text: Chapter 6
  (cid:122) Theplatoonleaderandplatoonsergeantfromthesameplatoon.
  6-13. Alwaysplanforthepossibilitythatoneor moreheavy equipment dropaircraftabortsbeforeitgets
  tothedropzoneortheequipmentstreamsinandbecomesunserviceable.Takethefollowingactions:
  (cid:122) Crossload heavy-drop equipment to have the least possible impacton the missionif it does not
  arrive in the drop zone. Separate critical loads so if an aircraft aborts or fails to reach the drop
  zone,nosingleunitlosesmorethanonekeyofficerornon-commissionedofficer or a significant
  proportionofthesametypeofcombat-essentialequipment.
  (cid:122) Coordinate closely with the Air Force so heavy-drop equipment loads are loaded in the reverse
  ordertheyshouldland.
  (cid:122) Do not include the same type of critical equipment from the same unit, or like equipment from
  different units in the same aircraft loads. This applies whether it is to be airdropped or air-
  landed.
  (cid:122) Crossloadheavy-dropequipmentinoneofthefollowingways:
  Selectheavyequipmentpointsof impacttosupportthegroundtacticalplan.Placeloads so
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  theylandclosetothelocationwheretheyareused.
  Cross load the parachutists to first support the ground tactical plan; then coordinate their
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  landingswiththoseoftheheavy-dropplatforms.
  Coordinate the selected heavy equipmentpointofimpact for eachload withthe Air Force
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  missioncommander,whenusingmultipleheavyequipmentpointsofimpact.
  Donotloadtwoormorelikeplatformsfromthesameuniton thesameaircraftbecausethe
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  aircraftaremovingtoofasttodropmorethanoneplatforminthe same area.
  (cid:122) Separateradios,mortars,antitankweapons,ammunitionbundles,and othercriticalequipmentor
  supplies as much as possible. No like items of combat-essential equipment from the same unit
  shouldbeonthesameaircraft.Applythefollowing:
  A weaponssystemshouldbeloadedonthesameaircraftasitscrew.
  (cid:132)
  Note.Onlyonecrew-servedweaponssquad/teamshouldbeoneachaircraft.
  A RATELO should jump the same aircraft as the leader he supports, either just before or
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  after him. Another good method isfor the leadertojump the radio himself.Inthis way, he
  still can set up immediate communications even if he and his RATELO separate on the
  dropzone.
  Thecontainer,weapon, andindividualequipmentcanandshould bejumped atanyposition
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  in the stick to support cross loading and assembly plans. The commander makes a risk
  assessment when locating paratroopers in the stick carrying this equipment. Risks to both
  the paratrooper and mission accomplishment are present. If the parachutist falls inside the
  aircraft, the remainder ofthepersonnelmaynotbeabletoexitonthatpass.Thisequipment
  increasestherisksoftheparatrooperbeingtowedoutsidetheaircraft.
  Individual crew-served weapons (such as machine guns, mortars, antitank weapons) and
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  othercriticalequipmentorsuppliesshouldbedistributedonallaircraft.
  Communicationsequipment,ammunition,andothersupplybundlesmustbecrossloaded.
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  SELF-SUFFICIENCY
  6-14. Each aircraft load should be self-sufficient so its personnel can operate effectively by themselves if
  other aircraft misses the drop zone, makes an emergency landing somewhere else, or aborts the mission.
  Takethefollowingaction:
  (cid:122) A single (complete)weaponssystemshouldhavethe completecrewforthatsystemonthe same
  aircraftalongwithenoughammunitiontoplacetheweaponintooperation.
  (cid:122) Forairlandorheavyequipmentdropoperations,trailersand weaponsare manifested withtheir
  primemovers.
  (cid:122) Squadsshouldstaytogetheronthe sameaircraft;fireteams areneversplit.