Combat camera/visual information imagery is an information resource that provides a timely, accurate, "you-are-there" perspective on military operations while providing imagery for use to other information capabilities. The policies, checklists, templates and general operational guidance in this collection are designed to support you in providing COMCAM/VI assets for exercises and operations. You are encouraged to use this information to supplement or create a unit-specific COMCAM/VI reference book.
Per CJSCI 3205_01, the mission of COMCAM is to provide the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Military Departments, the Combatant Commands and the joint task forces with a directed imagery capability in support of operational and planning requirements during wartime operations, worldwide crisis, contingencies, humanitarian operations and joint exercises.
These resources will help you prepare for and execute tasks before, during and after deployment missions.
Before a Mission
Preparedness for deployment goes beyond the scope of equipment checks; it involves detailed planning and preparation to ensure you're ready to capture mission imagery of the highest quality that meets the commander's intent. Follow the COMCAM Train-Up Preparation Guide and COMCAM Pre-Deployment Guide to ensure you have completed all necessary tasks and alleviate some of the anxiety that comes with pre-deployment.
Part of preparedness includes understanding the policies and doctrines you must adhere to. Make sure to review DoDI 5040.02 and DoDI 5040.07. Also, take time to familiarize yourself with Combat Camera Across the Services. This resource will help you compare unique missions and specialized capabilities of units supporting COMCAM within the branches of service. COMCAM teams should also refer to the Employment/Integration plan (OPLAN Appendix 10 to Annex C) to assist in their internal planning process for a mission.
During a Mission
The pressure is on as you head into any combat camera mission. Not only are you responsible for documenting the scene and capturing all critical events, but you must also ensure your imagery is top quality. Optimize your storytelling and image quality using techniques found in One Shot-One Still, Getting It Right the First Time. You may need to request specific capabilities, equipment and support for a COMCAM mission. For this type of request, complete the template found in Combat Camera Team Request for Forces. Check with your unit to determine if you should use existing templates.
During deployment, it's important to establish a visual information plan. This plan provides the details your team requires to produce the imagery needed to achieve your goal. Use the template in Visual Information Plan to ensure you include imagery for the mission and support the commander’s intent. Unlike the basic visual information plan, the template in Visual Information and Video Production Plan contains the necessary sections for a video production plan. In addition, explore the Standard Contingency Documentation Plan to help you and your unit adapt operations to almost any situation.
During your mission, you may be asked to support a sensitive site exploitation operation in which you will become a vital part of the investigation process. Use the Sensitive Site Exploitation Guide to help you create a visual record of the original scene and physical evidence. This record allows authorities to use this imagery for analysis, measurement, investigations and court evidence.
While on a convoy operation, you may encounter many unfamiliar situations, including situations you may not be able to plan for. Convoy operations can be dangerous. Check out a Convoy Operations Checklist to help prepare you to handle various situations, remain safe and capture the required imagery.
The deployment environment will likely impact the imagery you capture. As a result, you may need to shoot in low-light situations. Prepare for low-light and night-time situations with Low-Light Operations Checklist. For instances of aerial operations, you must work with the aircraft crew to ensure you get the imagery you need. Aerial Photography Checklist will help prepare you to capture the moment and remain in communication with the crew on aerial missions.
After a Mission
After an operation concludes, an essential part of your responsibilities includes writing an after action report. Combat Camera After Action Report walks you through how to document your unit's actions for historical purposes, including key observations and lessons learned to help improve future COMCAM missions.
Don't forget that still and motion imagery requires clear and concise captions and accurate metadata to provide an accurate historical record. Check out Still and Motion Imagery Captioning Quality Check to ensure your captions are well written and informative while adhering to the DoD Visual Information Style Guide and DoDI 5040.02.
The resources in this collection are intended to help COMCAM/VI service members better perform their critical mission of providing essential battlefield information in support of strategic, operational and tactical mission objectives. COMCAM is a fundamental tool for decision makers and battlefield commanders because it offers visual tools and imagery to accomplish operational assessments, reconnaissance, decision making and terrain analysis while supporting further strategic communication. In an age of increasing information density, providing timely and concise imagery to on-scene commanders is essential to conducting proper civil affairs, military information support operations and information operations.