Airmen develop Iraqi documentation and media exploitation capacity

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Airman 1st Class Luke Howell shows Iraqi soldiers how to use a CelleBrite machine to gather intelligence from a phone Jan. 5, 2011, on Joint Security Station Constitution, Iraq. Airman Howell is a documentation and media exploitation analyst at Camp Liberty, Iraq. The DOMEX mission is to gather actionable intelligence from documents, electronic devices and other materials collected on the battlefield. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Andrew Lee)
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Airmen develop Iraqi documentation and media exploitation capacity

Posted 1/10/2011

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by Staff Sgt. R. Michael Longoria
Air Component Coordination Element-Iraq Public Affairs

1/10/2011 - VICTORY BASE COMPLEX, Iraq (AFNS) -- Forty joint expeditionary tasking Airmen, along with other members of the Joint Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Tactical Documentation and Media Exploitation Team in Iraq, are helping Iraqi government officials to establish their own documentation and media exploitation mission.

A little-known mission in Iraq, TACDOMEX is the process of gathering actionable intelligence from documents, cell phones and other electronic devices and materials from the battlefield.

With the start of Operation New Dawn, the TACDOMEX team members have transitioned to training their Iraqi counterparts in an advise, assist and mentor role.

"Our primary mission is still supporting intelligence exploitation, but we are aggressively pursuing an advise, assist and mentor mission," said Lt. Col. Stephen W. Magnan, the United States Forces-Iraq DOMEX Field Operations director. "I couldn't be prouder of the job my entire team, but especially the Airmen, are doing in bringing the Iraqi's DOMEX capability to the next level."

In the past six months, DOMEX officials have transitioned their focus to providing advice and support to officials with the Iraqi Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Defense, in order to prepare their forces to successfully assume security responsibility for their country.

"Our goal is to build a proficient and capable stand-alone Iraqi DOMEX capability," Colonel Magnan said. "The academics we present are based on the needs of the particular organization, but classes vary from 'Sensitive Site Exploitation and Evidence Handling' to 'How to Exploit a Cell Phone.'"

The JET Airmen of the joint mission travel to MOI and MOD locations throughout Iraq to further develop DOMEX skills learned while attending the Iraqi-led Intelligence and Military Securities School. The entire DOMEX team performs an average of eight advise and assist missions each week.

"Working with the Iraqis is very rewarding and eye-opening," said 1st Lt. Greg Kimak, the DOMEX officer in charge in Taji, Iraq. "Not only do I get to see how another military operates firsthand, (but) I'm personally helping them make their country a safer place."

Although the DOMEX focus changed with Operation New Dawn, the team still provides document and media exploitation support for both tactical and strategic customers in the areas of targeting, detainee operations, force protection and criminal prosecution. The team's effort supports more than 115 units at 13 sites in Iraq.

"DOMEX generates a very specific type of intelligence," said Maj. Alison Kamataris, the USF-I DOMEX Field Operations assistant director. "Unlike information derived from other intelligence disciplines, DOMEX relies on physical exploitation of documents and media utilizing various tactics, techniques and methods. We provide timely and accurate intelligence that assist both coalition forces and Iraqi decision makers."

These methods and techniques allow Airmen to decisively affect current operations and help Iraqi officials improve their capabilities.

"The Iraqis have shown an excellent willingness to learn," Lieutenant Kimak said. "I'm confident that we've made progress and I'm confident the Iraqi DOMEX capability will continue to grow."