Why should I care if the baby milk factory survives the war? Published Aug. 19, 2011 By Lt. Col. Joyce H. Guthrie 7th Air Force Public Affairs OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- All members of the U.S. Armed Forces are required to undergo Law of Armed Conflict training or LOAC every eighteen months. This training, which has its roots in the Geneva and Hague Conventions following WWI and WWII, helps service members understand how to operate in a wartime or armed conflict environment. Following LOAC helps us as Airmen remain a professional, disciplined and effective fighting force. Service members participating in Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG) 2011 at Osan this month are getting a chance to reinforce this training through their participation in this peninsula-wide exercise. And while it seems obvious that bombing a baby milk factory would be wrong, without some form of recognized law or International Legal Values (ILVs) - another way to say we all have rules to obey in any "environment" from fighting a war to driving a car- there would be little to protect civilian and military members during armed conflict. ILVs are decided between participating nations at the conventions mentioned above. John Luchansky, 7th AF International Agreements Attorney who advises commanders during UFG '11 on potential exercise LOAC situations, explained it this way. "ILVs help protect those who fight in order to make sure everyone is treated humanely. Much like when our parents raised us and taught us the Golden Rule - treat others the way you want to be treated!" He compared LOAC to the Golden Rule saying the similarities help you understand why it is important to treat those captured or injured in a humane manner. He works hard to ensure this training is common knowledge to all service members participating in UFG. The Golden Rule is a tried and true one, but not everyone abides by it, according to Mr. Luchansky. LOAC, on the other hand, is the standard that all U.S. Service Members must abide by. Failure to do so or even failure to report a SUSPECTED LOAC violation can lead to a court martial. "We (the USAF) are professionals and the American people expect us to conduct ourselves accordingly," said Mr. Luchansky. "We no longer win armed conflicts by just defeating the enemy. We also need to win support for our operations both at home and abroad. Destroying the baby milk factory not only alienates the local people - it shows the folks back home and those watching on the world stage, that we can't distinguish between right and wrong." He went on to state that by following LOAC we ensure four important intangibles for ourselves and our allies: 1) we become a more disciplined and effective fighting force, 2) we ensure reciprocal adherence to LOAC by the enemy, 3) it helps foster moral courage and self discipline and 4) it's the law. Well, that last one isn't "intangible" - but there is no denying its importance. And while one might think that only pilots or members actively engaged in armed combat should be concerned about LOAC - the truth is LOAC is one of the keys to our success as a powerful and respected nation. Everyone from the pilots in the skies to those boots on the ground have a part in keeping that success going. "It is our respect for the LOAC and our willingness to follow it that protects our fellow Airmen who are actively engaged in hostile situations," said Mr. Luchansky. "By publicly showing that we are professionals who take our responsibilities seriously, other countries will see we are sincere and committed to protecting the rights of others." Professional, respected, responsible. All of these traits directly relate to the USAF Core Values - integrity first, service before self and excellence in all we do. Anyone who shares these traits and practices these values would care and care deeply about humane treatment for all, especially the baby milk factory. I know I do.