related to the assigned mission.
c. Assets Vital to National Security.
Deadly Force is authorized when deadly force reasonably appears
to be necessary to prevent the actual theft or sabotage of
assets vital to national security. (For the purposes of DoD
operations, defined as President-designated non-DoD and/or DoD
property, the actual theft or sabotage of which the President
determines would seriously jeopardize the fulfillment of a
national defense mission and would create an imminent threat of
death or serious bodily harm. Examples may include, but are not
limited to, nuclear weapons; nuclear command and control
facilities; and designated restricted areas containing strategic
operations assets, sensitive codes or special access programs.)
d. Inherently Dangerous Property. Deadly
Force is authorized when deadly force reasonably appears to be
necessary to prevent the actual theft or sabotage of inherently
dangerous property. (Property is considered inherently
dangerous if, in the hands of an unauthorized individual, it
would create an imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm.
Examples may include, but are not limited to: portable missiles,
rockets, arms, ammunition, explosives, chemical agents and
special nuclear materials. On-scene DoD commanders are
authorized to classify property as inherently dangerous.)
e. National Critical Infrastructure.
Deadly Force is authorized when deadly force reasonably appears
to be necessary to prevent the sabotage of national critical
infrastructure. (For the purposes of DoD operations, defined as
President-designated public utilities, or similar critical
infrastructure, vital to public health or safety, the damage to
which the President determines would create an imminent threat
of death or serious bodily harm.)
f. Serious Offenses Against Persons.
Deadly Force is authorized when deadly force reasonably appears
to be necessary to prevent the commission of a serious offense
that involves imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm
Chapter 9: Weapons & Use of Force
9-7
