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
Loading Plan
Establishes PZ operations and air loading
Primary and alternate PZ
Similar considerations as Landing Plan
Staging Plan
Prescribes:
Arrival times
Order of aircraft and ground personnel
Equipment movement to the PZ
All loads are inspected and certified before aircraft arrive
- What is the most important step in the reverse planning sequence?
Ground Tactical Plan. It is the mission the ground force needs to accomplish and is the basis for planning all other steps.
- What are some considerations when selecting a Helicopter Landing Zone?
Location, Capacity, Enemy Disposition, Unit Tactical Integrity, Supporting Fires, Obstacles, Identifiable by Air, Orientation, Single Vs Multiple
Air Movement Defined:
An air movement is the air transport of units, personnel, supplies, and equipment- this includes airdrops and air landings (JP 3-17).
Evacuation
Removal of a patient by any of a variety of transport means from a theater of military operation, or between health services capabilities, for the purpose of preventing further illness or injury, providing additional care, or providing disposition of patients from the military health care system (JP4-02).
Casualty Evacuation (CASEVAC):
The movement of casualties aboard nonmedical vehicles or aircraft without en route medical care
Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC):
The timely and effective movement of the wounded, injured, or ill to and between medical treatment facilities on dedicated and properly marked medical platforms with en-route care provided by medical personnel.
Aeromedical Evacuation:
The movement of patients under medical supervision to and between medical treatment facilities by air transportation. The Army provides intratheater aeromedical evacuation IAW DoDD 5100.01 Functions of the Department of Defense and Its Major Components(DoDD 5100.01).
Point of Injury (POI):
Location in operational environment where casualty receives initial injury.
Casualty Collection Point (CCP):
A location that may or may not be staffed, where casualties are assembled for evacuation to a medical treatment facility.
Mass Casualties (MASCAL):
Any large number of casualties produced in a relatively short period of time, usually as the result of a single incident such as a military aircraft accident, hurricane, flood, earthquake, or armed attack that exceeds local logistic support capabilities.
Ambulance Exchange Point (AXP):
A location where a patient is transferred from one ambulance to another en route to a medical treatment facility.
Mission Authority/Approval (Medical):
The validation of a medical mission and approval of use of MEDEVAC aircraft by a medical officer.
Launch Authority/Approval (Aviation):
IAW AR 95-1 launch requires appropriate Aviation Command level approval based upon risk level (Low-Company, Moderate-BN, High-CAB, Ex-High-First GO). For Urgent and Urgent Surgical MEDEVAC missions, MEDEVAC company commanders ‘may’ be delegated Moderate risk approval Authority.
Patient Movement:
The act of moving a sick, injured, wounded, or other person to obtain medical and/or dental treatment, which include medical regulating, patient evacuation, and en route medical care. Also called PM (JP 4-02).
Intratheater patient movement:
Moving patients within the theater of a combatant command (Example: KOR-JPN or Role 1 to Role 2/3).
ntertheater patient movement:
I Moving patient, into, and out of different theaters of the geographic combatant command and into CONUS or another supporting theater (Example: JPN-CONUS or Role 3 to Role 4).
Army intra-theater medical evacuation is a
key component of the Evacuation/ Patient Movement (PM) continuum from Point of Injury through CONUS-based medical treatment facilities. It is focused at the ‘tactical edge’ but operates through the breadth and depth of the land area of operations.
Evacuation consists of two components:
medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) and casualty evacuation (CASEVAC).
MEDEVAC is conducted
using properly marked medical transports (ambulances)* that are dedicated to evacuation and staffed with medical providers who provide care to stabilize and maintain the patients medical condition en route to medical treatment facilities.
CASEVAC is
any means of evacuating the sick and wounded other than MEDEVAC.
-Transport may be dedicated, designated, or lift of opportunity.
-May have dedicated, designated, ad hoc, or no medical staffing and equipping.
-Remains a combatant platform that can be made the object of attack.
All near-peer adversaries employ
properly marked MEDEVAC platforms. These platforms and personnel cannot legally be made the object of attack, IAW International Law and Treaties.
