Aviation Shaping Operations Air Assault

1. Aviation Shaping Operations Air Assault References: • ADP 3-0 Unified Land Operations • FM 3-90 Tactics • ATTP 3-18.12 (FM 90-4) Air Assault Operations • TC 1-400 Brigade Aviation Element Handbook • POC: LTC Erik Reynolds, DTAC, 684-2465

2. Air Assault (AASLT) - Defined • “An air assault is a vertical envelopment conducted to gain a positional advantage, to envelop or to turn enemy forces that may or may not be in a position to oppose the operation.” • At the tactical level, vertical envelopments seize terrain, destroy specific enemy forces, and interdict enemy withdrawal routes. • AASLT forces use mobility of rotary-wing assets and total integration of available firepower, maneuvering under control of ground or air commander to engage enemy forces or to seize and hold key terrain. ATTP 3-18.12/FM 3-90

3. AASLT vs Air Movement • AASLT (Maneuver, Fires and Effectsoperation) NOT synonymous with Air movement (Sustainmentoperation)… separateand distinctmissions! AASLTs not merely movements of Soldiers, weapons, and equipment by Army aviation units. • AASLT = primary missionof Air Assault Battalion. Two basic tasks common to each AASLT Bninclude AASLT and sustainment. In sustainment role, assault battalion provides support to any ongoing AASLT operation first, then to division. • Air movements = primary missionof General Support Aviation Battalion (GSAB). Mission of GSAB is to conduct general aviation support; airborne C2; air transport of personnel, equipment, and supplies; aerial sustainment operations;ATS; and MEDEVAC support throughout AOR and assault operations support as required. ATTP 3-18.12/TC 1-400

4. AASLTs are Division-level Operations • No existing units below division level capable of independently conducting AASLT. • BCTs do not have organic aviation units to ensure successful AASLT mission accomplishment. • AASLTs are task-organized or mission-specific tailored by WfF to accomplish the purpose and endstate of the operation. ATTP 3-18.12/FM 3-90

5. AASLTs are Task Organized • AASLTs accomplished by forming and employing an Air Assault Task Force (AATF). AATF is temporary and task organized to a specific mission under command of a single HQ. • May include some or all elements of the BCT. • The ground or air commander, designated as the Air Assault Task Force Commander (AATFC), commands AATF. • All three types of BCTs, with support of enabling assets, have capability to plan, prepare, and execute AASLT operations as means of employment. ATTP 3-18.12/TC 1-400

6. Employment • “Air Assaults are high-risk, high-payoff missions that, when properly planned and vigorously executed, allow commanders to rapidly generate combat power and apply the warfighting functions.An air assault can provide the means for the commander to control the tempo of operations in his AO and enable him to rapidly execute decisive actions to retain or exploit the initiative.” • Cdr’s Intent for conducting an AASLT can be Decisiveor Shapingin nature. • All AASLT operations must include detailed planning and execution of Air employed sustainment operations required to maintain combat momentum. ATTP 3-18.12/FM 3-90

7. Division sets conditions for decentralized executionby driving the Operations Process To meet Cdr’s Intent, AASLT shaping operations are centrally planned at Division and decentralized as plan transfers to AATFC and transcends to company level. The AATF sets conditions for successful AASLT by conducting shaping operations of its own. AATFC may employ ground and air reconnaissance, attack aviation, UASs, CAS, and lethal fires in order to limit/mitigate tactical risk to acceptable level for execution of AASLT. Division provides - • Operational environment • Enemy situation • Commanders planning guidance • Commanders intent • Detailed Warning Order - which enables AATFC to decentralize planning and execution ATTP 3-18.12/TC 1-400

8. Reverse Planning Sequence • Output product of division staff effort is an AASLT plan based on careful analysis of mission variables and detailed reverse planning. • Five basic plans comprise the reverse planning sequence: • Ground tactical plan • Landing plan • Air movement plan • Loading plan • Staging plan ATTP 3-18.12/TC 1-400

9. The Shaping Operation

10. The O300 Shaping Operation • Shaping Operation = operation at any echelon that creates and preserves conditions for success of decisive operation. • AASLTS often conducted as shaping operations to establish conditions for decisive operation through effects rendered on enemy and terrain. • Example: a company conducting an AASLT to seize a bridge and secure a crossing site in support of a deliberate combined arms battalion-level attack that requires the bridge as a crossing site. ATTP 3-18.12/ADP 3-0

