Military

(1) The availability, location, and size of potential LZs are key factors.

(2) The company is most vulnerable during landing.

(3) Multiple insertions require multiple LZs. Do not use the same LZ twice.

(4) Elements must land with tactical integrity.

(5) Soldiers are easily disoriented if they are not informed when the briefed landing direction changes.

(6) There may be no other friendly units in the area initially. The company must land prepared to fight in any direction.

(7) The landing plan should offer flexibility so a variety of options are available in developing a scheme of maneuver.

(8) Supporting fires (artillery, naval gunfire, CAS, and attack helicopters) must be planned in and around each LZ.

(9) Although the objective may be beyond the range of supporting artillery fire, artillery or mortars may be brought into the LZ(s) early to provide fire support on the objective for subsequent lifts.

(10) The plan should include provisions for resupply and medical evacuation by air.

(1) Location. Locate the LZ on, near, or away from the objective, depending on the situation.

(2) Capacity. Determine how much combat power can be landed at one time by the size of the LZ. This also determines the need for additional LZs or separation between aircraft.

(3) Alternates. Plan at least one alternate LZ for each primary LZ selected to ensure flexibility.

(4) Enemy disposition and capabilities. Consider enemy troop concentrations, their air defenses, and their capability to react to a company landing nearby when selecting an LZ.

(5) Cover and concealment. Select LZs that deny enemy observation and acquisition of friendly ground and air elements while they are en route to or from (and in) the LZ.

(6) Obstacles. If possible, land the company on the enemy side of obstacles when attacking, and use obstacles to protect LZs from the enemy at other times. Keep landing zones free of obstacles. Organize and attach engineers for contingency breaching of obstacles.

(7) Identification from the air. Make landing zones readily identifiable from the air. Mark them with chemical lights (preferably infrared-type) if the assault is conducted with personnel wearing night vision goggles.

(8) Approach and departure routes. Avoid continuous flank exposure of aircraft to the enemy on approach and departure routes.

(9) Weather. Consider the weather. Reduced visibility or strong winds may preclude or limit the use of marginal LZs. Consider the impact of limited visibility and inclement weather restrictions on flying.

(1) Combat power. This includes maneuver elements, firepower, and CS assets that can be introduced into the area early in the operation (usually dependent upon the number of aircraft employed and availability of suitable LZs).

(2) Enemy. This includes enemy strength and disposition in and around the objective area, to include air defense systems.

(3) Surprise. This is a goal that may be attained by careful use of terrain cover and concealment, darkness, or reduced visibility created by weather or smoke. Surprise is sometimes achieved by landing on the objective.

(4) Time. This is the time that is available for mission accomplishment. Limited time to complete the mission generally favors landing on or near the objective.

(5) Advantages of a single LZ. The use of a single LZ allows concentration of forces in one location if the LZ is large enough. It also--

• Aids control of the operation.
• Concentrates supporting fires in and around the LZ. Firepower is diffused if more than one LZ preparation is required.
• Provides better ground security for subsequent lifts.
• Requires fewer attack helicopters for security.
• Reduces the number of flight routes in the objective area, making it more difficult for enemy intelligence sources to detect the air assault operation.
• Centralizes any required resupply operations.
• Concentrates efforts of limited LZ control personnel and engineers on one LZ.

(6) Advantages of multiple LZs. The use of multiple LZs avoids grouping assets in one location, which would create a lucrative target for enemy mortars, artillery, and CAS. Multiple LZs also--

• Allow rapid dispersal of ground elements to accomplish tasks in separate areas.
• Reduce the enemy's abilities to detect and react to initial and subsequent lifts.
• Force the enemy to fight in more than one direction.
• Eliminate aircraft congestion.
• Make it difficult for the enemy to determine the size of the air assault force, the exact location of supporting weapons, or the objective of the air assault.

(1) Unloading. Do not begin unloading the aircraft until directed by the crew chief or pilot (Figure D-1).

(2) Immediate action on hot LZ. If the decision is made to use a hot LZ, or contact is made upon landing, soldiers quickly dismount and move 15 to 20 meters away from the aircraft and immediately return fire to protect the aircraft departure.

(3) Chalk assembly on cold LZ. When unloading on a cold LZ, the chalk leader moves the chalk to its preset locations using traveling overmatch movement techniques. All soldiers move at a fast pace to the nearest concealed position. Once at the concealed assembly point, the chalk leader counts personnel and equipment and then proceeds with the mission.

(1) Methods available for marking PZs and LZs include the following:

(2) Obstacles include any obstruction that might interfere with aircraft operation on the ground that cannot be reduced, such as trees, stumps, and rocks. During good light, the aircrew is responsible for avoiding obstacles on the PZ or LZ. For limited visibility operations, mark all obstacles with red lights. The following criteria will be used in marking obstacles.

