The US State Department is responsible for US personnel and dependents overseas. In a hostage situation, State Department will follow plans designed to gain release of the hostages.

The hostage has three very important rules to follow:

• Analyze the problem and don’t aggravate the situation
• Try to keep the situation from worsening
• Try to remain on the best terms with the captors.

Preparing The Family:

• Have family affairs in order; a current will, powers of attorney, and family financial plans.
• Discuss with family members children’s education, family relocation, and disposition of property
• Tell your family that discussing your US nationality may put you, or them, in great danger.
• Assure them the US government will work to obtain your safe release.
• Tell them that negotiations can take a long time. Your chances of survival actually increase with time.

Maintain Self-Control:

• Recognize the moment when resistance is futile. Your instinct may be to struggle, but you should stop when faced with deadly force.
• The moment of attack is the point of maximum danger since your captors are most likely to panic or use excessive force. If they wanted to kill you, they wouldn’t try to capture you.
• Regain your composure and recognize your fear. Your captors are probably as apprehensive as you are, so your actions are important. Take mental notes of directions, times of transit, noises, and other factors to identify your location.
• Note the number, physical description, accents, habits, and rank structure of your captors.
• Anticipate isolation and efforts to disorient and confuse you.
• Try to prepare yourself for the situation and stay mentally active.

Dealing With Your Captors:

• Do not aggravate them.
• Do not get into political or ideological discussions. Listen, but don’t debate.
• Try to limit conversation to topics like sports, family, clothing. Comply with instructions, but always maintain your dignity.
• Attempt to develop a positive relationship with them. Try to be seen as an empathetic person, not a symbol of their hatreds.
• Be proud of your heritage, government, and military association, but use discretion and don’t be offensive.

Keep Occupied:

• Exercise daily.
• Read anything and everything.
• Eat what is offered to you. You must maintain your strength.
• Establish a slow, methodical routine for every task.

Being Interrogated:

• If you need to make up a story to protect sensitive information, make it a simple, believable story you will be able to remember and stick to it.
• Be polite and keep your temper.
• Give short answers. Talk freely about nonessential matters, but be guarded when conversations turn to matters of substance.
• Don’t be lulled by a friendly approach. One terrorist may play “Good Guy” and one “Bad Guy.” This is a common interrogation technique.
• Briefly affirm your belief in basic democratic principles.
• If forced to present terrorist demands to authorities, in writing or on tape, state clearly that the demands are from your captors.
• Maintain dignity and avoid making a plea on your behalf.

During Rescue:

• Drop to the floor and be still. Avoid sudden moves. Wait for instruction.
• Once released, avoid derogatory comments about your captors; such remarks will only make things harder for those still held captive.

Sounds great doesn’t it?  But what good is any of it if the people working the equipment or inspecting it don’t know what they are doing or just poorly trained and motivated?  Sadly, not much.  Since you can’t control any of these elements, you have to step up and take measures to ensure your own safety.  Regardless of the level of security provided by the hotel, you need to become familiar with certain aspects of the security profile of the hotel.  Hotels present special security challenges since they are restrictive and unfamiliar.

Hotel Selection

• Chose a hotel for safety. Obtain a recommendation from the US Embassy or your company security officer.
• Consider the surrounding neighborhood, proximity to police, and reputation for good administration.

Room Selection

• Choose a room between 3rd & 7th floor; high enough to discourage outside break-ins but within reach of fire ladder equipment in emergency.
• Request a different room upon check-in; this may protect you from someone who managed to get your room number from a reservation. Change rooms every few days to be more unpredictable if you suspect you are at risk.
• Choose a room that opens to the hotel interior; threat activities are deterred by the observation of hotel staff.  Exterior entrances may be less protected.  Also, many times vehicle born explosive devices are placed in locations within the (streets, access roads) closest proximity to the hotel.

Activities In The Hotel

• Minimize your public exposure and recognizability. Blend in. Do not accept unexpected deliveries and visitors. Call hotel desk to confirm identities of hotel employees
• Don’t act like an American (if you don’t know what this means, you have nothing to worry about)
• Vary your routines and patterns in the hotel. Conceal your room location by entering when hallway is empty. Get off elevator on wrong floor; change elevators or take stairs.
• Pre-plan emergency actions; write down emergency numbers.
• Don’t disclose room number or nationality to anyone.
• Maintain control of your room key.
• Make your room look occupied when you are out. Keep TV and lights on; put “do not disturb” sign on door.
• Lock valuables in hotel safe; don’t carry important documents.
• Inspect room upon reentry for tampering or intruders.
• Be sensitive to surveillance; be alert for strangers with undue interest in your purpose and activities. Report suspicious activities to security authorities.