text: Plans, Organization, Conduct, and Threat
  them. This speeds the operation and helps ensure the safe withdrawal of personnel, equipment, and aircraft
  from the area.
  2-33. Unless they land with the lifted unit, pathfinders must arrive at the extraction site in time to
  reconnoiter thoroughly and coordinate with the lifted unit.
  2-34. During the planning stage, the pathfinder team leader designates near and far rally points for use
  in case the DZ or LZ becomes unusable. Pathfinders may have to fight their way to these rally points and
  reorganize. To increase the chance of survival, evasion, resistance, and escape, the team leader designates
  far rally points several kilometers from the DZ or LZ.
  STAGING AREAS
  2-35. In staging areas, in the absence of air traffic control (ATC) units, pathfinders can provide air
  traffic advisories. They may also act as liaison between the aviation and ground units and help the ground
  unit commander prepare and position troops, supplies, and equipment for air movement. When pathfinders
  must set up a temporary staging area to support an operation of short duration, they move into the area
  before the operation begins. This gives them enough time to reconnoiter, mark the site, coordinate, and set
  up positive ATC. Safe, efficient, and rapid movement of helicopters or airplanes requires positive ATC in
  staging areas. The need for positive ATC increases when the weather deteriorates, when the number of
  aircraft increases, or when changes in the situation or plans require it.
  ARTILLERY DISPLACEMENT
  2-36. Pathfinders should help safely and rapidly displace artillery, day or night. Coordinating with
  ground and aviation unit commanders and understanding their SOPs ensure pathfinders accurately and
  efficiently deliver equipment, personnel, and ammunition.
  SUPPORT OF GROUND OPERATIONS
  2-37. During ground operations that require sustained Army aviation support, pathfinders might
  continuously aid and control aircraft. The commander can attach pathfinders he has already attached to
  Infantry battalions to companies as well. The pathfinders provide support consistent with the availability of
  personnel and equipment. Continuous support improves operational efficiency and aviation safety during
  all types of air assault operations. However, aviation units with limited pathfinder resources cannot provide
  continuous support. In such cases, commanders usually employ pathfinders on a short-term, priority basis
  wherever the pathfinders can help accomplish major unit missions. In the absence of pathfinders, selected
  personnel in the ground units must receive enough training and preparation to allow them to provide
  minimum aid to supporting aircraft.
  SUPPORT OF AIR FORCE
  2-38. By joint US Army and USAF agreement, in the absence of USAF STTs, Army pathfinders can
  provide day or night control for USAF aircraft on airfields, DZs, and LZs. However, the pathfinders may
  need UHF and VHF communications equipment that is compatible with USAF aircraft.
  MIXED OPERATIONS
  2-39. Some situations could require the simultaneous control of mixed air traffic at the same location,
  such as resupply parachute drops into forward helicopter LZs. Fixed-wing airfields can expect helicopter
  traffic. Mixed air traffic often presents difficult control problems, so controllers must apply strict control
  measures. To ensure control, they designate, coordinate, and clearly identify landing, parking, loading,
  unloading, refueling, and rearming areas.