text: Ground Tactical Plan
  (cid:122) Modifyingmissions.
  (cid:122) Changingobjectivesandboundaries.
  (cid:122) Employingreserves.
  (cid:122) Moving to a place from which he can best exercise personal influence, especially during the
  initialassault.
  4-73. Wheninitialobjectiveshavebeensecured,subordinateunitsseizeadditionalobjectivesthatfacilitate
  the establishment of a coordinated IBCT defense or the conduct of future operations. Defensive positions
  areorganized,communicationsaresupplemented,andreservesarereconstituted.Theseandother measures
  are taken to preparetheforcetorepelenemycounterattacks,tominimizetheeffects ofattackbychemical,
  biological,radiological,andnuclearmeans,ortoresumetheoffensive.
  4-74. Reservesprepareandoccupyblockingpositions,pendingcommitment.Typicalmissionsforreserves
  committed during the initial assault include taking over the missions of misdelivered units, dealing with
  unexpectedoppositioninseizingassaultobjectives,andsecuringtheinitialairhead.
  DEVELOPMENT OF THE AIRHEAD
  4-75. Aftertheairborneforcesmaketheinitialassaultlandingsandaccomplishtheinitialgroundmissions,
  commandersmustorganizetheairheadline.Considerationsinclude:
  (cid:122) Size. The airhead line extends far enough beyond the landing area to ensure uninterrupted
  landings of personnel, equipment, and supplies. It secures the requisite terrain features and
  maneuverspaceforsuchfutureoffensiveordefensivetasksascalledforinthemission.
  (cid:122) Occupationand organization.Unitsoccupyandorganize the airheadlinetotheextentdemanded
  by the situation. Commanders adjust the disposition of units and installations to fit the terrain
  and the situation. Units take reconnaissance and security measures; this usually includes the
  reinforcement ofthe securityarea.Thedegreeto which the airheadlineisactuallyoccupiedand
  organized for defense is largely determined by the mission, enemy capabilities, and the
  defensivecharacteristicsoftheterrain.
  (cid:122) Buildup. This proceeds concurrently with seizing and organizing the airhead line and, if
  required, repairing or constructing an airfield to receive follow-on airland echelons. As more
  combatpersonnel arriveandcommanders organize thembyunit,positionsare reinforced onand
  within the airhead line, reserves are constituted, and preparations are made for such offensive
  tasksasthemissionrequires.
  BUILDUP OF COMBAT POWER
  4-76. The buildup of combat power is the introduction of the follow-on echelon into the airhead. This
  increaseoffriendlycombatpower yieldsacorrespondingabilitytoconduct adefenseoftheairheadandto
  conducta short-termsustainmentofthose forces. The intentofthe buildup isto provide asecure operating
  and logistic base for forces working to move the airhead away from the original point of attack. Usually,
  thisdistanceisequaltothe enemy’sdirectfire capabilitytoharassanddestroyincomingaircraftorlanding
  craft(5to10kilometers).
  4-77. Composing the follow-onechelondepends on METT-TC. All though notinclusive, itcanconsist of
  Armored, Stryker, Infantry, field artillery, air defense artillery, and combat engineers as well as other
  significant supporting elements (military information support operations, civil affairs, military police, and
  chemical,biological,radiological,andnuclear)andsustainmentassets.
  4-78. Thetimeinvolvedinthedefensevaries.Itdependsonthemissionassigned,thecompositionandsize
  ofthe force,theenemyreaction,andthetypeofoperationcontemplated. Awell-prepared defenseinshort-
  duration missions in isolated objective areas may not be required. Security can be accomplished by
  completelyoralmostcompletelydestroyingordispersingtheenemyforcesintheimmediateobjectivearea
  during the assault; then, airlifting the striking force before the execution of a coordinated enemy
  counterattack.
  4-79. Defense of an airhead. The airborne force usually defends an airhead bysecuring keyterrain within
  the airhead and dominating likely avenues of approach. Units deny the enemy the areas between the