• If the obstacle is on the aircraft approach route, mark both the near and far sides of the obstacle.
• If the obstacle is on the aircraft departure route, mark the near side of the obstacle.
• If the obstacle protrudes into the PZ or LZ, but is not on the flight route of the aircraft, mark the near side of the obstacle.
• Mark large obstacles on the approach route by circling the obstacles with red lights.

(1) Occupation of unit assembly area. While in a unit assembly area, unit leaders should--

• Maintain all-round security of the assembly area.
• Maintain communications.
• Organize soldiers and equipment to chalks and loads in accordance with the unit air movement plan.
• Conduct safety briefings and equipment checks.
• Establish priority of loading for each man and identify bump personnel.
• Identify the locations of the straggler control points.

(2) Organization of units into chalks. Make sure the chalk organization supports the ground tactical plan. Adhere to the following principles for loading the aircraft.

• Maintain tactical integrity by keeping fire teams and squads intact.
• Maintain self-sufficiency by loading a weapon (Dragon) and its ammunition on
• Ensure key men, weapons, and equipment are cross-loaded among aircraft to prevent the loss of control or all of a particular asset if an aircraft is lost.

(3) Occupation of chalk assembly areas. Linkup guides from the PZ control party meet the designated units in the unit assembly area and coordinate movement of chalks to a release point. As chalks arrive at the release point, chalk guides move each chalk to its assigned chalk assembly area. (To reduce the number of personnel required, use the same guide to move the unit from the unit assembly area to the chalk assembly area.) If part of a larger air assault, locate no more than three chalks in the chalk assembly area at one time. Maintain noise and light discipline throughout the entire movement in order to maintain the security of the PZ. Do not allow personnel on the PZ unless they are loading aircraft, rigging vehicles for slingload, or being directed by the PZ control. While remaining in chalk order, assign each soldier a security (firing) position in the prone position weapon at the ready, and facing out (away from the PZ) to provide immediate close-in security.

(4) Bump Plan. The least important chalk in each lift is designated for bump in case too few aircraft arrive at the PZ. These personnel report to a bump/straggler control point to be rescheduled for movement to the LZ.

(5) Pickup zone closure. The CO designates a single man to be responsible for PZ closure. This may be the PZ control officer, the PZ control NCOIC, or another designated soldier. He ensures all company men and equipment are loaded and that security is maintained.

(6) The UH-60 loading sequence. Figure D-5 depicts the loading procedure for a UH-60. For combat operations, up to 24 soldiers may be loaded in a UH-60. See FM 7-20 for a detailed discussion of "seats-out" operations.

(1) Company Commander. The CO has overall responsibility fort he operation. He plans the operation, briefs subordinate leaders, issues the OPORD, and conducts rehearsals. He rides in the AMC's aircraft to ensure better command, control, and communication.

(2) Executive Officer of first sergeant. One of these two will--

• Set up the PZ. He supervises the marking of the PZ and the clearing of obstacles from the PZ.
• Brief all chalk leaders.
• Supervise all activity on the PZ, such as PZ security, movement of troops and equipment, and placement of chalks and slingloads.
• Devise and disseminate the bump plan and control the bumped soldiers.
• Ride in the last aircraft for control purposes and ensure that the PZ is cleared.

(3) Chalk leader. He briefs his personnel on their respective tasks and positions inside the aircraft. He also--

• Ensures that the lights or panels (if required) for his aircraft are properly emplaced.
• Assigns respective areas of security to his personnel. Ensures that each soldier goes to his proper area.
• Supervises the loading of his chalk and attachments into the aircraft to ensure that all personnel assume assigned positions and buckle their lap belts.
• Keeps current on location by using his map and communicating with the aircraft crew during air movement.
• Ensures upon landing that all personnel exit the aircraft quickly, rush to a safe distance (15 to 20 meters) from the aircraft, assume the prone position, and prepare to return enemy fire.

(1) Pickup zone control officer. He may be the XO, 1SG or a platoon leader.

(2) Pickup zone control NCOIC. He is the ISG, a platoon sergeant, a section sergeant, or a squad leader.

(3) RATELO with two radios. One radio monitors the combat aviation net for communication with the aircraft. The second operates in the company command net or a PZ control net.

(4) Chalk-linkup guides. There is one guide per chalk. Their primary duties are to assist in linkup and movement of chalks from the unit assembly area to the chalk assembly area. For company air assault operations, these guides should come from the same chalk they are assigned to.

(5) Lead aircraft signalman. He is responsible for visual landing guidance for the lead aircraft. This signalman should come from the chalk loading on the lead aircraft.

(6) Slingload teams. A team includes a signalman and two hookup men.