text: Chapter 4
  missions usually require the seizure and defense of objectives and surrounding terrain. Airborne assault
  forcesrelystronglyontheelementofsurprise.
  ENEMY
  4-15. Commanders analyze all available information to determine the enemy’s situation. The following
  factorsareconsidered:
  (cid:122) Enemymorale,leadership,andprobableintentions.
  (cid:122) Enemycapabilities.
  (cid:122) Enemytactics.
  (cid:122) Probableenemyreactionstoanairborneassault.
  Theenemythatcanreactthefastestposestheimmediatethreat.
  (cid:132)
  The enemy that can cause the most damage or prevent the airborne force from
  (cid:132)
  accomplishingitsmissionposesthemostsignificantthreat.
  (cid:122) Enemy reserves and paramilitary organizations (gendarmeries, police, border guards, and
  militia)andtheirabilitytomobilizeandreact.
  (cid:122) Enemy capability to conduct guerrilla, partisan, or sabotage activities and the enemy’s
  relationshiptothelocalpopulation.
  TERRAINANDWEATHER
  4-16. The staff must consider these components;observationand fields offire, avenuesofapproach, key
  terrain,obstacles,andcoverandconcealment(OAKOC)andthenactonthefollowingfactors:
  (cid:122) The availabilityof dropzonesandlandingzones.Divisionorcorps staff provides alandingarea
  study to subordinate elements before the preparation of the airborne assault and follow-on
  landing plan. However, the availability and selection of drop zones should not influence the
  selectionofassaultobjectives,theairheadline,orunitboundaries.
  (cid:122) Obstacleswithin theairhead line andouttothe maximum effectiverange ofdirect- and indirect-
  fire weapons, with emphasis on those that can be prepared or reinforced with minimal engineer
  effort.
  (cid:122) Enemyavenuesofapproach,since theenemytriestoreachand destroytheairborneforce before
  itcanassemble andreorganize.Thisconsiderationweighs heavilyindeterminingthe locationof
  assaultobjectives.
  (cid:122) Keyterrainthatcandeterminehowtheairborneforcecanbestdefendtheareain-depth.
  (cid:122) Friendly and enemy observation and fields of fire (particularlyfor indirect fires and anti-armor
  weapons).
  (cid:122) Coverandconcealmentformovementandconsolidation.
  (cid:122) Thestaffmustconsidertheeffectsofclimateandweatheron(cid:650)
  Flightformations.
  (cid:132)
  Trafficability.
  (cid:132)
  Visibility.
  (cid:132)
  Closeairsupport.
  (cid:132)
  Logistics.
  (cid:132)
  Personnelandequipment.
  (cid:132)
  Mannedandunmannedaerialplatforms.
  (cid:132)
  TROOPSANDSUPPORTAVAILABLE
  4-17. Commanders consider all forces available to accomplish the mission. These include all assigned,
  attached,andsupportingforces.
  (cid:122) U.S. ground forces. Commanders evaluate the plans, missions, capabilities, and limitations of
  U.S.groundforces.Theyconsiderwhetherartillerycansupporttheairborneforcesandwhether
  theforcesperform a linkuporpassageoflines.