Field Manual FM 6-27 MCTP 11-10C The Commander’s Handbook on the Law of Land Warfare Change 2 May 2025

This United States Army and United States Marine Corps manual, Field Manual FM 6-27 MCTP 11-10C The Commander’s Handbook on the Law of Land Warfare Change 2 May 2025, provides guidance to Soldiers and Marines on the doctrine and practice related to customary and treaty law applicable to the conduct of warfare on land and to relationships between opposing belligerents, in order to train and prepare for combat operations. Although some of the legal principles set forth herein also apply to warfare at sea and in the air, this publication otherwise concerns itself with the rules peculiar to naval and aerial warfare only to the extent that such rules have some direct bearing on the activities of Soldiers and Marines operating on land.

This is an official publication of the U.S. Army and a referenced publication for the U.S. Marine Corps. It does not necessarily reflect the views of other Department of Defense (DOD) components or the DOD as a whole. This publication is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity against the United States, its departments, agencies, or other entities, its officers or employees, or any other person.

The principal audience for this publication is Army and Marine Corps commanders as well as Army and Marine Corps judge advocates. Commanders and staffs of Army and Marine Corps headquarters serving as joint task force or multinational headquarters should also refer to applicable joint or multinational doctrine. Trainers and educators throughout the Army and Marine Corps will also use this publication where appropriate. This publication often describes legal concepts in general terms for non-lawyers rather than exhaustively.