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Appendix C

AIR ASSAULT BRIGADE

The air assault brigade uses helicopters to move combat, CS, and CSS units on the battlefield; therefore, it can deploy and redeploy rapidly. The method of insertion is the main difference between an air assault brigade operation and an infantry or airborne brigade operation. Air assault operations are based on the ground tactical plan and the available airlift capabilities. Air assault operations require detailed planning and close coordination throughout the operation between Army air assault forces and the Air Force and Navy assets. (FM 90-4 and FM 71-100-3 contain more information.)

The air assault brigade normally has three air assault infantry battalions assigned; however, the number may vary from two to five. The only permanently assigned unit is the headquarters and headquarters company. The air assault brigade can be task-organized with division assets for CS and CSS. The brigade normally splits into assault and follow-on forces for an air assault operation. Assault forces are the units required to attack objectives in the initial stages of the operation Follow-on forces include units to sustain the operation or to conduct operations as part of the larger force. These may include the rest of the assault units and CSS elements.

An air assault brigade can conduct the same missions as an infantry brigade. The following are examples of missions suitable for the air assault brigade:

• To capture intermediate staging bases or forward operating bases for projecting ground or air operations.
• To seize and control vital objectives behind enemy lines until reinforcement, linkup, or withdrawal.
• To conduct deep attacks and raids beyond the forward line of troops or line of contact using helicopters to insert and extract forces.
• To conduct river crossing operations.
• To conduct rear area combat operations.
• To occupy areas or reinforce units beyond the immediate reach of land forces.
• To conduct operations other than war that require speed and flexibility.

The air assault brigade is tailored toward its air movement capability and can deploy more rapidly than most infantry brigades. All equipment is air transportable and all personnel are specially trained for air assault operations. The air assault brigade has the following additional capabilities:

• To rapidly concentrate, disperse, or redeploy.
• To conduct operations in all types of terrain and visibility.
• To provide surveillance or screen over a wide area.
• To present a show-of-force worldwide.
• To conduct sustained, conventional, ground combat operations when augmented with ground transportation, fire support, and CSS.

The following are limitations for the staff to consider when planning an air assault operation:

• Deployment and initial resupply depend on the availability of aircraft and flight routes.
• There will be limited ground mobility once the brigade is inserted into the objective area.
• Local air superiority is essential during air assaults, and enemy air defense and EW assets must be suppressed or avoided.
• High winds, thunderstorms, and low visibility can affect operations.
• Only limited combat operations can be sustained in an NBC environment.
• Aviation fuel and ammunition consumption rates will be high.

The air assault brigade can operate as part of any division or unilaterally. Air assault operations exploit the close tactical integration of troop lifts and supported fires applied with precision and speed over extended distances. Operations also use terrain obstacles to achieve tactical advantage and surprise. The air assault brigade commander is the senior ground tactical commander and directs the entire operation. He coordinates directly with the air mission commander. The AMC is responsible for overall mission support.

The planning, preparation, and execution of an air assault operation involves interrelated plans. The air assault staff coordinates and develops these plans concurrently to make the best use of available time. The fleeting nature of tactical opportunities often precludes adequate planning time with detailed orders and written plans. Such cases require compression or concurrent conduct of the planning steps. Orders and written plans can be replaced by oral orders. Echelons above brigade perform many routine tasks related to air assault operations. The division is the lowest echelon that can allocate assets, assign appropriate missions, gather required data, and analyze capabilities. Thus, when the division, or higher, assigns an air assault mission, the assigning headquarters begins the planning process. The division uses its resources to gather data and to provide planning information to lower echelons. Key to an air assault operation is the air mission briefing, which is the last coordinating meeting of the principal participants in an air assault mission. (FM 90-4 contains information on format and content.)

a. Ground Tactical Plan. The staff normally develops the ground tactical plan first since it is the basis for the other plans. This plan differs from any other infantry attack plan in that its preparation capitalizes on speed and mobility to achieve surprise. The air assault task force staff prepares the plan with input from all task force elements. The plan is detailed enough to ensure that all aircraft crews know the ground tactical plan and the ground commander's concept of operation. If adequate combat power cannot be introduced into the objective area quickly, then the air assault force must be prepared to land away from the objective and build up combat power. Airspace planning for the air assault brigade is an integral part of the mission planning process. The request for airspace to conduct the missions is coordinated through the aviation brigade liaison officer to the division A2C2 cell.

b. Landing Plan. The landing plan must support the ground tactical plan. The landing plan sequences elements into the area of operations at the proper locations and times, prepared to execute the ground tactical plan. Key elements of a landing plan are selection of an LZ, landing formations, and fires (both direct and indirect) to support the landing plan.

c. Air Movement Plan. The air movement plan is based on the ground tactical and landing plans. This plan specifies the schedule and provides instructions for air movement from PZs to LZs. Two key elements of the air movement plan are the air movement table and the flight route overlay. The planned use of attack helicopters, including security and linkup locations (if different from the PZ), is also in the air movement plan. This plan is normally a coordinated effort with the air mission commander or the aviation liaison officer.

d. Loading Plan. The air movement plan forms the basis for the loading plan. The loading plan ensures that unit integrity is maintained and that soldiers, equipment, and supplies are on the correct aircraft. It is most important when mixing internal and external loads or when mixing aircraft types (lift and medium helicopters). It is essential that an aircraft bump plan is developed as part of the landing plan. Each aircraft must be cross-loaded so that it arrives at the LZ with soldiers organized and prepared to fight.

e. Staging Plan. The loading plan forms the basis for the staging plan. It prescribes the arrival time of ground units (soldiers, equipment, and supplies) at the PZ in the proper order for movement. It also restates the PZ organization, defines flight routes to the PZ, and provides instructions for linkup of all aviation elements.

