text: Army Aviation Operations
  increasing levels of security to the protected force. However, the more combat power in the security force,
  the less combat power available for the main body. Area security preserves the commander’s freedom of
  action to conduct sustaining operations, C2, and reposition reserves. Local security is an inherent
  responsibility of all units and provides immediate and local protection of the force.
  3-90. Army Aviation attack or reconnaissance units are specifically equipped, trained, and organized to
  conduct security operations, but the only security task that aviation can perform autonomously is the screen
  task. Army Aviation conducts screens at all echelons, from elements as small as an AWT/SWT using
  MUM-T, up to elements as large as an AB/ACS, either independently as a pure aviation maneuver force or
  as a member of the combined arms team.
  3-91. The size of the aviation security force is determined by—
  * Size and follow-on mission of the protected force.
  * Location and orientation of the security area.
  * Duration of the security mission.
  * Enemy situation.
  * Complexity of the terrain.
  * Reaction time required by the protected force commander (most important).
  3-92. When Army Aviation is designated as the combined arms team security force headquarters, only
  screen or guard missions can be assigned to an ASTF/ABTF, or aviation brigade headquarters task-
  organized with adequate ground maneuver forces. However, the security task assigned to subordinate
  aviation elements is still screen. Due to the size, complexity, and C2 requirements, Army Aviation is not
  assigned the covering force headquarters mission but may be task-organized to a BCT or higher ground
  maneuver force assigned the covering force mission.
  3-93. When task-organized to a ground maneuver force with an area, screen, guard, or covering force
  security mission, Army Aviation conducts the full range of tactical, enabling, and sustaining tasks, to
  include: screen, attack, reconnaissance, air assault, air movement, AE, and C2 support.
  3-94. During security operations, Army Aviation can perform the following tasks:
  * Screen the flanks or rear of a moving force or forward, to the flanks, or to the rear of a stationary
  force.
  * Conduct zone and route reconnaissance or provide a forward security element for a moving
  ground force.
  * Locate and destroy enemy reconnaissance and security forces in within the aviation unit’s AO or
  attempting to penetrate the screen.
  * Employ indirect and direct fires to fix or delay enemy main body forces.
  * Conduct attacks to defeat or destroy enemy main body forces.
  * Conduct force-oriented reconnaissance of all terrain and routes that influence the security area.
  * Locate and reconnoiter obstacles and determine bypasses forward of a moving force.
  * Air assault to seize an objective or to fix, block, or destroy an enemy force forward or to the
  flanks of a moving or stationary force.
  * Insert, extract, or resupply dismounted or mounted security units along a flank screen of a
  moving force or forward of a stationary force.
  * Conduct AE or aerial CASEVAC of the wounded and ill in the security area.
  * Conduct air movement of friendly forces in the security area.
  * Conduct C2 support to extend the range of communications networks to enable the protected
  force increased situational understanding for early warning and reaction time.
  3-95. Depending upon whether the aviation security force is protecting a moving or stationary force and
  whether the security area is forward, to the rear, or to the flanks of the protected force, aviation security
  force commanders use a variety of techniques when initially occupying positions within a security area or
  along a screen line. When conducting a security mission for a stationary force, aviation security force
  commanders consider how fast the security area must be occupied to meet mission requirements and what