text: Ground Tactical Plan
  TIME-SPACEFACTORS
  4-39. Commanders schedule the delivery sequence and the time between serials to provide the least time
  and distance separation between each aircraft and serial. The airborne force assembles maximum combat
  poweronthedropzoneasquicklyaspossible,usingeitherofthefollowingoptions:
  (cid:122) Landall elements inthesame area. Aircraftapproachthedropzonein adeep,narrowformation
  andallSoldiersjumpintoasmallarea.
  (cid:122) Land all elements at the same time. Aircraft in a wide formation approach various drop zones
  situatedclosetoeachotherandallSoldiersjumpatthesametimeorasneartoitaspossible.
  LANDINGPRIORITIES
  4-40. Airborne units are cross loaded to land close to their assault objectives and are organized to try to
  maintaintacticalunity.
  (cid:122) Battalionsor battalion task forcesland intact ona single drop zone. AnIBCT landsin mutually
  supportingdrop zones.Two or morebattalionsland successivelyonthesame drop zone oreach
  canlandonaseparatedropzonewithinageneralIBCTdropzonearea.
  (cid:122) Theairborne force sendsas manyassaultunitpersonneland equipmentaspossible into the area
  inparachuteserials.Commandersmustconsider themobilityofequipmentafterthe landing.For
  example,thecarriersorprime moversthataredeliverablebyparachute, butdifficultto moveor
  carry on the ground; can accompany the weapons in the assault element. Paratroopers
  accompanytheirunits’principalitemsofequipment.
  FIRESUPPORTPLAN
  4-41. The following fire support planning and coordination actions are the responsibility of the
  IBCT/battalion/squadronduringgroundmovement:
  (cid:122) Support the scheme of maneuver. The goal is to place the maximum amount of indirect
  firepoweronthegroundasquicklyaspossible.
  (cid:122) Control indirect-fire systems. Initially, control is decentralized; a forward observer calls for fire
  directlytoafiresupportasset.
  (cid:122) Plan fires to block enemy avenues of approach. (Consider family of scatterable mines
  [FASCAM]deliveredbyair.)
  (cid:122) Planfirestoeliminateenemyresistance(groupsandseriesintheobjectivearea).
  (cid:122) Planfirestodefend keyterrainneededtolinkup withfriendlyforces.
  (cid:122) Planfirestosupportsecurityorreconnaissanceforcesintheobjectivearea.
  (cid:122) Planfiresontopof,totheflanks,andbeyondassaultobjectives.
  (cid:122) Plancloseairsupport.
  (cid:122) Planfinalprotectivefires.
  (cid:122) Recommendpriorityoffires.
  (cid:122) Select initial field artillery and mortar positions that can be occupied quickly from drop zones
  andlandingzones.
  (cid:122) Select subsequent field artillery and mortar positions to provide combat outposts and security
  forces.
  (cid:122) Coordinatelandingplan.Planningand coordination of firesupportduring the air movementand
  pre-assault fires are the joint task force’s responsibility; he plans SEAD fires along the flight
  route and in the objective area. Once on the ground, friendlypositions are marked. The assault
  force must ensure that pre-assault air strikes are planned against other enemy positions in the
  objectivearea.
  (cid:122) Pre-assaultfiresareplannedasfollows:
  Onandaroundthelandingzoneordropzone(alternateandfalse).
  (cid:132)
  Onenemyairdefenseartillery.
  (cid:132)
  Onenemycommand,control,andcommunication.
  (cid:132)