[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 210 (Monday, October 30, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 64620-64622]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-27020]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Air Force

32 CFR Parts 811a and 813

RIN 0701-AA63


Visual Information Documentation Program

AGENCY: Department of the Air Force, DoD.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of the Air Force is revising our rules on the 
Visual Information Documentation Program of the Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFRs) to reflect current polices. These rules

[[Page 64621]]

implement Air Force Instruction (AFI) 33-117, Visual Information 
Management, and apply to all Air Force activities.

EFFECTIVE DATE: December 1, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to Mr. Raymond Dabney, HQ AFCIC/ITSM, 1250 
Air Force Pentagon, Washington, DC 20330-1250, 703-588-6136.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Raymond Dabney, HQ AFCIC/ITSM, 
703-588-6136.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of the Air Force is 
redesignating 32 CFR part 811a as 32 CFR part 813 and revising it to 
reflect current policies. This part implements AFI 33-117, Visual 
Information Management, and applies to all Air Force activities. This 
part was published as a proposed rule in the Federal Register on 
January 5, 2000 (65 FR 419, FR Doc. 00-235). Comments were solicited 
for 60 days ending on March 6, 2000. No comments were received.

List of Subjects in 32 CFR Parts 811a and 813

    Archives and records, Motion pictures.

PART 811a--[REDESIGNATED AS PART 813]

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Department of the 
Air Force is redesignating 32 CFR part 811a as 32 CFR part 813 and 
revising it to read as follows:

PART 813--VISUAL INFORMATION DOCUMENTATION PROGRAM

Sec.
813.1  Purpose of the visual information documentation (VIDOC) 
program.
813.2  Sources of VIDOC.
813.3  Responsibilities.
813.4  Combat camera operations.
813.5  Shipping or transmitting visual information documentation 
images.
813.6  Planning and requesting combat documentation.
813.7  Readiness reporting.

    Authority: 10 U.S.C. 8013.


Sec. 813.1  Purpose of the visual information documentation (VIDOC) 
program.

    Using various visual and audio media, the Air Force VIDOC program 
records important Air Force operations, historical events, and 
activities for use as decision making and communicative tools. VIDOC of 
Air Force combat operations is called COMCAM documentation. Air Force 
publications are available at NTIS, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, 
VA 22161 or online at http://www.afpubs.hq.af.mil. DoD publications are 
available at http://www.defenselink.mil/pubs.


Sec. 813.2  Sources of VIDOC.

    Primary sources of VIDOC materials include:
    (a) HQ AMC active and reserve combat camera (COMCAM) forces, both 
ground and aerial, whose primary goal is still and motion media 
documentation of Air Force and air component combat and combat support 
operations, and related peacetime activities such as humanitarian 
actions, exercises, readiness tests, and operations.
    (b) Visual information forces with combat documentation 
capabilities from other commands: HQs ACC, AETC, AFRES, and AFSPACECOM.
    (c) Communications squadron base visual information centers 
(BVISCs).
    (d) Air Digital Recorder (ADR) images from airborne imagery 
systems, such as heads up displays, radar scopes, and images from 
electro-optical sensors carried aboard aircraft and weapons systems.
    (e) Photography of Air Force Research, Development, Test & 
Evaluation (RDT&E) activities, including high speed still and motion 
media optical instrumentation.


Sec. 813.3  Responsibilities.

    (a) HQ AFCIC/ITSM:
    (1) Sets Air Force VIDOC policy.
    (2) Oversees United States Air Force (USAF) COMCAM programs and 
combat readiness.
    (3) Makes sure Air Force participates in joint actions by 
coordinating with the Office of the Secretary of Defense staff, Joint 
Chiefs of Staff (JCS), executive departments, and other branches of the 
United States Government.
    (4) Approves use of Air Force COMCAM forces in non-Air Force 
activities.
    (b) Air components:
    (1) Manage air component COMCAM and visual information support 
within their areas of responsibility. Documents significant events and 
operations for theater and national-level use.
    (2) Sets requirements for COMCAM and VI support. Includes 
requirements in operations plans (OPLAN) force lists, concept plans 
(CONPLAN), operations orders (OPORD), and similar documents. See Air 
Force Manual (AFMAN) 10-401, Operation Plan and Concept Plan 
Development and Implementation.
    (3) Coordinate with MAJCOM VI managers to plan and source VIDOC 
forces for war, contingencies, and exercises.
    (4) Provide input (VI and COMCAM requirements) to HQ AMC/SCMV, 203 
West Losey Street, Room 3180, Scott AFB, IL 62225-5223, as required to 
develop the annual VI Exercise Support Plan. Include requirements to 
exercise VI forces to refine operational procedures and meet defined 
objectives.
    (c) HQ AMC:
    (1) Provides primary Air Force ADR theater support to the air 
component commanders.
    (2) Maintains a deployable theater support Unified Transportation 
Command (UTC) to manage ADR requirements above the aviation wing level. 
This includes the gathering, editing, copying, and distribution of ADR 
images from combat aviation squadrons for operational analysis, bomb 
damage assessment, collateral intelligence, training, historical, 
public affairs, and other needs.
    (3) Sets combat training standards and develops programs for all 
Air Force COMCAM personnel (includes both formal classroom and field 
readiness training).
    (4) Coordinates and meets COMCAM needs in war, operations, and 
concept plans.
    (5) Provides the Air Force's primary COMCAM capability and assists 
air component and joint commands with deliberate and crisis action 
planning for USAF's COMCAM assets.
    (6) Provides component and theater commands COMCAM planning 
assistance and expertise for contingencies, humanitarian actions, 
exercises, and combat operations.
    (7) Acts as manpower and equipment force packaging (MEFPAK) manager 
for COMCAM UTCs.
    (8) Funds HQ AMC COMCAM personnel and equipment for contingency or 
wartime deployments. (The requester funds temporary duty and supply 
costs for planned events, such as non-JCS exercises and competitions.)
    (9) Develops and monitors the annual Air Force-wide VI Exercise 
Support Plan for the Air Staff, with assistance from air components and 
supporting MAJCOMs. (Use criteria contained in Sec. 813.4(e)(1) and 
provide equitable deployment opportunity for tasked commands' VI 
resources.)
    (d) MAJCOM VI managers:
    (1) Plan and set policy for documenting activities of operational, 
historical, public affairs, or other significance within their 
commands.
    (2) Train and equip VIDOC forces to document war, contingencies, 
major events, Air Force and joint exercises, and weapons tests.
    (3) Make sure COMCAM and BVISC forces meet their wartime tasking 
and identify and resolve deficiencies. Refer

