Air Assault Operations CPT Jaron Wharton

1. Air Assault OperationsCPT Jaron Wharton

2. Purpose The purpose of this brief is to teach/re-familiarize leaders with Air Assault planning TTPs and fundamentals. * BNs are the lowest level that can resource an AASLT, but the contemporary operating environment may require a squad to conduct an operation as part of a QRF, TCP establishment, etc.

3. References • FM 90-4, AASLT Operations • Gold Book, 101st ABN Division (AASLT) • 101st Airborne (AASLT) Leaders Training Program

4. Agenda • Definitions • Five Stages of an Air Assault • Ground Tactical Plan • Landing Plan • Air Movement Plan • Loading Plan • Staging Plan • Summary • Questions

5. Air Assault Tenets • Integration of assault forces and helicopter assets • Maneuver under the control of the ground or air commander • Engage and destroy enemy forces • To seize and hold key terrain • Deliberate, precisely planned, vigorously executed • Allow friendly forces to strike over extended distances • Attack the enemy when and where he is most vulnerable

6. Air Movement Tenets • Operations other than AASLTS – many of the same facets, but not an ASLT • Move troops and equipment • Emplace artillery pieces and ADA systems • Transport ammo, fuel, and supplies • Large scale operations still require detailed planning • Aviation is not task-organized but are released to return to their parent units upon mission completion

7. Definitions AATFC – AASLT TF commander (guy overall in charge of the operation) AMC – air mission commander, usually an aviation commander (ATK or LIFT Battalion CDR) GTC – ground tactical commander (guy on the ground) AMCM – air mission coordination meeting, initial AASLT COA AMB – air mission brief, OPORD for AASLT, PZ to LZ FARP – forward rearming and refueling point, aircraft CSS location DART – downed aircraft recovery team SEAD – suppression of enemy air defense Tadpole Diagram – describes lift compositions ALNO – aviation officer, aviation officer at BDE to plan Bump Plan – if an aircraft cannot fly, the leader’s new load plan for getting mission essential personnel to the fight

8. Lift/Serial/Load

9. Five Stages of an AASLT • Ground Tactical Plan (GTP) – Drives the AASLT; all other considerations are subordinate to placing forces where they need to be to fight the way they need to fight. • Landing Plan • Air Movement Plan • Loading Plan • Staging Plan

10. AIR ASSAULT PLANNING METHODOLOGY STAGING PLAN LOADING PLAN AIR MOVEMENT PLAN LANDING PLAN GROUND TACTICAL PLAN PLANNING LP1 PZ LZ CAA LP2 ASSY AREA LP3 PZ CAA LZ LP4 EXECUTION RECON SECURITY GUIDES C2 SEQUENCE PZ SELECTION PZ CONTROL PZ C2 MVMT TABLE BUMP PLAN SEQUENCING PZ POSTURE FLIGHT PLANNING IAW LNO & AMC ROUTES, AXIS SP/RP LOCATIONS C2 CONTROL MEASURES MVMT TABLE SEAD TIMINGS REFUEL/REARM FLIGHT MODES LZ CONSIDERATIONS SINGLE MULTIPLE SELECTION SECURITY SPTING FIRES ORIENTATION C2 FORMATION CSS RESUPPLY CASEVAC WHAT HAS CHANGED? ESTIMATE BACKWARDS PLAN REHEARSALS (W/WO ACF)

11. Five Stages of an AASLT Five stages/plans tie together in this way: -GTP drives LZ selection -LZ selection drives the landing plan and air movement plan -Flight routes and current friendly locations dictate the loading plan and PZ locations -Loading plan defines the requirements that become the staging plan -Good GTP takes into account the limitations of LZ’s, aircraft available, routes, etc. to mass combat power at the decisive point

12. The Ground Tactical Plan • Foundation of the AASLT and developed by the GTC IAW doctrine, TTPs, and METT-T. • GTP drives LZ selection (false LZs). • GTP Components • Mission objectives • Primary/alternate LZs • Task Organization • D-day/H-hour times • Forces required/available • Special equipment required (kick-off bundles) • Fire Support Plan (including prep fires) • ATK aviation missions (CAS or CCA) • Means of identifying LZs • Landing formations • Offloading Procedures (right/left door exit, assemble en route?) • CASEVAC and CSS issues

13. The Landing Plan • Generally one primary LZ and one alternate LZ per maneuver BN (each serial must be ready to execute at either) • Forces must land ready to fight • Organize on the PZ, not the LZ • Fly and land in the order of march/assault • Each serial is able to fight as a team/tactical integrity • Provide inbound guidance to a/c both radio and visual • Ground forces exit one or both doors (METT-T) • Vehicles and ground forces clear LZ quickly * Rehearse off-load during cold load training, which is mandated. Not all of your soldiers have been on a UH-60 or CH-47.

