text: Chapter 2
  y Limited visibility over difficult terrain.
  y Overextended enemy lines.
  y Fluid combat zone.
  y Unsecured portions of enemy boundaries.
  STAY-BEHIND OPERATION
  2-28. In a stay-behind operation, pathfinder elements remain in the operational area while another
  friendly force withdraws from the area. The commander can use stay-behind operations for the following
  reasons:
  y To lure enemy forces into a vulnerable position.
  y To hold an area for reoccupation. If the commander plans to reoccupy a friendly area he knows
  the enemy could overrun, he leaves a stay-behind force to hold it. If he leaves the stay-behind
  force for this reason, then he must also plan an air assault to regain the area, if needed.
  SECTION III. CONDUCT OF OPERATIONS
  Pathfinders provide air traffic advisories and navigational aid for airplanes and helicopters. They also perform
  limited physical improvement and CBRN monitoring and surveying within DZs or LZs. Pathfinder availability,
  the tactical plan, the complexity of the operation, the terrain, and the air assault proficiency of the supported
  ground unit dictate pathfinder support. However, every air assault operation requires positive aircraft control.
  During an air-assault operation, pathfinders cross load before entering an LZ with the initial assault elements.
  DAYLIGHT ASSAULT
  2-29. In daylight operations, pathfinders insert into an LZ before the initial assault echelon only if the
  LZ requires extensive improvement or if planners expect unusual control problems. Either way, the
  pathfinders start setting up at once so they can provide air traffic control and other aid to all subsequent
  lifts of troops, supplies, and equipment. They may have a few minutes or several hours to do this before the
  other elements arrive. The tactical plan spells out exactly when and how the pathfinders will enter the area,
  whether they will go in alone or not, and what time the next element will arrive.
  NIGHT ASSAULT
  2-30. Security and operational requirements determine the method of delivering pathfinders at night.
  Pathfinders can move cross-country on foot, airdrop onto or near objective areas, airland in total blackout,
  or airland with minimum natural illumination. When they do insert this way, they sometimes arrive before
  the main body does. As soon as they arrive, the pathfinders reconnoiter the LZ, install visual and electronic
  aids, and establish air traffic control. Soldiers from the supported ground unit sometimes accompany the
  pathfinders. These additional Soldiers provide security and help clear obstacles. The on-site pathfinder
  element remains concealed and observes the objective. Pathfinders analyze the planned landing formation,
  heading, and assembly area. To avoid compromising the mission, no one on the DZ or LZ moves until an
  incoming aircraft reaches the CCP.
  EXTRACTION
  2-31. As the ground force at the LZ shrinks, vulnerability to attack increases. Therefore, the commander
  has pathfinders speed up the air assault extraction operations.
  2-32. Planned artillery fires and air strikes as well as the need to maintain ground security to the last
  minute require that ground controllers control supporting aircraft throughout the extraction. This means
  they make sure aircraft land at specific points within the extraction site where ground security can cover