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Show B Hilltop Times Aug. 22, 1996 Aug. 22, 1996 System makes training more effective The Interactive Courseware Flight comprises half of Air Education and Training Command Training Support Squadron located at Hill AFB. They provide most of the Air Force's inter- active video courses that teach mechanics how to repair aircraft and train pilots to instantly identify other countries' aircraft. The courseware the ICW flight produces allows the Air Force to train people on a scale that wasn't possible and the training is 30 years ago more effective and efficient because it comes in modules that allow individuals to learn at their own pace, while ensuring the lesson is thoroughly learned before the user is allowed to proceed. The Army was the first organization to have the capability to produce interactive courseware. In 1979, a second lieutenant and an Army civilian the flew to Europe and hand-carried video disc player which required the programmers to go through thousands of lines of code before they could produce the courseware. Later, the Air Force looked into the system and soon had one of their own. The first products simulators that were were nowhere near the virtual reality allowed with today's more sophisticatfirst computer-controlle- d ed technology. Glenn Embry, ICW flight chief, has been working in interactive courseware since the Air Force implemented the program in 1982. He has watched the concept grow up. Embry said there have been many changes in the field in the past 15 years. The first major change was in video acquisition techniques. The Media Production Flight facility at Hill has cameras and editing equipment that allows technicians to state-of-the-a- rt no tables to edit tapes in just a few days, instead makeshift buildings, withcrates. There work oh, just packing of the months it used to take. about 65,000 were the In the early 1980s, producing shot on courseware was a slow process. In the cards with a picture of each contained the content for that them 49,000 than more original program, The cards had to be still frames were used to obtain one the courseware. in order and shot inand sorted put still one To obtain still frame of video. said it was a nightmare, He clip had to dividually. frame of video, a dropped the be recorded. Later, in the TV studio especially if someone cards. each from edited these frames were The cost of production has also video cup and placed on a video disc decreased. In 1984, it cost $300,000 to editThe tape. interactive courseware ing time alone took more than a put together ;v costs $30,000. it today month. The Interactive Courseware Flight With the old system Embry said it took 75 hours of video to get 30 and the Media Production Flight were merged less than two years ago' and minutes of video on a laser disc. to put became AETCTRSS, 'but the "It was terrible trying said. documentation of war and peacetime together a course," Embry the And in the early days program activities (Media Production Flight's was not lavishly funded. Embry and job) has been going on since the Civil two colleagues were set up on the War, while the ICW flight has been in less than 20 years. flight line at McCellan AFB, Calif., in existence for I Pilots have it all! They get to fly fast, expensive aircraft with the whole sky to maneuver in. And even some of their training on the ground r" , 0 SrA. James session. Courseware aids testing The latest in training technology doesn't involve memorizing information and taking a test. It's more playing a video game. This "video game" is the latest in interactive courseware produced by the Interactive Courseware Flight, part of the Air Education and Training Command Training Support Squadron at Hill. Primarily, their courseware is designed to teach aircraft maintenance, but they also produce an aircraft identification course for fighter pilots called the Joint Visual Identification System (JVID) training system. The unit customers like civil engineering, also supports and other organizations like Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command and Headquarters Air Force. The courseware comes in a variety of packages. It is distributed on laser disc, video disc and Bernoulli cartridges (a removable hard drive) and, occasionally, on floppy disk or The aircraft maintenance courseware contains various training modules over which the student has total control. At the beginning of each module, there is a pre-tewhere a score of 80 or higher must be achieved before the student is allowed to proceed to the lesson. The student has a variety of useful tools at his or her disposal like an aircraft's technical data which can be used to solve a troubleshooting problem. Maintenance tips and access to real logbook entries that add realism are also offered. The student must successfully complete two simulations that are taken from actual flight line situations. Then, student performance is evaluated in several ways. If a student spends too much time or money on a repair, he or she fails that simulation. Additionally, if the student does something really wrong, he or she loses stripes (within the courseware). And throughout, the courseware provides encouragement and reinforcement. The courseware is used many times as initial unit trainwork. ing for basic knowledge before starting hands-oIt also geared to providing continuous training throughout a technician's career. Glenn Embry, chief, ICW Flight, said courseware designers are aircraft mechanics who apply their aircraft maintenance experience skills to develop the training courses. "It's difficult to grab someone off the flight line and make designers out of them," Embry said. "It's difficult, but also very successful." Embry said that interactive courseware is the present and future of aircraft maintenance training. It's important, he said, because one or two technicians can teach thousands through use of the programs. "The days of using real aircraft for training are over," CD-RO- st n said, you keep Embry of people's interest." From course conception to distribution, it usually takes 14-1- 8 months, but often times it depends on the scope of the project. Embry said they're working on reducing the time to put the programs in the field. ICW has a hand in many aspects of the process. Not only do they design the courseware, but they test it with experts, and they also have teams that maintain the computer systems at different bases. The unit also maintains the computers that run the courseware. "We've bought the computers for the customers," Embry said. "We control the specifications." five-secon- one-inc- h editing boosts quality d d one-sto- p no-fl- y 1 J. 1 1 J A. p-.