14. The Landing Plan The landing is a critical component of the AASLT because it is here that forces are most vulnerable so the conditions must be set. Two types of landings driven by METT-T: -Away from the OBJ (MTC) -On the OBJ (raid, FLS seizure, cordon) *There are many considerations for where you land, usually time/enemy sensitive.

15. The Landing Plan Condition Setting: -Higher level activity, usually BDE level activity -Purpose: Attrition of enemy combat power that can affect the AASLT force Targeting Teams: use of theater assets and organic assets that will assist in the arrival of the AASLT force with risk mitigated (COLTs, AVN assets, SCOUTs) *Understand that “higher” tries to make your landing conditions favorable but it won’t always happen.

16. The Landing Plan IRF Grid: GL 12345678 Land Heading: 0 degrees Marking: IR Strobe Left Door Exit AVN Call sign: Hardcore 6 Door Gunner instructions Distance/Direction to OBJ NFA locations *Ranking man on a/c or chalk leader should be on the ‘dog bone’ and listen for a cherry or ice call. *Who gets off first—LTC Hal Moore’s efforts were motivational but were they necessarily smart? OBJ Wharton LZ N

17. Situational Awareness Hot LZ procedures – battle drills Critical from PZ to LZ Where are we during flight? When will we land? What’s waiting for me at the LZ? Ground element/chalk leader has responsibility from PZ to LZ Required Items to have or know: Marked air route map Compass PLUGR or Garmin Commo card Air Movement table, tadpole diagram, PZ/LZ sketch FM radio Location of friendly forces in OBJ area *Where Murphy pops up - the helicopter won’t always drop you in the correct location, GPS can’t track on board, too much metal to verify helicopter’s land heading on your compass.

18. The Air Movement Plan • Flight operation from PZ to LZ and return • Air Mission Commander (AMC) receives all Army aviation forces and enroute fires to include initiation of LZ preparatory fires. • One-way flight routes and air corridors are utilized. • Air Movement Table is the base document for the plan: • A/C locations • # and type of a/c in each serial • Departure point, route to and from loading area and, lift-off and landing times

19. Flight Route Example

20. Air Movement Table Example

21. The Loading Plan • Based on the Air Movement Plan • Ensures that troops, equipment and supplies are loaded on the correct aircraft • Aircraft loads are placed in priority to establish a bump plan • Planning must cover: • Organization and operation of the PZ • Load positions • Day and night markings • Communications *Loading plan knowledge critical when mixing internal and external loads or when mixing aircraft types. *Additionally, the leader must identify who will fly on which aircraft, i.e. you don’t want to have all of your mortar tubes, MGs, key leaders on one a/c…must sync with GTP.

22. Situational Awareness Chalk Leader Responsibilities: -Usually an E-5/E-6 -Provides copies of manifest (1 x himself, 1SG, crew chief/pilot, PZ check-in) -Rehearses cold load training and instructs personnel on how to correctly load/unload aircraft (UH-60s, 90 degrees from the side/CH-47s, 45 degrees from the rear) -Monitors radio during flight -Tracks all aerial checkpoints IOT verify location upon landing -Ensures personnel prepared to dismount the helicopter NLT five minutes out -Echoes execute command to exit aircraft

23. Front PZ Name LZ Grid w/same datum as used by a/c ALT LZ grid Lift Serial Chalk OBJ Name Back Full NameNo Bump 1. Chalk LDR 2. 3. 3rd PL 4. 5. 6. 7. Breach Kit 8. The Loading Plan Chalk Card – 3 x 5 card

24. Bump Plan • Ensures critical men and equipment are loaded on aircraft should mechanical or other problems limit planned air resources. • Each aircraft in a serial must have a bump priority and each soldier on a chalk must have bump priority. • If an aircraft on the PZ can not lift off and key personnel are on board, they will offload and reload another aircraft that has priority.

25. Staging Plan • Based on the Loading Plan and prescribes the arrival time of ground units (troops, equipment and supplies) at the PZ in the proper order of movement • Loads must be ready before aircraft arrive at the PZ • Ground units usually expected in PZ posture 15 minutes before aircraft arrives • Restates PZ organization, defines flight routes to the PZ and provides instructions for air link-up. * Staging Plan may also follow the Ground Tactical Plan as part of a planned withdrawal.

26. Sub-unit Responsibilities • Send chalk leaders to PZ orientation if applicable • PAX/vehicle must know lift #,serial #, chalk #, LZ • Vehicles rigged by air assault qualified personnel • Use internal communications on the PZs • Identify chalk leaders and signalmen early in planning process

27. Summary • Five Stages to AASLT: Ground Tactical Plan, Landing Plan, Air Movement Plan, Loading Plan, Staging Plan • Leaders must incorporate time to rehearse loading and landing aircraft – introduce contingencies into these rehearsals • Quickly move off of LZs and maintain security in PZ posture at all times • Principles for air movement operations are similar to air assault operations

28. Questions?