text: Chapter 7
  SELECTING AND OPERATING MARSHALLING AREAS
  7-13. The marshalling area is a sealed area with facilities for the final preparation of paratroopers for
  combat. Commanders select marshalling areas based on the air movement plan and other considerations.
  Another way to avoid concentration of personnel is to time-phase the movement of personnel from their
  home bases through the marshalling area to the departure airfield, minimizing the buildup of forces. After
  choosingthemarshallingareasanddepartureairfields,chooseloadingsitesneartheairfields.
  7-14. Thefollowingfactorsareconsideredwhenselectingmarshallingareas:
  (cid:122) Distancetoairfield(s).
  (cid:122) Timeavailable.
  (cid:122) Currentfacilities.
  (cid:122) Availabilityofpersonnelandmaterialsforconstruction.
  (cid:122) Availabilityoraccessofmaneuverandtrainingareas.
  (cid:122) Communicationsrequirements.
  (cid:122) Briefingfacilities.
  (cid:122) Locatingparticipatingunits.
  (cid:122) Securityorvulnerabilitytoenemyaction.
  (cid:122) Logisticalsupportavailableorrequired.
  7-15. Inthemarshallingplan,the S-4 (incoordinationwiththe S-3),assignsunitstomarshallingareasnear
  the departure airfields the units will use. Make every effort to locate the areas as close as possible to
  departureairfieldstoreducemovementtimebetweenthemandtoreducerequirementforvehicles.
  7-16. The ABNAF’s higher commander is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the
  marshallingareas.Heincludesthefollowing:
  (cid:122) Provide operating detachments and necessaryequipment for each area. These detachments give
  signalcommunications,transportation, medical,andpostalservices.Theyoperate messfacilities
  andutilities.
  (cid:122) Marshalpersonnel fromthe unitsorfromfollow-onunitsof the ABNAFcanassist inoperating
  the marshalling areas if it does not interfere with their preparations for the airborne operation.
  Do not use equipment from these units because it must be packed and loaded for movement to
  theobjectivearea.
  (cid:122) Maintainsmalls stocksofsuppliesand equipmentof all servicesat each marshallingarea to fill
  last-minute shortages of the units being marshaled. Furnish services maintenance support as
  required.
  Note. The number ofpersonnelrequired to supportoperationand maintenance of marshallingareas varies.
  Based on experience, about 10 percent of the number of personnel being marshaled is required for
  supportingservices.
  FACILITY REQUIREMENTS
  7-17. Commanderscanusethisinformationas a guide to selectingandmodifyingfacilities forABN IBCT
  use.Figure 7-1 shows a typicalmarshallingarealayoutforanABNIBCT-sizeunitthatneedsabout100acres.