News

Offutt unit gains national accreditation

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Nicole L. Singer
  • 20th Intelligence Squadron
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  The Air Force's Precise Point Positioning Program assigned to Offutt's 20th Intelligence Squadron recently received accreditation from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency to train and certify Air Force intelligence personnel in precise point mensuration.
 
The program, known as AFP4, is under the Air Force Targeting Center, Langley AFB, Va.

The Air Force is the first service in the Department of Defense to complete all program requirements and meet NGA's accreditation standards.

The Air Force Precise Point Mensuration training program includes a two-week initial qualification training course, which is offered either here at Offutt or by a mobile training team. Mensuration is the study of measurement such as length, area and volume. The program also consists of a mission qualification training period, which is conducted at the analyst's home base.

When a unit is ready for analysts to certify, they formally request certification from the AFP4 team. Each analyst completes a comprehensive 6-to-8 hour certification test, conducted one-on-one with an AFP4 certifier.

Once certified, an analyst is authorized to calculate geo-coordinates and elevation data used for precision engagement with coordinate-seeking weapons, such as the Conventional Air-Launched Cruise Missile, Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile and the Joint Direct Attack Munition.

The AFP4 team is led by Lonny Monday, and consists of five instructors and five certifiers.
According to 20th IS officials, the AFP4 is rapidly expanding and is now supporting sister services and coalition partners.