11. The Division staff develops the Operations ConceptDecisive, Shaping, Sustaining AASLT operations, though centrally planned as a shaping operation, still requires decentralized execution and employment of: • All AATF assets • Direct support assets from HHQ (includes Joint support) • Actions across all operations (Decisive, Shaping, Sustaining) and WfF

12. Several operations required to create conditions Shaping, Decisive, Sustaining Conducting shaping operations to create and preserve conditions for AASLT execution is iterative process. Based on his situational understanding (of OE/AO) AATFC decides what part of situation must change (the problem) to ensure success of AASLT. AATFC (assesses the enemy) directs reconnaissance and surveillance (R&S) units to locate enemy systems that unacceptably endanger AASLT’s success. AATFC then allocates lethal and nonlethal systems (artillery, EW, ATK/Recon aircraft, and UASs) to deliver effects against those enemy systems IOT set successful conditions prior to AASLT. ATTP 3-18.12/TC 1-400

13. Depiction of AATF decentralized execution - Shaping, Decisive, Sustaining (1 of 2) Movement and maneuver. Maneuver units conduct an AASLT and attack to destroy enemy forces on objectives. Aviation units air insert reconnaissance elements near objective area and provide interdiction and CCA against enemy forces in objective area. Intelligence. Reconnaissance units conduct R&S of LZs and objective area to identify enemy forces for targeting by fires and aviation assets in order to set conditions for AASLT execution. Fires. Fires battalion provides lethal fires on identified enemy positions on or near LZs and objective to neutralize enemy forces and help set conditions for AASLT execution. Sustainment. BSB refuels aviation assets during air operations and establishes a forward medical treatment point co-located with maneuver unit. Protection. Security force provides protection from PZ to LZ. GSAB supports personnel recovery if required. Mission Command. AATFC deploys in a C2 aircraft to provide C2 oversight of the mission. Mission Command Sustainment Ground vehicles establish FARP with collocated aid station to support resupply, CASEVAC, MEDEVAC ATTP 3-18.12

14. Depiction of AATF decentralized execution - Shaping, Decisive, Sustaining (2 of 2) AATFC employs reconnaissance units (to include scouts, CBRN platoon, and UAS) to conduct R&S of proposed LZs and objective area in order to identify and target enemy forces near LZs and objectives. Fires battalion positioned to provide lethal fires throughout all phases of operation. Prepared to deny enemy’s ability to conduct reconnaissance, defeat his strike operations, and neutralize his ability to communicate and command. Supporting aviation unit prepared to conduct reconnaissance in coordination with the reconnaissance unit or provide lethal fires to neutralize or destroy enemy forces in objective area once they have been identified. Commander also considers employing other enablers that may not be in his task force, such as CAS and EW assets. The purpose of these operations is to set and preserve the conditions on the LZ and objective area that allow the maneuver forces to launch the air assault and execute a successful attack to destroy the enemy on the objective. ATTP 3-18.12

15. Aircraft relation to Shaping, Decisive and Sustaining Shaping – Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, Fires Decisive – Maneuver of the main effort (combat troops) decisive to the mission or shaping operation Sustainment – Movement, Resupply and MEDEVAC

16. What all of this means to you, as thedirecting HQ Staff • Division staff plans AASLTs utilizing MDMP and exercises Mission Command through control measures. • AATF planning is separate planning event that mirrors steps in MDMP. • AATF planning applies reverse planning sequence focusing on Ground Tactical Plan backwards to Staging. Results of this staff effort delivered in Cdr’s Intent, Planning Guidance, and WARNO include: • Allocation of units • Designation of command and support relationships • Orders, guidance, support and constraints to TASKORG providing mission-specific balance of mobility, combat power, and endurance to: • Maintain unit tactical integrity: sufficient combat power to seize initial objectives and protect landing zones (LZs) • Ensure Security and protection plan: from the PZ, throughout the entire air route(s), and at the LZ. • Allocate sufficient sustainment capability: enough capability to support rapid tempo until follow-on or linkup forces arrive, or until mission is complete.

17. Air Assault Planning Mirrors MDMP Steps with Parallel Actions ATTP 3-18.12/TC 1-400

18. Questions