POW/MIA INSIDERS GLOSSARY

INDEPENDENT MEDICAL TECHNICIAN:  The Air Force equivalent to a U.S. Army Special Forces Medic (18D).

IDENTIFICATION MEDIA:  A collective term used when referring to the various types of personal identification that might be associated with an un-accounted for personnel.  This includes, but is not limited to: dog tags, military identification cards, Geneva Convention cards, driver license, credit cards and organizational membership cards.

IE:  Investigative Element.

INTELLIGENCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY (ISA):  A secret intelligence organization that supports numerous classified missions.  In the past they have assisted in the POW/MIA Issue.

INTERVIEW:  The act of questioning an individual to obtain specific information.

INVESTIGATE/INVESTIGATION:  “To observe or inquire into in detail.  To make a systematic inquiry or examination”.  In the context of JPAC operations, an investigation is the initial process of gathering information concerning an incident involving unaccounted for Americans.  This process includes interviewing witnesses, visiting pertinent locations, conducting site surveys, following up on leads developed, and searching for/examining material and biological evidence.

IT:  Investigative Team.

INVESTIGATION/RECOVERY TEAM (IRT):  The term used to describe the entire group of personnel, including members of investigation teams and recovery teams, deployed during a particular field activity (JFA).

INVESTIGATION/RECOVERY DECISION BRIEF:  The final meeting chaired by the Commander of JTF-FA/JPAC prior to each JFA, during which Team Commanders, CILHI, J-3 where the plan of action for the JFA is briefed.  Normally held 30 days prior to a JFA and results in production of the operations order.

JFA:  Joint Field Activity.  A JTF-FA full field operation in Southeast Asia to include investigations and excavations.

JCS:  Joint Chief of Staff.

JTF-FA:  Joint Task Force Full Accounting.

JCRC:  Joint Casualty Resolution Center.

JPRC:  Joint Personnel Recovery Center.

JPAC:  Joint POW/MIA Accountability Command.  This organization was formed with the merging of JTF-FA and CILHI in November 2003.

JVA:  Joint Voluntary Agencies.  The volunteers who worked the refugee camps in Asia.  They were behind the RIP and the US government interviewing refugees for information on the POW/MIA Issue.

J-1:  Administrative Division.

J-2:  Intelligence Division.

J-3:  Operations Division.

J-4:  Logistical Division.

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