2. Purpose To provide an understanding of the 55th Signal Company’s mission, capabilities, enablers and a discussion on how Combat Camera facilitates the Information Operations mission
3.
4. DOD Directive 5040.6, Life Cycle Management of DOD Visual Information, April 2005
5. DOD Directive 5230.9, Clearance of DOD Information for Public Release, August 2008
15. COMCAM Capabilities “Army COMCAM units provide still and video acquisition of all operations to include land, static airborne, and air assault operations.” - FM 3-55.12 “Trained and equipped to operate under all weather and lighting conditions with both conventional and special operations units” - FM 3-55.12 “Maintain airborne qualified Soldiers and conduct other advanced tactical training to include [Pathfinder], Air Assault, Combat Lifesaver, Combatives, and advanced marksmanship techniques” - FM 3-55.12 “Can deploy on very short notice to support any level of combat force projection” - FM 3-55.12
16. Chain of Command All 55th Requests for Forces (RFFs) must originate from Task Force Commander RFF is sent to USJFCOM for sourcing availability DEPORDs are generated by FORSCOM and sent through Chain of Command to the 55th TF CDR Requirement for COMCAM USJFCOM FORSCOM 9th SC (A) 7th SC (T) 21st SIG BDE 114th SIG BN 55th SIG CO
17. Company Structure CMD GROUP Red PLT Green PLT HQs PLT Training PLT Black PLT Special Missions PLT IMT QRF ELM Training = Reception/Certification Special Missions = Ready/Available (SOCOM) Green = Ready/Available (Conventional/QRF) Black = Deploying/Deployed Red = Reset/Train 9 / 0 / 208 / 2 / 0 (AUTH ) 219 10/ 0 / 257 / 3/ 0 (OH) 270 O / WO / ENL / CIV / CME
42. Battle Damage Assessment Road damage from an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) causes traffic problems near the village of Nawa, Afghanistan. IEDs are a constant threat in Afghanistan, Nov. 20, 2010. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Justin Howe/Released)
43. Development An Afghan National Army medic, 3rd Kan Dak, 2nd Brigade, checks a patient's vitals during a medical relief operation in Sherzad District, Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan, Dec. 26, 2010. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Andy Barrera/Released) 101226-A-7222B-036 Local Afghan construction workers place the first bricks during the brick laying ceremony for the Agriculture and Mechanical High School funded by the Czech Provincial Reconstruction Team in Pul-E Alam, Logar Province, Afghanistan, on Dec. 4, 2010. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Donald Watkins/Released)
44. Security An Afghan National Army soldier and Afghan National Police officers prepare to search a home in the Baraki Barak District, Logar Province, Afghanistan, Dec. 19, 2010. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Donald Watkins/Released) 101219-A-4834W-163 Afghan National Army soldiers and U.S. Army Soldiers with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, in the Baraki Barak District, Logar Province, Afghanistan, Dec. 22, 2010. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Donald Watkins/Released) 101222-A-4834W-954
45. Governance The Governor of Nangarhar province, GhulAghaSherzai, speaks to the citizens of Sherzad District, Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan, Dec. 26, 2010. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Andy Barrera/Released) 101226-A-7222B-115 Col. Satar Khan, National Director of Security Forces for Afghanistan takes notes during the Paktika peace conference, Forward Operating Base Rushmore, Jan. 6, 2011. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Zachary Burke/Released) 110106-A-2126B-104
BLUF: We provide the Combatant Commanders with VI support “during wartime operations, worldwide crisis, contingencies, and joint exercises.” – DoDI 5040.04 5.6.2. “I prefer a Combat Cameraman to a VI/PA. Last time we went to theater and had PA support for this mission we got a bunch of unusable photos and no cut lines and no video. The person couldn't figure out how to transmit on the fly (i.e., daily submissions so we can take advantage of our social mediasites,etc.) and was basically useless. My experience with Combat Camera is that they can do all the above. I need good photos and video, cut lines and regular updates.” -Nelson McCouchDep. Director, Public & Congressional Affairs Army Materiel Command“This is one of the best Combat Camera Teams that I have ever seen.” – Upper Left Photo by SGT Gilchrest of 1/503 in Chak Valley, Wardak Province, Afghanistan
FM 3-55.12 (MAY 2007) COMCAM Multi-Service TTPs for COMCAM OperationsSERE CJumpmasterDOD Instruction 5040.04 (June 6, 2006) 5.4.3. “The secretary of the Army shall:…ensure availability of static line and free fall jump-qualified COMCAM personnel to support operational requirements.”
