text: Chapter 3
  to react and prevent the enemy from achieving a position of relative advantage. This enables the aviation
  security force commander to develop and execute a security plan that provides the required combat
  information within the time necessary to inform the protected force commander’s decisions.
  SCREEN
  3-100. Screen is a security task that primarily provides early warning to the protected force (ADP 3-90).
  While a screen provides minimal protection as compared to a guard or cover, Army Aviation’s lethality,
  speed, and long-range precision fires significantly enhances the level of protection and reaction time
  provided by a screen.
  3-101. Figure 3-18, page 3-25, depicts two SWTs screening a security forward of a battalion area defense.
  UAS focus on two primary avenues of approach into the security area while the SWTs screen secondary
  routes in the security area.
  Figure 3–18. Scout weapons team using MUM-T screens forward of a protected force
  3-102. A screen is used to cover gaps between forces, exposed flanks of stationary forces, or to the rear or
  flanks of a moving force. Screens are used when the expectation of enemy contact is low, the enemy force
  is expected to be small or the protected force requires minimal reaction time. Screens are economy of force
  missions to enable maximum combat power to remain uncommitted in the protected force. If significant
  enemy contact is expected or more reaction time is required, other forms of security—guard or cover—are
  more appropriate security tasks.
  3-103. The screen force has the minimum combat power required to provide the desired early warning, as
  well as destroy enemy reconnaissance forces with direct and indirect fires. ; however, to preserve main
  body combat power, the screen force lacks adequate combat power to become decisively engaged with
  enemy main body forces. Once contact is gained with the main body or a superior enemy force, the screen
  force harasses and impedes the enemy force, then conducts battle handover to a follow-on force or the
  protected force.
  3-104. The enhanced endurance, mobility, lethality, sensors of Army Aviation attack or reconnaissance
  units make them ideally suited to operate as an independent screening force or as a part of a combined arms
  team conducting security operations. Attack or reconnaissance aircraft as well as UAS can acquire and
  engage targets at extended ranges to provide maximum early warning and reaction time while not
  becoming decisively engaged. Additionally, communication relay packages and non-LOS communications
  enable effective reporting at greater distances to allow increased security area size and depth to maximize
  early warning and reaction time.
  3-105. Critical tasks for an aviation security force conducting screens, include the following: