I've pondered this quite a bit and asked around, but I never seem to get a straight answer. So I'm hoping a few people here might know the answers.

IF GI Joe is a on a mission, looking for Cobra in, let's say an airport or a jungle and they run into those they are hunting, are the Joes allowed to shoot first?



I think it's safe to say that if the roles were reversed, Cobra has no problems shooting first. But under military protocol, don't US soldiers have to identify themselves or tell the 'bad guys' to drop their weapons and etc? Or can US soldiers fire first if they are clearing out a city or building withouth being shot at first?

Thx in advance.

If I need to clarify more, please ask away.

Every Mission has "Rules of Engagement". The rules of Engagement change depending on the Objective of the mission. If you're on a "Search and Destroy" mission, you have free reign to cap the baddies before they get you. A perfect example of the changing nature of rules of engagement is the Series "Generation Kill". They are told going on to an Airfield that the area was a "freefire" zone and anyone encountered could be considered hostile. While earlier, they were told shoot only when shot at!

If you are on a hostage rescue mission, the rules are different than they are on combat Patrol. I would think that Cobra, being a terrorist organization with a reputation for violence and the fact that they (unlike real terrorists) wear uniforms making them easy to spot, GI Joe should have standing orders to shoot on site!

I use as reference some TV shows, movies and so one. At 24h, Jack gives a warning and them... BANG! Killed! I go with what Frank said, sometimes you can't give warnings.

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Aside from ender098's complete explination of military protical in hostil situations I just have to add my thoughts on the matter. Now if GI Joe was a secret force such as in a black ops situation, it goes without saying complete your mission at all costs no ROE necessary. But the Joes have one attribute that makes rules of engagement absolutly necessary, all the damn flaggs! When they go into combat they are identifying themselves as U.S. forces and that creates a political concern regarding the actions they take! So in short it all comes down to how you invision the Joes, a secret anti terror force or an government sanctioned U.S. task force against Cobra.

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I've been re-reading the classic Marvel issues recently and noticed I have not found a time when the Joes do not take any opportunity they can get. The only times I can see where the Joes hold back is when secrecy is involved--ppl will ask questions, or when Ace/Lady Jaye and Wild Weasel/Baroness are out in their jets, the Joes hold back launching heat seeking missiles over a populated area to avoid the risk of a missile homing in on a home bbq.

But time and time again both the Joes and Cobra's jump at the first opportunities to get the upper hand. Remember Spirit Iron-Knife in the shopping mall, sees a Fred through the florist window and goes out to engage him.. bring him back for questioning? He didn't have a gun with him, but he was the one who was aggressive. The Joes didn't hold back when the series introduced the crimson twins. The armadillo with Footloose was shooting around in a circus--civilians were around but no regard for where missed shells might hit was considered.

So yeah, I think the Joes would engage the Cobras in an airport, but only with the appropriate means to subdue them. If launching a couple of granades is too extreme, I don't expect the Joes will do it. If all it might take is to have Gung-Ho get behind them and bash their heads together to render them unconscious, then I expect the Joes to first try it that way. Not to suddenly take out a mini-gun and start mowing down everything and everyone because there's a Cobra in a crowd. Although that might be interesting in terms of a dio ;-)

Anyway, for me, it comes down to military strategy and the famous book The Art of War, inwhich one passage has always echoed in my mind. I shall interpret the meaning here...

[To subdue the enemy through open conflict is not the sign of a great military leader. An open conflict costs money, resources, and men, and there is always the risk of losing. Instead, the greater leader is one who can subdue the enemy without ever firing a shot.]

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Every military unit (black ops or not) has these sets of Rules of Engagement which are always dictated by the objectives and pertinent intelligence surrounding the missions. As Ender98 pointed out, the rules can change in a heartbeat and the soldiers must be capable of changing their tactics and strategy to meet these alterations. If a mission is to "escape and evade", your team will not be engaging every enemy you encounter. You'll neither have the men nor the material to wage an ongoing firefight (Real life is not Castle Wolfenstien - extra ammo and first-aid is not around every corner and you'll not have extra lives).

As far as shooting first; I can say from experience that we were told that if we were under the potential of being shot, the safeties were off. Just don't use the grenade launcher in an enclosed area - it leads to some real messy situations.

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Wait, there isn't extra ammo and health packs around each corner??? For real? Geez, what a bummer to tour in Iraq and find out the hard way!

Also, putting on a paintball mask and hunting kids at halloween is not a good idea (takes at least 9 months to respawn which can be a drag).

Ok that was very very bad taste of me (but some will find it funny).

We actually had the ROE taped on the buttstocks of our guns and one in a breast pocket when I was in the service - but I only got to do Force Protection missions (live ones though - which is rare for Norwegian soldiers unless they are Special Forces or shipped out).

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