text: Chapter 13
  SELECTIONCRITERIA
  13-5. Once available pickup zones are identified, the AATFC and his S-3 selectand assign pickup zones
  foreachunittouse.Pickupzoneselectioncriteriainclude:
  (cid:122) Number.Multiplepickupzonesavoidconcentratingforcesinonearea.
  (cid:122) Size.Ifpossible,eachpickupzoneshouldaccommodateallsupportingaircraftatonce.
  (cid:122) Proximity to Soldiers. When possible, the selected pickup zones should not require extensive
  groundmovementtothepickupzonebytroops.
  (cid:122) Accessibility. Each pickup zone should be accessible to vehicles to move support assets and
  assaultforces.
  (cid:122) Vulnerability to attack. Selected pickup zones should be masked by terrain from enemy
  observation.
  (cid:122) Conditions. Surfaceconditionsofthearea(forexample,excessiveslope;blowingdust,sand,or
  snow;andman-madeobstacles)createpotentialhazardstopickupzoneoperations.
  Note.Usingpickup zoneslocated insecureforwardoperatingbaseandoutpostsprecludesmuch
  oftheeffortrequiredtoidentifyandselectsuitable pickupzones.
  PICKUP ZONE ORGANIZATION AND CONTROL
  13-6. Once the AATFC selects the pickup zones, he designates a pickup zone control officer (PZCO) to
  organize, control, and coordinate pickup zone operations. The designated PZCO is selected based on
  experience and the size of unit that is conducting the air assault. For example, at BCT level, the BCT
  executive officer is usually the PZCO. At the battalion level, the battalion executive officer or S-3 Air are
  usuallythePZCO.Atcompanylevel, thecompanyexecutiveofficerisusuallythePZCO.
  13-7. Once designated, the PZCO is responsible for the overall success of all pickup zone activities, to
  includethefollowing:
  (cid:122) Forming a control party to establish control over the pickup zone by clearing the pickup zone
  and establishing pickup zone security. The pickup zone control party comprises pickup zone
  control teams and support personnel from subordinate units, typically to include a PZCO, a
  pickupzonenoncommissionedofficerincharge(PZNCOIC),and—
  Chalk guides guide the aircraft loads (Soldiers, vehicles, and equipment) from the chalk
  (cid:132)
  check-in point to their respective staging areas on the pickup zone once they have been
  inspectedandapprovedforloadingbythepickupzonecontrolparty.
  Ground crewteams provide visual guidance to the aircraft pilots and hook up the vehicles
  (cid:132)
  andequipment thatare externallyloaded(slingloaded) bythe aircraft.UH-60 groundcrew
  teams typicallyconsistofonehook-upperson,onestaticprobeperson,and a signalperson.
  CH-47 hook-up teams typicallyconsist of one hook-up person and one static probe person
  accordingtoslinghook-uppoint.
  Crisisaction teams are experienced officers or non-commissioned officers who are experts
  (cid:132)
  withriggingalltypesofloadsandhook-upproceduresforallaircraft.
  Security teams provide local security for all pickup zone operations. These teams may
  (cid:132)
  includeairdefenseteamsiftheyareavailable.
  Airtraffic controlteams (ifavailable) useradio ordirectional lightsignalsto provide flight
  (cid:132)
  information,expeditetraffic,andpreventcollisions.Pathfinderteamsarecapable ofserving
  asairtrafficcontrolteamsifrequired.
  Pathfinder teams (if available) provide air traffic advisories and navigational aid for fixed-
  (cid:132)
  and rotary-wing aircraft. They perform limited physical improvement and chemical,
  biological, radiological, and nuclear monitoring and surveying within pickup zones, if
  required. Pathfinder availability, the tactical plan, the complexity of the operation, the
  terrain, and the air assault proficiency of the supported ground force may dictate
  pathfindersupport.