text: Army Aviation’s Role in Unified Land Operations
  the tactical level, air assault operations emphasize seizing terrain, destroying enemy forces, and interdicting
  enemy withdrawal routes.
  1-22. Army Aviation assault and heavy lift units, supported by attack and reconnaissance units, rapidly
  reposition personnel and equipment to enable the combined arms team to strike over extended distances
  and terrain to attack the enemy where and when it is most vulnerable. Air assaults extend the tactical and
  operational reach of the combined arms team by overcoming the effects of terrain, achieving surprise, and
  isolating, dislocating, or destroying enemy forces by rapidly massing combat power at the maneuver
  commander’s time and place of choice.
  1-23. The air assault task force (AATF) is the entire combined arms team conducting the air assault. The
  AATF commander (normally the ground maneuver brigade or battalion commander whose subordinate
  echelon constitutes the main combat force [FM 3-99]) commands the combined arms team through all
  phases of the air assault. When task-organized with ground maneuver forces and fires, an Army Aviation
  battalion or brigade commander can operate as the AATF commander. The aviation task force commander
  (or a designated subordinate leader for air assaults below battalion level) serves as the air mission
  commander and commands the aviation forces through all phases of the air assault and follow-on ground
  tactical plan. The ground tactical commander is the commander of the largest ground maneuver force
  inserted during the air assault and assumes command of the ground tactical force in the landing zone (LZ)
  and upon initiation of the ground tactical plan.
  1-24. Army Aviation attack and reconnaissance units utilizing MUM-T conduct reconnaissance, security,
  and hasty or deliberate attacks against enemy forces in and out of friendly contact under the control of the
  air mission commander during the assault and may transition to the control of the ground tactical
  commander upon initiation of the ground tactical plan. When task-organized with ground maneuver forces
  and fires, Army Aviation battalions, squadrons, or brigades can operate as the AATF.
  1-25. Army Aviation provides the combined arms team with the agility, mobility, lethality, and the element
  of surprise to rapidly mass combat forces and equipment, regardless of terrain, to seize the initiative by
  attacking enemy forces or seizing objectives to exploit tactical and operational opportunities and enemy
  forces when most vulnerable.
  AIR MOVEMENT OF PERSONNEL, EQUIPMENT, AND SUPPLIES
  1-26. Army Aviation assault, general support (GS), heavy lift, and fixed-wing (FW) units conduct air
  movement of personnel, leaders, critical supplies, equipment, and systems during the conduct of offensive,
  defensive, stability, and DSCA operations throughout the depth and breadth of the AO.
  1-27. Army Aviation RW aircraft conduct air movement using both internal and external (sling) loads. The
  supported unit provides pickup zone (PZ) and LZ control, load rigging, ground movement, and
  certification. Army Aviation FW aircraft conduct air movement with internal loads between improved
  airfields to move limited critical personnel and supplies in the AO or area of interest. The loading and
  ground movement of critical supplies and personnel for FW operations is typically controlled and executed
  through the arrival/departure airfield control group.
  1-28. Air movement operations can be conducted in support of a variety of operations, to include—
  * Foreign humanitarian assistance.
  * Foreign disaster relief.
  * Homeland defense.
  * Non-combatant evacuation.
  * Routine and emergency resupply of combat units.
  * Movement of barrier materials and munitions in the defense.
  * Movement of fuel, ammunition, and personnel over extended lines of communications (LOCs)
  to support the offense.
  * Battlefield circulation of key leaders.