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When confronted with an unsafe and unprofessional incident involving foreign militaries, a pressing concern arises: the first party to disseminate information holds the power to shape a narrative that could significantly undermine the reputation of our Navy. In the ever-evolving landscape of modern naval warfare, where information and perception can wield significant influence, ensuring precision and speed is paramount. In response to these challenges, the Navy has embraced the Operational Tasking Visual Information (OPTASK-VI) program, a crucial tool in its arsenal for maintaining dominance in this battlespace.
OPTASK-VI is a no-fail mission designed to capture and document unsafe, unprofessional, or nefarious interactions by foreign militaries at sea, on land, and in the air. This mission is multifaceted in that it must show the abnormal actions of a foreign military clearly and distinctly, while also showing the safe and professional actions of our military. This objective is encapsulated by the core phrase of OPTASK-VI, “Stay wide.”
“OPTASK-VI is a necessity in the modern Navy due to the actions of our adversaries in this battlespace,” said Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class, Jacob Bergh, former VIPER team lead of the wasp class amphibious assault ship, USS Makin Island (LHD 8). “The attempts to discredit the U.S. Navy are combated by our speed and accuracy with the OPTASK-VI product. Showing the entirety of interactions is vital to show the world how we operate.”
OPTASK-VI is held to a rigorous standard in the U.S. Navy so that we can confidently combat any attack against our reputation and operational integrity. While each fleet has some variations in how the operation is completed, the same expectation of excellence and quality of product is expected everywhere.
“OPTASK-VI done or trained incorrectly leaves room for doubt in the U.S. Navy’s operations and how we conduct our business,” said Bergh. The effectiveness of OPTASK-VI hinges not only on its implementation, but also on the meticulous adherence to standards by naval personnel involved in its execution. On many ships, the core of the Visual Information Personnel (VIPER) team is made up of Mass Communication Specialists (MC), but it is open to all rates as a collateral duty. On smaller ships, such as a guided-missile destroyer that might not have an MC, the entire team would consist of collateral duty Sailors.
To emphasize the significance of OPTASK-VI, it is important to highlight instances where it has proven to be instrumental. One particular example of a successful execution took place on June 03, 2023, when a Chinese warship cut sharply across the path of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, USS Chung-Hoon in the Taiwan Strait, veering within roughly 150 meters of Chung-Hoon. The quick and accurate work of the VIPER team prevented the Chinese navy from spinning the United States into the antagonizer.
“If a VI team doesn’t keep contacts in focus and in frame at all times, or if they alter audio or change the imagery, outside of instruction, you’re leaving the commanding officer, command, and fleet at risk of scrutiny,” said Bergh.
By embracing OPTASK-VI and adhering to an uncompromising standard of excellence, the Navy can effectively leverage video intelligence to safeguard national interests.
| Date Taken: | 03.27.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 12.08.2024 19:12 |
| Story ID: | 486851 |
| Location: | GLEN BURNIE, MARYLAND, US |
| Web Views: | 52 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, OPTASK-VI, by PO3 Christopher Nielsen, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