Mirror ARFORGEN1/3 Deployed, Ready/Available, Reset/TrainTraining PlatoonSpecific need for a centralized training capability at the 55th to teach all incoming Soldiers how to be a Combat Cameraman both technically and tactically – skills not taught at DINFOS– all instructors have been recently deployed to OIF or OEFIn-process all new SoldiersDevelop and Train on METL Tasks specific to the 55thChecklist with over 100 tasks that must be completed prior to graduation and movement to a line platoonInprocess – TNG PLT – Eval to Green/SMP - Assess SMP – TS Clearance – NCOES – Psych Eval – Staff Integration Seminar (SIS) – Technical Schools (DINFOS)/Tactical Schools (ABN/SERE C/JM/Air Assault)
Soldier takes picture/video during a mission (1080P HD video imagery at the 24 Megapixels resolution… that’s big enough for a billboard size layout).“The team is embedded into the unit it will document and is logistically supported by that unit. Frequently, COMCAM teams will move to cover multiple units within a theater and TACON may transfer multiple times at the discretion of the JCIMT OIC.” -FM 3-55.12The Task Force Public Affairs Officer has the release authority for imagery. Each Task Force is a Brigade-equivalent element. According to DA Reg 360-1 for Public Affairs and Joint Combat Camera Doctrine, Public Affairs is tapped as the release authority. Here in RC-East, the command tree for the Information Operations is a bit different than normal. They created the Regional Communications Center which is headed by an Army O-6 (Public Affairs Officer). Under him, the Inform and Influencing Actions Officer (an O-5) supervises the PAO, KLE, MISO, and COMCAM sections. If the Soldiers do not have access to a PAO at the TF level, the imagery is submitted to my office and we have it released by the Divisional PA.Soldier Caption’s, Virin’s (Photo ID #), and finally puts together raw video stringers,select photos and videos for the IO/PAO (We do not release, edit, or manipulate our imagery in any way. We don’t do production, because less time on mission). Accuracy depends on the accuracy of our captions and the clarity of the IO theme dissemination to the COMCAM Soldier).Soldier Transmit via SIPR, NIPR, BGAN to Theater IMT. a.The IMT serves as a forward central imagery collection point for a COMCAM Detachment b.Established and maintained by VI Chief, graphic artists, and any available support personnel c.Facilitates the creation of COMCAM products in support of combatant commander’s objectives and themes d.Permits the rapid search of previously collected imagery e.Ensures the transmission of imagery to DIMOC and DVIDSTheater IMT stores and transmits to DIMOC (DoD VI repository) and DVIDS - Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System(provides a timely, accurate and reliable connection between the media around the world and the military).-“It is imperative that COMCAM imagery is moved through the JCIMT to the [DIMOC] in not more than 12-24 hours to meet the timeliness requirements of IO, PA and other imagery customers.” – FM 3-55.12 Multi-Service TTPs for Joint COMCAM Operations, March 2003**Talk Team Composition, based on need, submit requirements and we will tell you how many you will need. Discuss typical numbers for theaters**
This lends our assets to not being used. We have Soldiers down range who have been assigned to “Fallen Comrade” ceremonies or other menial details. This is obviously an important event, but if we use COMCAM assets appropriately, we’ll have fewer fallen comrades.
