# POW tactics **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 25, 2003, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pow-tactics/164057 "2003-03-25T16:55:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3e96dc/32.png) [@BDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BDS)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pow-tactics/164057/1 "2003-03-25T16:55:20Z")
In a bar last night, someone told me that U.S. fliers are told to “beat themselves up” if they get shot down. This is supposed to make the enemy leary of showing them on TV, for fear of being accused of abusing prisoners. Needless to say, when I was told this, I started laughing uncontrollably at the thought of our Tom Cruise fly boys pummelling themselves. “Take that, you pretty-boy bastard! And that!” For some reason, this irritated my companion, who offered to bet me $10 that this was, indeed, official U.S. Air Force training policy. Does anyone know anything about this? Or is it just too silly to contemplate? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pow-tactics/164057/2 "2003-03-25T17:25:12Z")
Sounds silly to me. I think it’s reasonable to expect that Iraq doesn’t have any problems with violating the Geneva Conventions and abusing prisoners on live television. Anyway, [here](http://usmilitary.about.com/library/weekly/aa032403a.htm) is a page that explains in great detail what you’re supposed to do if you’re captured. (US military personell are not permitted to surrender, but they may be captured.) ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pow-tactics/164057/3 "2003-03-25T20:31:48Z")
Sounds like bullshit to me, too. Besides, most of the facial lacerations and bruising you see on downed fliers comes from riding their aircraft down while ditching, or as a result of ejecting and landing hard. Broken arms can also be a result of ditching, as the pilot tries to control the aircraft as it “lands.” ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pow-tactics/164057/4 "2003-03-25T21:32:47Z")
Make the bet and tell the guy to put up or shut up with some actual proof. Be sure to laugh uncontrollably as he counts out all ten bucks. ---
**Author:** ![BDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3e96dc/32.png) [@BDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BDS)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pow-tactics/164057/5 "2003-03-25T21:47:04Z")
I already made the bet and placed the burden of proof on him. He claims he read it in Newsweek, during the initial Gulf War. If he doesn’t provide proof (or at least evidence) within a week, he owes me $10. If he does provide evidence, I’ll report back here. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pow-tactics/164057/6 "2003-03-25T22:18:16Z")
BDS: Thank you for letting me write this script. Actually, I’ve had similar conversations before. Tell your friend, for me if you don’t mind, “Newsweek isn’t an official source.” ---
**Author:** ![Convict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Convict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Convict)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pow-tactics/164057/7 "2003-03-25T22:21:38Z")
> [@](#): > > Shortly after he was taken prisoner, Zaun was picked to appear on an Iraqi propaganda video. He says he beat his own face to make himself a less attractive candidate, but was forced to do it anyway. > **[Newsday | Long Island's & NYC's News Source](https://www.newsday.com)** > > Breaking News, data & opinions in business, sports, entertainment, travel, lifestyle, plus much more. Newsday.com is the leading news source for Long Island & NYC. This is from Gulf 1 POW Jeff Zaun. The article does not say if he was trained to do so or if he did it on his own. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pow-tactics/164057/8 "2003-03-25T22:26:54Z")
**BDS** still wins the bet. ---
**Author:** ![Convict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Convict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Convict)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pow-tactics/164057/9 "2003-03-25T22:38:05Z")
I’m not saying **BDS** lost the bet. I simply wanted to point out that there is at least _one_ pilot who has beat himself up. ---
**Author:** ![ata66](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@ata66](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ata66)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pow-tactics/164057/10 "2003-03-25T23:07:44Z")
i was watching one of the morning news shows this morning and they were intervewing two soldiers who had been taken captive during the gulf war. one who went on t.v. said something about beating himself up so that he looked worse in attempt to stay off t.v. . i’ve also heard of this through a family friend who is in the airforce and said that some bases teach this in their training while others leave it out. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pow-tactics/164057/11 "2003-03-25T23:14:20Z")
**ata66** , no offence but we are looking for a credible cite that this is part of actual USAF training… ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pow-tactics/164057/12 "2003-03-25T23:22:21Z")
**ata66** , no offence but we are looking for a credible cite that this is part of actual USAF training… ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pow-tactics/164057/13 "2003-03-25T23:25:53Z")
Ooops, I was having problems with the “cannot find server” message, but I guess it found it!