- 18-2- five-secon- 5 non-line- d - old-styl- e e The Joint Visual Identification training system allows pilofs to study aircraft from any angle, look at their similarities and differences and test their knowledge of the aircraft using flybys. Squadron has long history The Combat Camera Squad- ron documents the Air Force during war and peacetime and during humanitarian efforts, capturing the action with video and still cameras. The United States has been documenting war zones since War in the Mexican-America- n 1846-4and during the Civil War. Since World War II every major conflict has been preserved on still photographs and motion pictures. The visual information recorded at places like Haiti and Somalia, provided by the Combat Camera Squadron is used by Air Mobility Command, Air Mobility Operations Groups and the Department of Defense for analysis and operational decisions. The footage from CCS is put to other uses as well: 7 Operational decision Allows comthe same design too long, users get tired making "If it," Embry said. "So we try to make it look different manders to make decisions to keep Extensive right. Then the similarities and differences are highlighted on the bottom. Practice Mode is just that pracis exciting. tice before a test. Pilots see The Media Production The Interactive Courseware clips of aircraft flybys. Not of Education and Air the Flight facility, which is part must the aircraft, Flight only they identify Training Command Training Sup- but they have to go through and of Air Education and Training Command Training Support Squadron makes it possible. identify the type of wing, nose, The Joint Visual Identification port Squadron (old Det. 8), mount and fuselage, wing provides the latest in visual (JVID) training system allows them tail it has and they are scored on information by producing to sharpen their aircraft identifica- their performance. and videos for tion skills and have a little fun at Test 2 Mode is the real test of the documentationtraining for virtually the same time. pilot's skill. The pilots get to really JVID was developed by the ICW check their skills in this mode. With the entire Air Force. The unit's mission: to supFlight in response to the October the clock running, they must idenply the Air Force with high 1994 shooting down of two U.S. tify different aircraft using only quality videos. Blackhawk helicopArmy UH-6flybys. This is harder Pelletier loads a tape machine prior to an editing ters by American aircraft over the than it sounds They provide because the aircraft zone in Iraq. shopping for their customers can come at them at any angle. The by writing scripts, shooting, The other half of AETCTRSS, pilots are scored on accuracy and and editing the fithe Media Production Flight, how much time it took them to iden- directing nal product Their customers video much of the footage aircraft. provided tify the include the Chief of Staff of used in the JVID program, as well z "This is the part the pilots like," the Air Force, Air Combat as other video shots for the aircraft said. Command and Air Mobility maintenance courseware used to Embry ' - Embry said pilots don't always Command. train maintenance personnel before the the aircraft taking study In order to give the cusof which is what is produced most test. tomer a professional prodthe time at ICW. " the pilots will go uct, the videos produced by Many times, . The graphics that brought the i. e Embry- the unit have to be extensive8 TyrannosaWus Rex to life in Jurasthemselves find gosaid. "But H in they ly edited for content and or a , lsound. They currently use rh jvm svatem. When nilots use "8 back and learning. that in Phase 1 of the AVID editing system, a the JVID system, lifelike fighter . Embrv said aircraft feaJVID, there were editing system, jets from all over the world" shoot which version next the which is capable of splicing in and tured, inscreen in across the video in any sequence rebeing developed, there tervals, which is about the same is currently . are . 38.; Helicopter models will be quired to tell the story. identito has of time a pilot length newest package. AVID replaced an of the part the the aircraft an in sky. Using fy straight-linediting system with versatile proEmbry said this program to familiarize pilots if scenes had to be these aircraftfTallows instant gram can be used to help anyone ' where taken out or moved, all the memorize many different things. He friendfoe identification. scenes had to be reprevious inin of There are five modes in the JVID gave the example plugging which added time and done, plants system. Mode 1 gives the pilots a formation about dangerous expense to making a video. chance to look at the different types and insects which would be easy to Soundtracks can also be database. on a of aircraft (friendly and enemy) and install since it's video the unit to added ICW also produces another makes. any study them. They can look at the to courseware and tail help pilots program wings, engine, fuselage, Their facility has the latest other features from any angle they with recognition (fuselage technology and is the best in wish, which is a vital aspect of iden- markings). to the Air Force, tification. There is a quick video clip The program uses the Bill Harris, the according unit's flight of each aircraft which shows it fly- same modes as JVID. When a pilot from five miles away to uses the program, he first picks a chief. They can also take ing head-otheir show