text: Organization and Employment
  an AATF exists only until completing a specified mission. After that, aviation and other
  elementsreturntothecontroloftheirparentunits.
  SECTION IV – CAPABILITIES, LIMITATIONS, VULNERABILITIES
  8-14. Gaining the initiative and setting the conditions requires commanders to know the capabilities,
  limitations and vulnerabilities of their force. The flexibility of conducting air assault operations allows a
  commander to control the tempo and exploit the initiative. A properly planned and executed air assault
  operationgeneratescombatpower.
  8-15. An air assault force is a force composed primarily of ground and rotary-wing air units organized,
  equipped, andtrained forair assault operations(JP 3-18). Airassaultforcesare most effective insituations
  where the threat of speed from mobility provides surprise and affords seizure of key terrain. Air assault
  forcesarebestsuitedformissionsthatrequire—
  (cid:122) Massingorshiftingcombatpowerquickly.
  (cid:122) Surprise.
  (cid:122) Flexibility,mobility,andspeed.
  (cid:122) Gainingandmaintainingtheinitiative.
  8-16. Considerationsforconductingairassaultoperationsareasfollows:
  (cid:122) Best conducted at night or during weather conditions that allowaircraft operation but obscure
  enemyobservationtofacilitatedeceptionandsurprise.
  (cid:122) Closeairsupportplanningmustprovidesuppressionofthreatsenroutetoandthevicinityofthe
  verticalenvelopmentpoint.
  (cid:122) Asearlyaspossible,groundandairreconnaissanceshouldbeconductedatlandingzones.
  CAPABILITIES
  8-17. An AATF can extend the battlefield, move, and rapidly concentrate combat power like no other
  availableforces.AATFcapabilitiesareasfollows:
  (cid:122) Attackenemypositionsfromanydirection.
  (cid:122) Conductattacksandraidswithintheoperationalarea.
  (cid:122) Conductexploitationandpursuitoperations.
  (cid:122) Overflyand bypass enemy positions, barriers, and obstacles and strike objectives in otherwise
  inaccessibleareas.
  (cid:122) Provide responsive reserves, allowing commanders to commit a larger portion of his force to
  action.
  (cid:122) Reactrapidlytotacticalopportunities,necessities,andthreatsinunassignedareas.
  (cid:122) Rapidlyplaceforcesattacticallydecisivepointsinthe areaofoperation.
  (cid:122) Conductfast-pacedoperationsoverextendeddistances.
  (cid:122) Conductandsupportdeceptionwithfalseinsertions.
  (cid:122) Rapidlyreinforcecommittedunits.
  (cid:122) Rapidlysecureand defendkeyterrain(suchascrossingsites,roadjunctions,andbridges)orkey
  objectives.
  (cid:122) Delayamuchlargerforcewithoutbecomingdecisivelyengaged.
  LIMITATIONS
  8-18. AnAATFreliesonhelicoptersupportthroughoutanairassaultoperation.Assuch,itmaybelimitedby(cid:650)
  (cid:122) Adverse weather; extreme heat and cold; and other environmental conditions (such as blowing
  snowand sand)thatlimitflight operations, helicopter liftingcapability,or altitudeand elevation
  restrictionsthataffectoperationalcapabilities.
  (cid:122) Relianceonairlinesofcommunication.
  (cid:122) Threataircraft,airdefense,andelectronicwarfareaction.