text: Chapter 4
  airspace elements through the JAGIC but brigades can be delegated the authority to directly coordinate by
  the division.
  4-5. In large portions of a unit’s AO, airspace element personnel communicate with airspace users and have
  digital situational awareness of airspace user locations. This communication and awareness enable a form of
  near-real-time procedural control. By collaborating with cooperative airspace users, airspace element
  personnel can create focused (minimal time and area) airspace coordinating measures and exchange this data
  with all local airspace users. Using near-real-time procedural control, airspace element personnel can direct
  Army airspace users to shift airspace use to a different route, altitude, or volume of airspace. The airspace
  user still retains the responsibility for safely maneuvering to the new airspace. The collocation of functionally
  aligned theater air control system elements can expand this near-real-time control to joint airspace users.
  4-6. During execution, near-real-time airspace procedural control requires airspace elements and users to
  continually monitor and assess the operations of all airspace users. The airspace elements monitor and assess
  in support of their operations as well as those transiting through the air over their ground AO. This continuous
  assessment contributes to the commander’s situational understanding and enables units to react to situations
  requiring immediate use of airspace.
  4-7. During execution, the airspace element’s running estimate, along with other staff section’s running
  estimates, supplements the common operational picture (COP) based on digital feeds from various
  information systems such as Army, joint, interagency, multinational, and so on. The combined running
  estimates and COP depict key information from each functional area or warfighting function. This
  information directly supports the commander’s ability to understand, visualize, describe, direct, lead, and
  assess operations and enables units to react to situations requiring immediate use of airspace. For example,
  information provides details of airspace use for immediate fires, close air support missions, unplanned
  unmanned aircraft system launch, or diversion of aviation assets in near-real-time.
  4-8. Situational understanding of airspace users within the unit’s AO is a critical element in enabling the
  commander to make rapid decisions and capitalize on opportunities by taking prudent risk. Commanders rely
  on their understanding of an operational environment to make informed risk decisions. This understanding
  results from many factors but heavily relies on situational understanding developed from the COP. The
  airspace elements perform the critical task of developing and interpreting the air COP for the commander
  and staff. The air COP enables the commander to visualize all airspace users’ identification, location, flight
  paths, trajectories and other information critical to rapid decisionmaking and risk mitigation. Commanders
  can integrate airspace use in near-real-time by knowing who is in the airspace, where they are going, and
  what their mission is.
  4-9. As in planning, the airspace elements maintain constant communication with the fires cell, air liaison
  officer, tactical air control party, intelligence sections, unmanned aircraft system operators, and all other staff
  elements that represent airspace users. Airspace elements track and establish communication links with all
  manned and unmanned airspace users. This communication enables the airspace elements to build complete
  situational understanding and to synchronize ongoing airspace operations. By establishing these
  communication links, airspace element personnel can solve airspace user conflicts in near-real-time by
  recommending adjustments to timing, trajectories, or flight paths to the staff elements and subordinate
  headquarters that control the conflicting users. This process is continuous and requires the airspace elements
  to monitor not only the current operations but also to project airspace usage for planned operations.
  ASSESSMENT
  4-10. Assessment which is the continuous monitoring and evaluation of the current situation, precedes and
  guides every operations process activity and concludes each operation or phase of an operation. Staffs
  monitor the current situation for unanticipated successes, failures, or enemy actions. Commanders and staffs
  look for opportunities, threats, and acceptable progress as they assess the operation. They accept risks, seize
  opportunities, and mitigate threats.
  4-11. Assessment activities help commanders visualize, describe, and direct changes to the operation.
  Airspace elements assist commanders in assessing airspace operations. Assessment consists of, but is not
  limited to the following activities:
  * Monitoring the current situation to collect relevant information.