• The Department of Defense released another ‘Briefing Card’ about the AOIMSG, a DoD effort previously studying UFOs.
• This document contains intriguing redactions under exemption (b)(5) and extra information that were absent in previous releases of the same record.
• A question in the ‘Questions and Answers’ section and an entire section under ‘Additional Background Information (Not for release)’ have been redacted, prompting questions about the content and why it’s being withheld in public affairs materials.
• The placement of the “Additional Background Information” section under a question about “extraterrestrials” prompts the questions on whether or not they are related.

The Department of Defense (DoD) has just released another “Briefing Card” pertaining to the establishment of the Airborne Object Identification and Management Synchronization Group (AOIMSG). The AOIMSG was a DoD entity dedicated to detecting and identifying unidentified objects of interest in special-use airspace.  These newly released records were released as part of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) release in case 22-F-0381.

The briefing card, possibly a “draft” version, dated December 9, 2021, carries certain intriguing redactions and extra information that were absent in previous documents released by the DoD, which were chronicled on The Black Vault just weeks ago.

Intriguingly, an entire question in the ‘Questions and Answers’ section is blotted out under exemption (b)(5). This exemption is applied to “inter- and intra- agency memoranda which are deliberative in nature,” according to the denial letter from the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD).

When compared to the previous release by The Black Vault, it appears the redaction was absent, however, it’s unclear if the presumed “draft” version just released holds the same question revealed last time and the redaction was placed in error.

Here is a side-by-side comparison of both releases:

Similarly, an entire section under ‘Additional Background Information (Not for Release)’ is also blanketed with exemption (b)(5), prompting questions about the nature of the redacted content, and its placement within the document itself.

The redactions, and even the entire section about “Additional Background Information” was not included in the May 16, 2023, release to The Black Vault, nor was any information referenced in the denial letter as being entirely withheld.

It should also be noted that the “Additional Background Information” material follows one of the more intriguing sections of the public affairs “briefing card” document; the question about extraterrestrials.

“Has the Department found any evidence of extraterrestrial technology?”, the question reads. The answer set for the public states, “The examinations into incursions by UAPs are still ongoing; we lack sufficient information in our dataset to attribute incidents to specific explanations. It is not the purpose of the AOIMSG to look for evidence of extraterrestrials. Other parts of the government do that; for example, NASA looks for evidence of life on other planets.”

What follows is the information exempted from release under the “Additional Background Information” header, but it is unknown if that information relates to the question about extraterrestrials, or if it entirely unrelated.

The redactions raise eyebrows and quite rightfully so. These are Public Affairs records, and their purpose is to chronicle information meant for the public, not to document information to withhold from the public.

There’s a growing public interest in the potential implications of UAP/UFOs on national security and aviation safety. In the spirit of democratic transparency and the need to build public trust, full disclosure of such information is paramount.

Furthermore, the case for transparency is especially strong given the current climate surrounding UFOs/UAPs. With sightings continuing to be reported by military personnel and the establishment of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) which replaced the AOIMSG, it’s clear that this topic is not fading into the background.

In response to these questionable redactions, an appeal has been filed by The Black Vault.  During the course of that case, the DoD will  reassess the redactions, consider the immense public interest, and hopefully take a step toward greater transparency on this important subject.

As the saga continues to unfold, it’s crucial that we remember the public’s right to be informed, especially on a topic that has captured the world’s attention. As we seek answers to the questions surrounding UAP/UFOs, it’s clear that the fight for transparency is far from over.

UPDATE: On April 3, 2024, the appeal was finalized and the document was released, with the pertinent redactions lifted. That release is also available below.

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Document Archive

FOIA Case 22-F-0381 Release

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FOIA Appeal 22-A-0381-A

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The post DoD Releases Another AOIMSG Briefing Card: Questions Raised Over Redactions (UPDATED) first appeared on The Black Vault.