on the road, using as close as 300 feet. particular theater. Then, all of the two mobile vans equipped In the Explore Mode, two screens countries' flags are displayed. The with the latest editing equipappear. On the master screen (left), program tests the pilots on naming ment which can be driven to and from unfriendly locations where the crew can the aircraft being studied appears. flags friendly Media Production Flight photo A similar aircraft appears on the countries. at the Media Production facility and on live shoots. shoot and edit footage on the five-secon- ., "pre-maste- Joint Visual Identification answers 15, Is that a MiG?9 1 Hilltop Times regarding mission objectives. Public affairs Imagery may be used, when approved for release, to inform the outside media about the progress of a mission. Battle damage assessAllows commanders ment to view the effectiveness of weapons. Helps comTraining manders develop effective visual training programs. Legal Can provide evidence concerning law of armed conflict violations. Psychological operaCan provide support tions to counter enemy disinformation programs. Support of a commander in chief's military options Can be used to show U.S. capabilities. Medical documentation Can provide support to field medical efforts. Images of wounds, injuries and diseases can be documented for treatment and training. Historical documentation Imagery provides a valuable historical record of Air Force activities and related events. The Media Production Flight, providing support for Operation Joint Endeavor, sent a team to Aviano AB, Italy, earlier this month to put together video acquisitions (shows about every day operations at Aviano) and to edit armament delivery recordings. ADR is footage from gun and ' bomb cameras that is released to civilian news media. During Desert Storm, the ADR was married with ground footage showing what kind of damage American weapons inflicted. ij fin-flas- h fin-flas- h n Lots of equipment and time go into video production MPF supports Air Force Air Education and Training Command's Media Production Flight tells the Air Force story. "We cover the whole spectrum of Air Force activities and operations," Bill Harris, chief, Media Production Flight, said. Air Force Capt. Scott O'Grady, an 6 pilot shot down over Bosnia two years ago, is alive today, thanks in part to a winter survival video produced by the AETC's Media Production Flight. In his afteraction report, O'Grady credithI ed surviving six days in the cold, harsh climate of Bosnia to that video. Videos on survival are just the tip of the iceberg when it it supcomes to what the Media Production Fight does Force. Air entire the ports videos that comply Their products are quality high-en- d - with National Television Standards. Although the organization is an Air Education and Training Command asset, their customer base is Air Forcewide. They create videos for all the major Air Force commands as well as the Department of Defense and Chief of Staff of the Air Force. "We work very hard to assure customers are getting the total product they need," Harris said. "There is a combined of 200 years of video production experience here and the skills and talents just don't exist anywhere else." "The unit has recently provided support for the Air Force Reserve Officers Training Program by filming activities at ' ; their Summer Leadership Camp at Utah's Camp Williams Military Reservation; a recruiting program for dentists at moweapons training program SrA. Brandy Anderson edits footage in one of the two Travis, AFB, Calif.; and a bile vans that the Media Production Flight "" ,n take to live locations. at Barksdale AFB, La. F-1- I s B-5- 2 fPOOR COPY Ji Thev also provided video support for the recent National Image Conference where Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ronald Fogleman spoke. Later this year, the unit will tape the Air Force's 50th anniversary celebrations in Washington, D.C. event," Bill Dev"This will be like a Hollywood-produce- d lin, production chief, said. "Half of the organization will be TDY and both production vans will be going." They also generate videotapes for commercial and civilian organizations. They are in the process of completing a training video that shows firefighters how to get people out of a burning commercial airliner. These services are not free for their customers. "We try to offset expenses by charging for consumables like TDY expenses, videotapes and contract services," Devlin said. The Media Production Flight has won many awards, and they have a whole hallway full of plaques and certificates to prove it. They have also won the prestigious Nebraska Interactive Media award three years in a row. The military members of the Media Production Flight are on constant deployment status for the Combat Camera Squadron, which goes to the world's hotspots and films the Air Forte toid other military organizations during wartime, Compeacetime and humanitarian missions. Recently, the bat Camera Squadron has been sent to Haiti and Somalia. A team from Hill is at Aviano AB, Italy, filming everyday operations for review by the commander. They will also edit armament delivery recordings from cameras attached to aircraft. spot. Their equipment is similar to that used by the major TV networks in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. To keep their edge, the Media Production Flight's equipment is constantly being upgraded. But even without these advancements, "We're the largest and most technologically advanced video facility in the Air Force," Harris said. "We're making significant investments in updating our equipment," Harris said. According to Harris, the state-of-the-a- rt unit budgeted $700,000-$800,00- 0 for a new digital editing system, Quantel Edit Box, which will make it possible to edit sound and im- agery using computer technology. Another $1.5 million has been programmed into future buys, which will further enhance the quality of the videos the unit produces. "The digital quality will be up to the standards of the linear system," said Capt. Bill Meador. |