text: Ground Tactical Plan
  used to defend a particular part ofthe airhead. It maybe supported withfire from USAF assets, naval gun
  fire,orArmymissilesystems.Thefollowingconsiderationsgoverntheemploymentofthisforce:
  (cid:122) Theseforces orientonenemyhigh-speed avenues ofapproachtodevelop intelligence toinclude
  thelocation,direction,andspeedoftheenemy’sadvance.
  (cid:122) Commanders of these forces consider known enemy locations, the number of high-speed
  approaches,andcommunications-relayabilitieswhileorientingonenemyunits.
  (cid:122) Usuallyemployed beyond the airhead at a distance based on the tactical situation, commanders
  canextendtheirrangeifcommunicationspermit.
  (cid:122) Aviation assets can extend to 50 kilometers or more, although the commander must consider
  loiter time so the forcescan provide continuouscoverage. (Forward armingand refueling points
  [FARPs]canincreasethisdistance.)
  (cid:122) Long-range surveillance teams may perform surveillance of enemy garrisons and major routes
  intotheairhead.
  (cid:122) Reconnaissanceforcesmustbemobileandtask-organizedforthemission.
  BOUNDARIES
  4-36. Commanders visualize the employment of subordinate units to organize them for combat
  commensurate with the missions. Commanders use boundaries to assign areas of responsibility to major
  subordinate combat elements, which then clear the area of enemy forces. (See figure 4-3, page 4-10.) In
  selecting and designating assault boundaries for airborne operations, several points are considered as
  follows:
  (cid:122) Each unit should be able to clear its assigned area; therefore, commanders must consider
  boundaries concurrently with task organization. To assign boundaries, commanders subdivide
  the area into areas with equal tasks (not necessarily into equal areas). This requires a careful
  analysisoftheenemy,thetaskstobeaccomplished,andtheterrainwithintheobjectivearea.
  (cid:122) Commanders should avoid splitting (between two units) the responsibilityfor the defense of an
  avenueofapproachorkeyterrain.
  (cid:122) Commandersshould ensure there isadequate maneuver space inthe area, to include keyterrain
  featuresthatcontrolit.
  (cid:122) Commanders should avoid designating boundaries in such a way that a major terrain obstacle
  dividesaunitarea;thispresentsproblemsformaneuveringforces.
  (cid:122) The boundaries should provide adequate roomto permit the commander to maneuver forces on
  bothsidesoftheirassaultobjectives.
  (cid:122) Commanders mustchoose boundaries that are recognizable bothonthe map and onthe ground.
  Roadsshould notbeusedasaboundarybecausetheyrepresentahigh-speedavenue ofapproach
  and need to be covered with a clear understanding of responsibility. Instead, commanders can
  userivers,streams,railroadtracks,theedgeofatown,woods,theedgeofaswamp,andsoon.
  (cid:122) An ABNIBCT area ofoperationshould include at leastone drop zone and one landing zone to
  allow for follow-on forcesto landduring the assault. Thisfacilitatesresupplyand evacuationof
  enemyprisoners of war and casualties. Having a drop zone and landingzone allows for ease of
  sustainmentoperations. Regardlessof boundaries, units should drop on the drop zone closest to
  theirassaultobjective.
  (cid:122) Commandersshould establish boundaries that serve during the airborne assault and duringlater
  operations.Theseshouldbereadilyrecognizableduringlimitedvisibility.
  (cid:122) Commanders should choose boundaries that do not require a unit to defend in more than one
  direction at once. They should not expect a unit to secure objectives within the airhead at the
  sametimetheyestablishitsdefense.
  (cid:122) Boundaries should extend beyond the trace of the security force as far as needed to coordinate
  fires.Thisallowssubordinateunitstooperateforwardoftheairheadwithminimalcoordination.
  (cid:122) Commandersshould plancoordinatingpointsat the intersectionof the airhead line and security
  forcegroundtraceboundaries.