The Department of Defense (DoD) has released multiple documents pertaining to the Airborne Object Identification and Management Synchronization Group (AOIMSG) under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) case 22-F-0249 with OSD/JS filed by The Black Vault. This development provides intriguing insights into the DoD’s research into Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP), and the processes surrounding the establishment and evolution of groups dedicated to this purpose within the Pentagon.

The AOIMSG was a specialized task force established by the Department of Defense (DoD) to investigate and manage Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) sightings and encounters. This group’s primary function was to coordinate and synchronize efforts across various military and governmental departments to gather, analyze, and share information regarding UAP.

The spotlight of this release falls squarely on the OSD(PA) Briefing Cards related to the establishment of the AOIMSG. The unveiling of these briefing cards is a rare glimpse into the DoD’s internal communications and strategies regarding the AOIMSG and its role in researching UAP. The Black Vault has also received numerous cards in the past, also shedding light on UAP research efforts.

Briefing cards serve as critical tools for communication within governmental organizations. They are typically concise, organized documents designed to quickly and effectively brief officials about various subjects. They may contain key talking points, essential facts, prepared responses to anticipated questions, or any other information that may help an official communicate effectively about a topic.

The release of the AOIMSG-related briefing cards thus offers a window into the thought processes, priorities, and strategies of the DoD as it established and structured the AOIMSG. It provides invaluable insights into how the DoD has been approaching the mystery of UAP and how it has been organizing its efforts to investigate these phenomena.

The documents reveal the complexities involved in establishing such a group, including the need for careful coordination, clarity of purpose, and strategic management of information. They also reflect how the DoD has renamed and restructured the groups involved in UAP research over time, in response to evolving needs and understanding. That fact also highlights one of the biggest challenges trying to decipher every facet of the DoD’s UAP investigative efforts, largely due to the continually changing nomenclature and structure of the groups involved in UAP research. The evolution of these groups, while a natural part of the process, can make it difficult to track the DoD’s ongoing efforts and to understand the precise role and mandate of each group.

Despite this, the release of the AOIMSG-related documents sheds light on the DoD’s ongoing efforts to better understand and manage UAP. The insights gleaned from these documents can help enhance public understanding of these efforts and foster a more informed conversation about the government’s role in investigating UAP. They also highlight the frustrations by internal senior defense officials who do not necessarily want to deal with the UAP issue.

In September of 2022, The Black Vault profiled Matthew Cummings, Senior Advisor for MASINT, GEOINT, and Special Programs at Office of the Secretary of Defense U.S. DoD, who’s name came up in previous FOIA requests. It was established then that Cummings played a role in the early days of the AOIMSG, but as of the writing of that article last year, that exact role was unknown, until now.

In these newly released records, it was revealed that Cummings was the acting director of the AOIMSG, and that fact was withheld from the public, according to these documents.

In addition, the same email dated December 9, 2021, written by a redacted name, outlined that Cummings was “not thrilled” about the fact that DoD Public Affairs recommended a “backgrounder for media” to help “further [DoD] efforts to normalize, standardize, and destigmatize reporting on UAP/airborne objects in military airspace.”

This release of the OSD(PA) Briefing Cards and other AOIMSG-related documents offers a valuable peek inside the inner workings of the DoD’s UAP research efforts. As we continue to decode the wealth of information contained in these documents, we can look forward to gaining a deeper understanding of the complexities and challenges involved in investigating the unidentified.

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Document Archive

May 2023 Release

Department of Defense Releases AOIMSG-Related Documents, May 2023 [33 Pages, 6.5MB]

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November 2025 Release

Department of Defense Releases AOIMSG-Related Documents, November 2025 [49 Pages, 5.6MB]

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The post Department of Defense Releases AOIMSG-Related Documents first appeared on The Black Vault.

The post Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby on the AOIMSG & Upcoming Congressional UFOs Hearing, 5/10/22 first appeared on The Black Vault.