text: Chapter 3
  Airborne Assault Planning
  Airborne assaults may be conducted as a rapid crisis response against less capable
  enemies, where the conditions needed for the entry are quickly set with limited
  shaping operations or where forward deployed and rapid response elements must
  conduct the airborne assault mainly with their organic capabilities and minimal
  reinforcement. They may be larger-scale entry operations where there is significant
  shaping required to set the conditions for the airborne assault. Commanders begin
  planning for an airborne assault with a visualization of the ground tactical plan and
  work backwards through the landing plan, the air movement plan, and the
  marshalling plan. Planning is conducted in this order regardless of the type and
  duration of the mission or the size of the force. This chapter addresses roles and
  responsibilities, planning sequence and considerations, and shaping operations for an
  airborneassault.
  SECTION I – ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
  3-1. Airborne assault planning is as detailed as time permits and should include completion of written
  orders and plans. Within time constraints, the ABNAFC carefully evaluates capabilities and limitations of
  the total force and develops a plan that communicates a common vision and synchronizes the action of
  forces in time, space, and purpose to achieve objectives and accomplish missions. The planning should be
  highly structured involving the commander, staff, subordinate commanders, and others to develop a fully
  synchronized plan or order. Planning time should abide by the one-third/two-thirds rule to ensure
  subordinateshaveenoughtimetoplanandrehearse.
  HIGHER HEADQUARTERS
  3-2. The joint task force commander directs the composition of the ABNTF headquarters and the
  ABNAF. This headquarters allocates units, defines authority, and assigns responsibility by designating
  command and support relationships. The staff of this headquarters is responsible to develop the task
  organization of the ABNAF and conducting the necessary steps of the military decisionmaking process
  (MDMP). A division-level commander or hisequivalent is the approvingauthorityfor the formation of an
  ABNAF.(RefertoFM 3-94formoreinformation.)
  PLANNINGRESPONSIBILITIES
  3-3. The joint task force commander initiates airborne operations with a planning directive to
  participating units. The directive assimilates through normal command channels at the corps and division
  levels;pertinentinformationthenispassedtoBCTs.Thedirectivemust—
  (cid:122) Specifymissions.
  (cid:122) Outlinethecommandstructure.
  (cid:122) Identifyparticipatinggroundandairforces.
  (cid:122) Listforcesinsupport.
  (cid:122) Provide a scheduleofevents.
  (cid:122) Stateconditionsunderwhichtheoperationbegins,isdelayed,isaltered,oristerminated.
  (cid:122) Establishsupportedandsupportingrelationships.