text: Overview
  more information.) and the establishment of either a JFLCC or designated ground commander command
  postintheairhead.
  1-128. En route mission planning and rehearsal systems allow the airborne force to maintain situational
  awareness and to receive and disseminate updated intelligence while en route from load time until arrival
  overtheairhead.
  (cid:122) Ground commanders in airlift aircraft may communicate with the chain of command over the
  Army secure en route communications package. Normally, the airlift mission commander and
  theairborneforcecommander areinthesame aircraft.Thesenior groundcommandercanadvise
  embarked ground commandersofchangesinthegroundtacticalsituationortotheairmovement
  plan.
  (cid:122) Airborne operations require the use of redundant airborne and ground command posts.
  Normally, a joint force airborne command post operates from a joint airborne communications
  centerand commandpost, whileacommandpost fromthe airborneforce operates froma fixed-
  wingplatformwithrequiredcommunicationsinstalled.
  (cid:122) TACSAT downlink and other en route communications systems can be used to communicate
  with USAF special tactics teams, air mobility liaison officers, contingency response elements,
  andcontingencyresponseteamsinobjectiveareas.
  (cid:122) The use ofspecialnavigational aidsand homingdevices to directaircraftto specified areas(for
  example, a designated drop zone) may be needed. Specialized airborne or air assault force
  personnel (for example,special tacticsteamsor long-rangesurveillanceunits) are equipped with
  navigational aids, global positioning systems, and homing devices. These teams are employed
  early to guide the airborne units, and provide reconnaissance, surveillance, visual flight rules
  service, and limited instrument flight rules air traffic control service. Other joint force assets
  suchasspecialoperationsforcesarecapableofperformingsomeofthesefunctions.
  COMMANDRESPONSIBILITYOFAIRASSAULTOPERATIONS
  1-129. Air assault operations embody the combined arms concept through coordination and planning
  betweenthe air and ground commanders. Infantryand air unitsare fullyintegrated with other members of
  the combined arms team to form a powerful and flexible joint task force. An air assault operation
  dramatically extends the commander’s ability to influence operations within the area of operations and to
  execute operations in locations beyond the capability of more conventional forces. Effective employment
  of an air assault force requires an organizational structure with intermediate higher headquarters nested
  withinthejointtaskforce.(Seetable1-2,page1-25.)