The air assault brigade can conduct operations in the same environments as other brigades. However, it is most effective when the enemy has limited lines of communication or when the enemy lacks air superiority and effective air defense systems.

a. Air assault forces operate relatively free of the terrain influences that restrict surface operations. Their missions are often to locate and destroy enemy forces and installations, or to seize terrain objectives in order to prevent enemy withdrawal, reinforcement, supply, or shifting of reserves.

b. Air assault forces use organic intelligence and EW assets to locate enemy forces and to determine their weaknesses. They employ the combination of firepower and mobility to fix enemy forces, to reduce enemy firepower, to limit enemy maneuver capabilities, and to support friendly maneuver forces in seizing terrain and destroying the enemy. Attack helicopter units are ideal for use in rapid reaction situations. Their primary use is in an antiarmor role through integration into the tactical plan of the ground force commander. (See the discussion of attack helicopters in Chapter 8.)

c. Air assault operations are characterized by speed and surprise and timely withdrawal based upon detailed planning. Rapid execution of successive operations facilitates seizing and maintaining the initiative, achieving tactical surprise, and avoiding engagement by superior hostile forces. The constant threat of air assault operations causes the enemy to allocate combat forces to protect support units, installations, and rear areas.

d. Air assault operations give the brigade commander the ability to rapidly move forces and to concentrate combat power. They can--

• Attack enemy positions from any direction.
• Bypass barriers and obstacles to reach strike objectives in otherwise inaccessible areas.
• Conduct attacks deep in enemy area by using helicopters to insert and extract forces.
• Concentrate forces.
• Move reserve forces to critical areas on the battlefield.

When employed as an infantry brigade, the air assault brigade conducts CSS operations as described in Chapter 7.

a. Both organic and external elements support the brigade by pushing supplies, fuel, and ammunition forward by air. The brigade must rely on the FSB to support the operation. The exact organization and disposition of CSS elements depend upon the mission of the brigade and anticipated follow-on operations. Normally, two options for organizing and positioning CSS elements prevail.

b. The organization, location, and control of the trains for all brigade elements must facilitate consolidating, packaging, and moving support packages configured to unit size (normally company or platoon). The organization of the trains varies with the mission assigned the brigade and the CS and CSS available. Trains can be centralized or echeloned.

c. Transporting supplies and equipment by helicopter external (sling) load provides the advantage of rapidly moving heavy, outsized, or urgently needed items directly to the using unit. Logistics planners must plan sling load operations in advance. (See FM 55-450-1 for more information.) They must also understand the limitations of external load operations. The three units in a sling load mission are the supported unit, the aviation unit, and the receiving unit. The responsibilities and functions of each are as follows:

d. The logistics package is the most efficient method of resupplying forward brigade units. The brigade SOP establishes the standard LOGPAC.

e. Maintenance personnel normally do not accompany the assault echelon. Contact teams are used to make repairs above operator level. If they cannot, the dead-lined or damaged equipment is evacuated.

f. The medical platoon and medical company provide medical support. The administrative and logistics annex to the OPORD addresses medical support to include--

• Locations of far-forward casualty collection points.
• Ground and air evacuation plans and routes.
• Locations of support hospitals.
• Communications instructions.

g. In addition to their assault and assault-support roles, utility and medium (CH-47) helicopters move supplies, fuel, ammunition, and maintenance contact teams. They also evacuate damaged equipment.

h. Aviation units use large amounts of fuel, ammunition, Class IX, and maintenance support during intensive air assault operations. Although aviation units are normally responsible for meeting their own unique logistics support requirements, other logistics planners must know the requirements and plan accordingly. They must be ready to assist aviation units when required. Aviation units establish forward area rearming and refueling points, which are--

• Near the ground unit exercising operational control (behind the FEBA, and out of range of enemy artillery).
• Positioned to reduce turnaround time and repositioned often to avoid detection and destruction.
• Fully mobile.
• Capable of operation within 30 minutes of installation, and capable of redeployment within 30 minutes.
• Capable of performing rapid and efficient refueling and rearming operations.

i. Security of FARPs is coordinated between the aviation commander and supported commander. The type and amount of security depends on METT-T factors, which may include the following:

• The FARPs may be positioned inside a unit defensive belt.
• The ground maneuver forces may be tasked to provide FARP security.
• The ground maneuver forces may be used as door gunners during aviation operations.
• The FARPs may be positioned outside of medium-range artillery.

j. Aircraft also have substantial maintenance requirements; however, there is minimal maintenance in the operational area. When mechanical problems or combat damage forces an aircraft to land on enemy terrain, ground forces secure the aircraft and crew until evacuation, if possible. However, mission execution has priority over rescue and recovery operations. Ground forces must immediately notify the brigade commander of downed aircraft. He takes action to secure and recover the crew and aircraft. The senior occupant of the aircraft assumes command and establishes a defense of the area or organizes evasive action. Destruction of abandoned aircraft must be IAW higher echelon SOPs (or the OPORD).