Both the US Army and the US Marine Corps employ
MEDEVAC ground ambulances. The US Army is the only service with MEDEVAC air ambulances.
Intra-theater aeromedical evacuation (AE) is predominately
conducted by Army air ambulances
Policy:
Unarmed, dedicated, medically-staffed and marked (red cross) medical transports, protected under the provisions of the Geneva Convention (GC) and in compliance with the principle of distinction in the Law of War (LoW), have strategic value and meet our National obligations.
The Secretary of Defense has established
a 1-hour standard for the evacuation of Urgent/Urgent Surgical category patients (mission receipt to delivery to appropriate medical treatment facility).
Mission Authority (Medical)
is the validation of a medical mission and approval of use of MEDEVAC assets (aircraft) by a medical officer.
Launch Authority (Aviation)
IAW AR 95-1, launch requires appropriate Aviation Command level approval based upon risk level (Low-Company, Moderate-BN, High-BDE, Ex-High-First GO).
MEDEVAC is
an integrated air-ground operation that is critical to support Operational Movement & Maneuver
What is the difference between CASEVAC and MEDEVAC?
MEDEVAC is conducted using properly marked medical transports (ambulances)* that are dedicated to evacuation and staffed with medical providers who provide care to stabilize and maintain the patients medical condition en route to medical treatment facilities
Who provides Medical mission approval? Who provides Launch approval?
Medical officer provides approval for use of MEDEVAC aircraft
IAW AR 95-1 launch requires appropriate Aviation Command level approval based upon risk level (Low-Company, Moderate-BN, High-CAB, Ex-High-First GO). For Urgent and Urgent Surgical MEDEVAC missions, MEDEVAC company commanders ‘may’ be delegated Moderate risk approval Authority
The Medical Company (Air Ambulance) or Aeromedical Evacuation Company falls under the
General Support Aviation Battalion (GSAB) of the Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB). They are commanded by an O-4 (MAJ). There are 11x 67Js in the company, 1x 67J in the BN, and 1x 67J in the BDE to assist with planning. Nested in the CAB allows for critical Maint. support as well as other aviation functions.
Medical Company
109 personnel
15 aircraft
5 platoons capable of being at 5+ separate locations (depending on configuration)
MEDICAL COMPANY, AIR AMBULANCE (15 ACFT), GENERAL SUPPORT AVIATION BATTALION (GSAB), COMBAT AVIATION BRIGADE
How many lines of a 9 line medevac are required to have air assets launch?
5
How many HH-60s are in a CAB?
15
MEDEVAC units are Medical Units with a
Medical Mission
MEDEVAC units are Medical Units with a
Medical Mission
The aeromedical standard for urgent / urgent surgical mission completion
1 hour
The U.S. Army is responsible for all
intra-theater aeromedical evacuation including the shore-to-ship evacuations of Marine forces on land
The 9-line MEDEVAC request is for
ground and air patient evacuation requests
Dedicated CASEVAC aircraft are set aside for CASEVAC missions, while designated aircraft
are utilized within their missions and perform CASEVAC when needed
The primary difference between an air movement and an air assault is
that an air assault links a specific ground tactical plan to the aerial movement of the assault force. However, air movements are planned and executed with the same rigor and precision as an air assault. Traditionally, air movements can be conducted by Blackhawks, Chinooks, and fixed wing aircraft; however, Apaches can also transport small equipment and supplies, if necessary.
M.I.S.T. Report
M-Mechanism of injury (mine, IED, GSW, RPG)
I-Type of injury (found and/or suspected)
S-Signs (pulse rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate)
T-Treatment given (morphine, tourniquet), whether adult or child (A/C) and age if known
Medical Mission Approval Authority
Medical Mission authority begins at the Theater level through the creation of the Theater Evacuation Policy and the Medical Rules of Eligibility documents by appropriate medical officers. Once approved, these documents are published through the orders process and become the foundation for what constitutes a valid medical mission.