[[Page 64622]]

significant deficiencies and problems and proposed resolution to HQ 
AFCIC/ITSM.
    (4) Allow documentation of significant Air Force activities and 
events, regardless of their sensitivity or classification. Protect 
materials as the supported command directs. Safeguard classified images 
or handle them according to Department of Defense (DoD) Directive 
5200.1, DoD Information Security Program, June 7, 1982, with Changes 1 
and 2, and AFI 31-401, Information Security Program Management. The 
authority in charge of the event or operation approves documentation 
distribution.
    (5) Update UTC availability in MAJCOM information systems.
    (6) Assist Air Force Operations Group, in identifying the command's 
capability to support COMCAM and VI requirements.
    (7) Provide inputs to HQ AMC/SCMV for the annual VI Exercise 
Support Plan for JCS exercises.
    (8) Make sure units that have deployable VI teams have Status of 
Resources and Training System (SORTS) reportable designed operational 
capability (DOC) statements that accurately reflect their mission and 
taskings.
    (9) Develop and oversee measurements, such as operational readiness 
inspection criteria, to evaluate VI force readiness at DOC-tasked 
units.


Sec. 813.4  Combat camera operations.

    (a) Air Force COMCAM forces document Air Force and air component 
activities.
    (b) The supported unified command or joint task force commander, 
through the air component commander (when assigned), controls Air Force 
COMCAM forces in a joint environment. If an air component is assigned, 
the air component normally manages documentation of its operations. Air 
Force COMCAM and visual information support for joint operations will 
be proportionate to USAF combat force participation. In airlift 
operations, HQ AMC may be the supported command.
    (c) During contingencies, exercises, and other operations, the Air 
Force provides its share of Unified Command headquarters COMCAM and 
visual information support forces for still photographic, motion media, 
graphics, and other VI services.
    (d) COMCAM and VI forces take part in Air Force and joint exercises 
to test procedures and over-all readiness. COMCAM and VI forces also 
provide VI products to command, operations, public affairs, historical, 
and other significant customers.
    (e) Sourcing COMCAM forces. See AFMAN 10-401 for specific 
procedures.
    (1) When VI support teams are required, the lead wing's VI UTC 
deploys as primary, whenever possible. If lead wing VI support is not 
available, the providing command sources the requirement from other 
active or reserve component forces, or coordinates with other MAJCOMs 
for assistance.
    (2) Air Force VI personnel who assist supported commands in 
determining COMCAM and VI requirements and sourcing consider the total 
USAF VI community as a resource. Planners consider employing USAF 
deployable VI support teams, augmentation combat documentation teams 
from AFSPACECOM, AETC, and ACC, as well as active and reserve COMCAM 
teams.


Sec. 813.5  Shipping or transmitting visual information documentation 
images.

    (a) COMCAM images. Send COMCAM images to the DoD Joint Combat 
Camera Center, Room 5A518, Pentagon, Washington, DC 20330-3000, by the 
fastest means possible, following the approval procedures that on-scene 
and theater commanders set.
    (b) Other non-COMCAM images. After use, send significant non-COMCAM 
images to the appropriate DoD media records center through the Air 
Force record center accessioning point.
    (c) Identification of VIDOC materials. Clearly identify all VIDOC 
and COMCAM material with slates, captions, and cover stories.


Sec. 813.6  Planning and requesting combat documentation.

    (a) Planned combat documentation. Air components identify 
documentation needs as early as possible in OPLANs, CONPLANs, and 
OPORDs and send copies of these plans to HQ AMC/SCMV, 203 West Losey 
Street, Room 3180, Scott AFB, IL 62225-5223. Include the contact for 
planning and support.
    (b) Activity documentation. MAJCOMs may request that HQ AMC 
document their activities. Send information copies of requests to HQ 
AFCIC/ITSM, 1250 Air Force Pentagon, Washington, DC 20330-1250, and HQ 
AMC/SCMV. When a supporting component command operationally controls HQ 
AMC COMCAM units, other organizations that need support must coordinate 
requests with the supported command.
    (c) Unplanned combat documentation. Send short notice requests to 
the supported operational commander as soon as possible, with 
information copies to HQ AFCIC/ITSM and HQ AMC/SCMO. Identify end 
product requirements, media formats, and deadlines.
    (d) Humanitarian, disaster relief, and contingencies. Theater 
commanders normally task the supporting component through the Joint 
Operation Planning and Execution System, that in turn, requests support 
from HQ AMC. HQ USAF can directly task HQ AMC to document humanitarian, 
disaster relief, or contingency activities if it does not receive other 
tasking(s). In these cases, coordinate with the supported unified 
command.


Sec. 813.7  Readiness reporting.

    All Air Force units assigned a DOC statement report readiness 
status through the SORTS process. See AFI 10-201, Status of Resources 
and Training System, for specific information and reporting criteria.

Janet A. Long,
Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-27020 Filed 10-27-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-05-U