text: _________________________________________________________________________________Chapter 8
  Operational-Level Air Force
  8-8. At the operational level, an operational-strategic command (OSC) is a
  joint command. Therefore, the SHC may include Air Force units in the forma-
  tion of the OSC. These units are sized and equipped according to the mission
  assigned to the OSC. Those Air Force assets allocated to an OSC in a con-
  stituent or dedicated relationship for fire support become part of the OSC’s IFC.
  ARMY AVIATION
  8-9. The OPFOR has a variety of attack, transport, multipurpose, and special-
  purpose helicopters that belong to the ground forces (Army) rather than the
  Air Force. Hence the term army aviation. In addition to these helicopters,
  army aviation also owns a limited number of small fixed-wing aircraft to sup-
  port transport and reconnaissance missions. Army aviation units may remain
  under centralized control at theater level or may be task organized within an
  OSC, division tactical group (DGT), or brigade tactical group (BTG).
  Theater-Level Army Aviation
  8-10. The theater headquarters’ army aviation assets are critical in theater
  campaigns. Army aviation provides reconnaissance, lift for heliborne land-
  ings, and direct air support (DAS) for ground forces. The OPFOR generally
  uses helicopters for reconnaissance only within the protection of the ground
  forces’ air defense umbrella. Helicopters perform such tasks as route or NBC
  reconnaissance. In the DAS role, it is common for army aviation to supple-
  ment theater’s fixed-wing ground-attack aircraft. All attack helicopter units
  and perhaps some other army aviation assets retained at theater level would
  be part of the theater IFC.
  8-11. The type and number of army aviation brigades or battalions subordinate
  to the theater headquarters or theater IFC varies according to the theater’s
  needs and the importance of that theater in the OPFOR’s strategic campaign.
  Army aviation assets at theater-level can include one or more units of each of
  the following:
  • Attack helicopters.
  • Medium-lift helicopters.
  • Heavy-lift helicopters.
  • Reconnaissance, jamming, and command and control (C2) helicopters.
  • Drones.
  • Light and medium transport airplanes, replacing some lift helicopters
  in mixed aviation units.
  Other than these standing army aviation organizations, the OPFOR may also
  form some task-organized army aviation tactical groups or detachments with
  a mix of different aircraft types.
  Operational-Level Army Aviation
  8-12. As discussed in Chapter 2, the OSC is a standing headquarters. When
  the OSC is formed for combat operations, an army aviation brigade or battalion
  may be task organized under this command to provide agility, versatility, and
  increased firepower. The type, size, and quantity of the units vary depending