text: Landing Plan
  SECTION IV – ASSEMBLY AND REORGANIZATION
  5-83. Thesuccess orfailureofthe missioncandependon howfast the airborne force canregain its tactical
  integrity. The first goal of an airborne assault must be to deliver and assemble all available combat power
  as rapidly as possible. The more rapidly assault force personnel assemble and reorganize as squads,
  platoons, and companies, the sooner they can derig equipment and conduct the operations plan as a
  cohesive force. How efficiently and rapidly this happens is a direct result of detailed planning, cross
  loadingonassaultaircraft,andassemblyandreorganizationonthedropzone.
  ASSEMBLY
  5-84. Because the assemblyisa keyto success, it mustbe as deliberate and simple aspossible. Assembly
  is more than accounting for personnel; the commander must ensure the force has regained its tactical
  integrity,andisorganizedand preparedtofightasacombined armsteam.Theslower the forceassembles,
  themoreitrisksfailure.Anairborneforce’sassemblyplanconsistsmainlyofthefollowingtasks:
  (cid:122) Establishandsecureassembleareasand/orassaultpositions.
  (cid:122) Placeallorganicandattached weaponsystemsintoactionasquicklyaspossible.
  (cid:122) Reestablishmissioncommand (suchasradionetworksorreportingtohigherheadquarters).
  (cid:122) Assembletheforceandaccountforcasualtiesandstragglers.
  CROSSLOADINGFORRAPIDASSEMBLY
  5-85. Cross loading of key personnel and equipment is an important factor in rapid assembly. Careful
  attentionisgiventocrossloadingandincludesthefollowingactions:
  (cid:122) Personnel. Separate keypersonnel incase anaircraftabortsor failsto reachthe drop zone.This
  preventsthelossofmorethanonekeyofficerornoncommissionedofficerofaunit.
  (cid:122) Heavyequipmentdrop loads. Alwaysplanfor thepossibilitythatoneor more heavy equipment
  drop aircraft aborts before it gets to the drop zone or the equipment streams in and becomes
  unserviceable.
  (cid:122) Individual equipment and weapons. Planners should separate radios, mortars, antitank weapons,
  ammunitionbundles,andothercriticalequipmentorsuppliesas muchaspossible.Nolikeitems
  ofcombat-essentialequipmentfromthesameunitshouldbeonthesameaircraftifpossible.
  (cid:122) Paratroopers jumping additional equipment containers or weapons systems such as antitank
  weapons should be jumped at any position in the stick to support cross loading and assembly
  plans. The commander must make a risk assessment when locating paratroopers in the stick
  carryingthisequipment.
  (cid:122) Risks to both the paratrooper and mission accomplishment are present. If the paratrooper falls
  inside the aircraft, the remainder of the personnel may not be able to exit on that pass. In
  addition,thisequipmentincreasestherisksoftheparatrooperbeingtowedoutsidetheaircraft.
  ASSEMBLYMETHODS
  5-86. Based on the mission variables of METT-TC, the ground force commander mayelect to use one of
  thefollowingmethods:
  (cid:122) Assembly on the assault objective. This method may be used when speed is essential, the
  objectiveislightlydefended,ortheenemycanbesuppressed.
  (cid:122) Assemblyon the dropzone. Thismethod may beused when:thedropzonedoesnotusefollow-
  onforces,speed isnotessential,and dismounted avenuesofapproachfromthe dropzoneto the
  objectiveareavailable.
  (cid:122) Assemblyadjacenttothedropzone.Thismethod may beemployed whenthe dropzoneis tobe
  usedbyfollow-onforcesorifthedropzoneiscompromisedduringtheairborneassault.
  ASSEMBLYAIDS
  5-87. To speed up assembly after landing, airborne forces use assembly aids to orient themselves on the
  ground and to locate their unit’s assembly area. Assembly aids help identify personnel, equipment, and