text: Army Aviation Organizations and Command and Control
  SUPPORT RELATIONSHIPS
  2-78. Support relationships are DS and GS. The aviation brigade or an ABTF may employ utility and
  heavy lift assets in a GS role to conduct aerial sustainment by the movement of personnel and equipment,
  or air ambulance assets when area coverage of multiple units and AOs is required. An ABTF is
  traditionally employed as DS to a brigade or higher headquarters. Table 2-2 depicts support relationships.
  DIRECT SUPPORT
  2-79. DS is a support relationship requiring a force to support another specific force and authorizing it to
  answer directly to the supported force's request for assistance. Army Aviation units may operate in a DS
  relationship allowing operations to be coordinated directly with the supported ground unit expediting
  synchronization and improving effectiveness of the relationship. DS is typically the relationship established
  when an ABTF is supporting a brigade or higher headquarters for an extended duration. This enables the
  CAB to effectively sustain the ABTF and maintain the appropriate levels of safety, standardization, and
  mission oversight.
  GENERAL SUPPORT
  2-80. GS is support that is given to the supported force as a whole and not to any particular subdivision
  thereof. Army Aviation units may be placed in GS of several units. They receive GS missions from their
  parent headquarters based upon support priorities established by the higher commander. When Army
  Aviation units operate in a GS role, the ground maneuver unit must request support from the parent higher
  headquarters of the aviation force.
  Table 2–2. Support relationships
  If Then inherent responsibilities—
  relation
  Have May be Receive Are Provi Establis Have Can
  -ship
  comman task- sustain- assigned de h and priorities impose on
  is— d organize ment position liaiso maintai establishe gained
  relation- d by- from- or an AO n to- n d by- unit further
  ship with- by- commun support
  ications relationshi
  with- p of-
  Direct Parent unit Pare Parent Supporte Support Parent Supporte See note1
  support1 nt unit d unit ed unit unit; d unit
  unit supported
  unit
  Reinforc- Parent unit Pare Parent Reinforced Reinforce Parent Reinforce Not
  ing nt unit unit d unit unit; d unit; applicabl
  unit reinforced then e
  unit parent
  unit
  General Parent unit Pare Parent Parent Reinfor Reinforce Parent Not
  support- nt unit unit ced unit d unit and unit; then applicabl
  reinforcing unit and as as reinforced e
  required required unit
  by by parent
  parent unit
  unit
  General Parent unit Pare Parent Parent As As Parent unit Not
  support nt unit unit require required applicabl
  unit d by by parent e
  parent unit
  unit
  Note. 1 Commanders of units in direct support may further assign support relationships between their subordinate
  units and elements of the supported unit after coordination with the supported commander.
  AO-area of operations