Terran Republic Air Cav (TRAC)

Combat Service Support Execution:

6-7. General.

The AATF is normally configured to conduct the initial assault with one to three days of accompanying supplies to ensure some degree of self sustainment. When the enemy situation permits, resupply is accomplished by air on a routine basis to keep supplies at the one- to three-day level.

6-8. Supply.

a. The most efficient method for conducting the resupply of forward AATF units is the logistics package (LOGPAC) method. A LOGPAC is a resupply element based on a day's logistics requirements for a company. It is organized in the unit trains by the company supply sergeant and the support platoon leader and prepared for air movement. The AATF SOP establishes the standard LOGPAC.

b. Supplies going forward from the trains move by methods that reduce loading and unloading times. Palletized or external slingloads reduce the ground-time vulnerability of aircraft because they can be unloaded quickly.

c. When preparing the loads, the S4 provides essential equipment and personnel (for example, hookup teams, ground guides, signalmen, slings, pallets, nylon webbing, chainlink slings, and clevises).

6-9. Maintenance.

Maintenance involves inspecting, testing, servicing, repairing, requisitioning, rebuilding, recovering, and evacuating. The assault echelon is not normally accompanied by maintenance personnel. During air assault operations, repair above the operator level is accomplished in one of two ways:

a. Contact teams from organizational or support maintenance may be flown forward to effect immediate repair of critical equipment.

b. Deadlined and/or damaged equipment is evacuated by air.

6-10. Field and personnel support services.

These services for the soldier are an important part of the overall support effort and continue during air assault operations; however, these services are rarely part of an air assault operation. Rather, they are accomplished in a rear area outside the air assault area of operations.

6-11. Medical support.

a. Support. This is provided by the medical platoon and the medical section of the FSSE, when available. The support is planned by the AATF medical platoon leader and is addressed in the administrative and logistics annex to the OPORD to include:

(1) Location of far forward treatment sites.

(2) Ground and air evacuation plans and/or routes.

(3) Location of support hospitals.

(4) Communications instructions.

To adequately support the mission, the platoon leader should be included in all operational and/or tactical briefings.

b. Medical evacuation. The primary means for AATF medical evacuation is by medevac helicopter. Inflight medical care is essential for those patients whose condition is serious enough to require air evacuation. Medical evacuation crews will deliver patients to proper treatment facilities.

c. Control. There are two options for controlling medevac requests:

(1) Allow subordinate units to request medevac direct from the medical unit.

(2) Receiving and consolidating requests, establishing casualty priorities, and dispatching medevac aircraft.

d. Coordination. When possible, the AATF SI coordinates directly with the medevac unit commander or section leader. He provides the unit a complete copy of the AATF's CEOI, PZs, LZs, and flight route overlay. This makes it possible for the medevac helicopter pilot to establish radio contact on the internal radio net of the supported unit. This helps relieve congestion on the command radio net. When medevac communications take place at the AATF level, they are usually done on the administrative and logistics net. Since the medevac unit has the PZs, LZs, and flight routes, the AATF commander can direct medevac aircraft through his sector via a specific flight route. This lessens interference with ground operations, indirect fires, and TACAIR. A technique used in the employment of medevac helicopters is to have them trail the AATF while it is en route. This ensures that the helicopters are immediately available to take on wounded and ensures pilot familiarity with the route to the objective area. If evacuation is required later, faster response is possible.

e. Nuclear, biological, and chemical. In the event that contaminated casualties have to be evacuated by helicopter, the aircrew should be warned before actual pickup. When flying with these casualties, all personnel on the aircraft must be in appropriate mission-oriented protection posture (MOPP) and land downwind from the medical aid station after notifying the station of casualty status and the contaminating agent.

6-12. Transportation.

In addition to their assault and assault support roles, utility and medium (CH47) helicopters play an important role in providing CSS for the AATF. Helicopters are relied upon for movement of supplies, materiel, fuel, ammunition, maintenance contact, and for evacuation of damaged equipment.

Aviation Support Considerations:

6-13. General.

Aviation units consume large amounts of fuel, ammunition, Class IX, and maintenance support during intensive air assault operations. Although aviation units are normally responsible for meeting their own unique logistical support requirements, the air assault logistical planner must be aware of the requirements, plan for them, and be prepared to assist as necessary.

6-14. Forward area rearming and refueling points.

Forward area rearming and refueling points are established by aviation units to provide for the rapid rearming and refueling necessary to sustain a fast pace. Forward area rearming and refueling points are:

a. Established in the vicinity of the ground unit exercising operational control (behind the FEBA, and out of range of enemy artillery).

b. Positioned to reduce turnaround time, thus optimizing helicopter availability, and repositioned frequently to avoid detection and destruction.

c. Fully mobile, using ground vehicles and helicopters.

d. Capable of operation within 30 minutes of installation and capable of redeployment within 30 minutes.

e. Capable of performing refueling and rearming operations rapidly and efficiently.

6-15. Aircraft maintenance and recovery.

a. Maintenance.

Aircraft have substantial maintenance requirements. However, maintenance is kept to a minimum in the operational area. A method used to accomplish this, and still have responsive maintenance, is to have aircraft standing by to move maintenance contact teams where required. In addition, a maintenance aircraft and personnel may accompany the flight. If an aircraft has maintenance problems during movement, maintenance personnel may be able to repair it and save valuable aircraft operation time.

b. Recovery.

If an aircraft is forced to land on enemy terrain due to mechanical problems or combat damage, every effort is made to protect the aircraft and crew until they can be evacuated. However, mission execution has priority over rescue and recovery operations. The AATF commander is notified immediately of any downed aircraft. He takes action to secure and recover the crew and aircraft with his resources or requests recovery by higher echelon. When an aircraft is downed, the senior occupant assumes command and establishes a defense of the area or organizes evasive action. If an aircraft is abandoned, steps are taken to destroy it to preclude its capture or the capture of sensitive equipment or documents. The level of authority required to destroy the aircraft is established in higher echelon SOPs (it may be covered in the OPORD). However, if capture is imminent, the aircraft, equipment, or documents should be destroyed. Recovery of a downed aircraft is accomplished by the aviation unit. The AATF commander may have to provide security for the recovery team.

Conduct of an Air Assault Operation:

Air Assault Planning Forms:

Sample Annex to Infantry Battalion SOP for Air Assault Task Force Operations:

Helicopter Characteristics:

Pickup Zone and Landing Zone Operations:

Air Assault Training:

Army Airspace Management:

Moving Vehicle-mounted TOW by Helicopter:

Glossary:

References:

Authorization:

OP, speaking of OPSEC.. isn't this a little over the top and too relevant to real operations? That's a pretty good collection of information you have there. I'm curious to know your aviation background if you have some.

FM distribution is cleared for public release and all Youtube vids were found using simple pro-word chains. Am sure any threat to real-world forces has already used the internet before I made this recruiting thread. Wouldn't dare dream of seeing harm to those serving btw. Got some buddies still in.

Things are still under construction here and am planning to translate the FM 90-4 into a Planetside 2 format. All in good time. Was wanting to create some meat for the game's boney lore to better immersion. Some of us are married and looking forward to the 20th and beyond.

My background is Cav and land-based but I have spent some time in the air. Even though we were mechanized, we did Air Assaults since 1-9 was the MOUT unit for Division. At Fort Hood, using Bradley IFVs, we also helped do load tests for the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III program.

Got much appreciation, love, and respect for Aviators, Air Crews, and Operators irl. Is why am trying to show them doing what they do best. Anything less would not do.