Air Assault and Air Movement Flashcards
Air Assault Defined:
Air Assault is the movement of friendly assault forces by rotary wing aircraft to engage and destroy enemy forces, or to seize and hold key terrain (JP 3-18).
Air Assault:
WHAT IS IT?
WHY DO WE DO IT?
WHEN DO WE DO IT?
Movement of ground forces by rotary wing aircraft to destroy an enemy or seize terrain
Air Assaults allow friendly forces to maneuver over extended distances, complex terrain, and obstacles
In support of offensive, defensive, and stability operations throughout the area of operations
Air Movement:
WHAT IS IT?
HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM AIR ASSAULT?
Air transport of units, personnel, supplies, and equipment
Air Assault links a specific ground tactical plan to the movement of an assault force
Types of Air Movements
Non-Tactical:
a. Expedite and optimizes time
b. Minimal threat of enemy activity
Tactical
a. Facilitates a tactical mission
b. Higher potential threat of enemy forces
Aviation units conduct air assault operations
in support of offensive, defensive, and stability operations throughout the area of operations. In other words, we do this whenever the ground force commander determines an air assault is necessary to meet his or her commander’s intent.
Air Assault Task Force Commander (AATFC)
Usually the maneuver brigade or battalion commander (ground force)
Overall commander of the Air Assault
Responsibilities:
Resource and synchronize staff for the air assault
Approve/ disapprove/ modify all components of the assault plan
Plan and synchronize the air assault timeline
Air Assault Task Force Operations Staff Officer (AATF S-3)
Operations officer under the AATFC
Usually a ground maneuver operations officer
Responsibilities
Assist AATFC with mission command
Coordinates Air Mission Coordination Meeting
Integrates air and ground plans
Establishes the air assault rehearsal
Ground Tactical Commander
Commander of the largest ground maneuver force of the air assault
On the aircraft and executes the ground tactical plan
Responsibilities
Develop the ground tactical plan
Develop the loading plan
Develop the staging plan
Communicate with the AATFC
Aviation Task Force Commander
Commands all aviation forces through all phases of the air assault. May or may not act as the AMC
Aviation officer, often a battalion commander
Air Mission Commander (AMC)
Aviator placed in charge of the air assault flight
Ensures the commander’s intent is met
Flight Lead
Pilot in Command of lead aircraft of the formation
Not the AMC
Responsibilities
Lead mission planner
Assists the AMC in decision making
Navigation for the flight
Execute contingencies
Which airframes can be utilized during an Air Assault?
All Army Aviation airframes can conduct or assist in an Air Assault, however, the AH-64 and RQ-7 fill a security role.
- Who is responsible for coordinating and managing the Air Mission Coordination Meeting and the Air Mission Brief?
The Air Assault Task Force (AATF) S3
- What is the difference between the Air Assault Task Force Commander and the Aviation Task Force Commander?
The Air Assault Task Force Commander is normally the senior maneuver commander with overall mission approval authority.
The Aviation Task Force Commander is in charge of the aviation units providing assets to the ground force. This individual commands all Aviation assets through all phases of the operation.
Warning Order
Begins Air Assault planning
Aviation Task Force Commander (ATFC) dispatches a liaison, who:
Ideally, is a pilot in command
Advocates for aviation units
Informs the AATFC and AATF S-3 of Aviation capabilities
Warning Order contains:
Ground Commander’s scheme of maneuver
Size of the force to be air assaulted and general timeline
Likely pick up zones and landing zones
Estimated attack/reconnaissance aircraft requirement
Planning Methodology
(Timeline - 96 Hour)
H-96: Brigade Operations Order– Initial Warning Order
H-91: Initial Planning Conference
H-86: Air Mission Coordination Meeting
H-72: Air Mission Brief
H-68: Air Assault Task Force Rehearsal
H-48: Aviation Task Force Operations Order
H- 36-48: Pathfinder/Scout Insertions
H- 21-18: Air Crew Briefs
H- 21-18: Aviation Task Force Rehearsal
H- 2-12: Pickup Zone Posture
H - Hour
Initial Planning Conference
First meeting between:
AATF Staff
Supporting Aviation unit
Purpose:
Ensure parallel planning
Establish common constraints
By the end, ground and aviation staffs should understand:
Distance and time involved for each lift
Which forces will be in the first lift
Which landing zone(s) the first lift will go to via which route
Air Mission Coordination Meeting
Second meeting between:
AATF Staff
Supporting Aviation unit:
Same as IPC plus attack/reconnaissance liaisons, as needed
AATF S-3 runs this meeting
Conducted after the development of the ground tactical plan
By the end, units will know:
Which loads go to which landing zones and in what sequence
Air movement table, to include attack/reconnaissance assets
Landing plan
Air routes
Landing zones
Pickup zones
Air Mission Brief
Decision Brief- NOT a working meeting:
AATF Staff to the AATFC
Aviation unit participates
Includes a written operations order
By the end:
AATFC approves the air assault plan
Solidified products:
Air Movement Table
Tadpole Diagram
Communications Card
LZ/PZ diagrams
Route cards
Execution Checklist
Aircrew Operation Order
Detailed order:
Conducted by the aviation task force headquarters
For the aircrews executing the mission
Followed by the Aviation Task Force Rehearsal:
Focuses on the aviation plan
Synchronizes Aviation assets
Exercises contingencies
- When does the Air Assault Planning Process begin?
Upon receipt of the higher headquarters’ Warning Order
- What are the first two meetings between the ground force and the supporting aviation unit?
Initial Planning Conference
Air Mission Coordination Meeting
- What is the purpose of the Aircrew Operations Order?
To provide aircrews that are executing the Air Assault with all the information they need to successfully execute the Air Assault
Five Steps of Reverse Planning
Ground Tactical Plan
Landing Plan
Air Movement Plan
Loading Plan
Staging Plan
The planning sequence is conducted in reverse order because
the ground tactical plan is the most important part of planning. The aviation planners cannot determine when to take off, what routes to use, etc. until they understand the ground force scheme of maneuver and timeline.
Ground Tactical Plan
Base of plan development
All other portions of the plan support this
Provides:
Commander’s Intent
Scheme of Maneuver
Fires Plan
Task organization of the ground force
Landing Plan
HLZ selection depends on the ground tactical plan
Considerations:
Location
Capacity
Enemy
Unit integrity
Fires
Obstacles
Identification by air
Orientation
Air Movement Plan
Primary and alternate routes
Produces the Air Movement Table:
Aircraft allocation
Number/ type of aircraft per serial
Departure point
Route to/from the loading area
Timing
Refuel plans