LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
Intelligence Visual of Air Combat Command Combat Targeting Intelligence Group is the Air Force's sole provider and one-stop shop for combat identification products and created to prevent fratricide.
The mission of INV is to create and distribute products, such as posters and videos, to help train analysts and pilots how to identify the differences between allied and non-allied forces.
According to Tech. Sgt. Sean Henriquez, Weapons System Video Production non-commissioned officer-in-charge, the Air Force formerly used air show photographs to train pilots on how to identify enemy and friendly aircraft.
"They were not effective training tools. The Air Force needed a more accurate and tailored tool to fit their needs," said Senior Airman Marc Apellaniz, Combat Identification and INSIGHT specialist.
About three years ago, the Air Force remedied the issue, by providing more useful and accurate products, said Sergeant Henriquez.
"We started using real-life footage in our training videos and pulling photographs from them for posters," said Sergeant Henriquez.
The Air Force also took feedback from customers and warfighting units and began using the classified three-dimensional visual computer program INSIGHT.
"The INSIGHT footage reflects what our customers see in the field," said Airman Apellaniz. "It takes snapshots from footage obtained through intelligence and allows customers to see close-up images on what they are trained, and at different angles and distances."
The new program is in a digital format, which makes it easier and faster to get products to warfighters and customers who need them, said Airman Apellaniz.
The products for INV are meant to give the customers a realistic perspective to help them identify targets and assets, such as differences between civilian and military vehicles, and enemy and non-hostile groups of people, said Airman Apellaniz.
"We've had the Air Guard request training materials on commercial airliners and ships so they could ensure air sovereignty," said Airman Apellaniz. "We're always evolving, working with the customers and providing them with what they need."
The mobile training team for INV travels to different bases to train units on INSIGHT, tailoring the software to suit each base's individual needs, said Airman Apellaniz.
"This job makes me feel like I'm closer to the 'tip of the spear,'" said Sergeant Henriquez. "... we can see how we support overseas operations and the effects of the job, when we see the products we help to create everywhere."
Intelligence Visual is composed of operations analysts, imagery analysts and combat correspondents. It produces training materials for 500 Department of Defense units, U.S. Navy and Marine Corps and is one of three divisions (intelligence geospatial, intelligence targeting and INV) that frame ACC CTIG.