text: Overview
  aircraft, close air support, and other aviation units. It coordinates the AATF’s plans for maneuver and
  sustainmentwiththoseofhigher,subordinate,andadjacentunits.
  1-131. Normally, a BCT commander serves as the AATF commander for a ground maneuver battalion-
  size air assault and a ground maneuver battalion commander serves as the AATF commander for a
  company-size air assault. The air mission commander and the ground maneuver unit commander are
  subordinatetotheAATFcommander.
  1-132. The air mission commander is the aviation unit commander or his designated representative. The
  air mission commander receives and executes the guidance and directives from the AATFC, and controls
  all aviation elements. The air mission commander ensures continuity of command for all supporting
  aviation units and employs attack helicopters and artillery along the air route, fighting the battle from the
  pickup zone to the landing zone, while keeping the AATFC informed. The air mission commander has
  operational control of assault helicopters providing lift to the ground maneuver force and the aviation unit
  providingassault helicopters is either in direct support of the ground combat unit or under the operational
  control of the AATF. The support relationship mayend at a predetermined point during the operation, on
  orderofthehighercommander,ortheAATFcommander maydeterminewiththeairmissioncommander’s
  inputwhentheoperationalcontrolrelationshipbeginsandends.
  1-133. The commander directing the air assault normally does not attach aviation airlift or escort units to
  the AATF, because it is unlikely that a ground unit can control the aviation unit and supply the aviation-
  specific munitionsand large amountsof fuelrequired by aviationunits. Directsupport and the operational
  controlcommandrelationshipsdonotplace logisticsresponsibilityforthesupportingunit onthe supported
  unit. The operational control command relationship allows the AATF commander to reorganize the
  aviation airlift and escorting units when necessary as dictated by the situation. The direct support
  relationship allows the overall commander to shift the support of these aviation units to other units in
  response to unexpected developments. Consequently, direct support or operational control is usually the
  desiredrelationshipbetweenairandgroundunitsinairassaultoperations.
  1-134. The commander ordering the air assault considers the availability and allocation of assault and
  attack aviation assets when determining the AATF’s task organization. He ensures that the ground
  maneuverforcecontainssufficientcombatpowertoseizeitsinitialobjectivesand defendits landingzones.
  The ground maneuver force requires a mission specific balance of mobility, combat power, and
  sustainment capabilities. The available rotary-wing aircraft must be able to insert the required combat
  power into the objective area as quickly as possible to provide surprise and shock effect, consistent with
  aircraftandpickupzoneandlandingzonecapabilities.
  1-135. Airassaultoperationsrequirethe useofredundantairborneand ground command posts. Normally,
  a joint force airborne command post operates from a joint airborne communications center and command
  post, while a command post from the air assault force operates from fixed-wing or rotary-wing platform
  withrequiredcommunicationsinstalledoraspeciallyconfiguredmissioncommandrotary-wingaircraft.
  SPACE OPERATION
  1-136. Airborne and air assault forces rely on space-based capabilities and systems for precision,
  navigation and timing, communication, terrestrial and space weather, and intelligence collection platforms
  to be successful during forcible entry operations. (Refer to JP 3-14 and FM 3-14 for more information.)
  These systems are critical enablers to plan, communicate, navigate and maneuver, maintain situational
  awareness,engagetheenemy,providemissilewarning,andprotectandsustaintheentryforce.
  1-137. Space specialists supporting tactical planning by providing expertise and advice regarding
  available space capabilities and limitations enable space operations. Planning and coordination of space
  support with national, service, joint, and theater resources takes place with Army space professionals who
  are attached at the corps and division levels to provide expertise and advice to the commander on space
  relatedissuesthatmayimpactoperations.
  1-138. Space support capabilities include receiving accurate status of positioning, navigation, and timing
  forplanningoperations, providingcapabilitiesand limitations ofspace-based intelligence, surveillanceand
  reconnaissance, weather, and communication systems, as well as providing assistance and notification of
  deliberateenemyinterferenceactivitiessuchasattemptstojamorspooffriendlycommunications.