Army Forces In Joint Airborne Operations

This report was written as part of a project entitled "Joint Operational Concepts for an Uncertain Future." The focus of the research became an effort to assess the challenges that U.S. Army airborne forces may face in the future and identify capabilities airborne forces will need to effectively address those challenges. This report summarizes threats tothe current U.S. airborne force and explores the concept of an airborne light armored infantry force as a possible means to mitigate those threats. Additionally, the report examines possible vehicle options for such a concept, as well as joint requirements that the concept might generate, particularly in terms of the amount of airlift that an Army airborne unit with an increased number of vehicles could require.

This manual discusses the employment of airborne brigades, battalions, and regiments in airborne operations within the context of the AirLand Battle. It sets forth tactical and administrative support doctrine for the employment of Army forces in joint airborne operations. It discusses command and staff procedures, tactics, and techniques used in the planning and execution of parachute operations at brigade and lower echelons.

Beginning with a case study of the greatest airborne operation of the war, the 1944 invasion of Holland, Huston examines the inception, organization, training, equipment, strategies, Allied cooperation, and overall effectiveness of the airborne in the total war effort. Operations in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, Southern France, the Pacific, and the Far East are discussed.

CMH Pub. 93-7. This study in the Historial Analysis Series discusses the the origin and development of American close air support doctrine and practice in World War II. It explains how the Tunisian campaign demonstrated the need for tactical changes and close cooperation between the staffs and forces in joint and combined forces. The struggle of ground and air leaders to define and construct a command and control system, and ultimately to allocate and commit precious air resources to requisite ground missions, has as many lessons today as it did more than forty years ago. L.C. card 87-19335.

Army Field Manual (FM) 3-99, Airborne and Air Assault Operations, establishes doctrine to govern the activities and performance of Army forces in forcible entry (specifically airborne and air assault operations) and provides the doctrinal basis for vertical envelopment and follow-on operations. This publication provides leaders with descriptive guidance on how Army forces conduct vertical envelopment within the simultaneous combination of offense, defense, and stability. These doctrinal principles are intended to be used as a guide and are not to be considered prescriptive. FM 3-99 encompasses tactics for Army airborne and air assault operations and describes how commanders plan, prepare, and conduct airborne and air assault operations by means of joint combined arms operations.

This publication, Army Field Manual FM 3-99 Airborne and Air Assault Operations establishes doctrine to govern the activities and performance of Army forces in forcible entry (specifically airborne and air assault operations) and provides the doctrinal basis for vertical envelopment and follow-on operations. This publication provides leaders with descriptive guidance on how Army forces conduct vertical envelopment within the simultaneous combination of offense, defense, and stability. These doctrinal principles are intended to be used as a guide and are not to be considered prescriptive. FM 3-99 encompasses tactics for Army airborne and air assault operations and describes how commanders plan, prepare, and conduct airborne and air assault operations by means of joint combined arms operations. This publication supersedes FM 90-26, Airborne Operations and Army Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures 3-18.12, Air Assault Operations. To comprehend the doctrine contained in this publication, readers must first understand the principles of war, the nature of unified land operations, and the links between the operational and tactical levels of war described in Joint Publication (JP) 3-0, Army Doctrine Publication (ADP) 3-0, and Army Doctrine Reference Publication (ADRP) 3-0. The reader must understand the fundamentals of the operations process found in ADP and ADRP 5-0 associated with the conduct of offensive and defensive tasks contained in FM 3-90-1 and reconnaissance, security, and tactical enabling tasks contained in FM 3-90-2. In addition the reader must also fully understand the principles of mission command as described in ADP 6-0 and ADRP 6-0 and command and staff organization and operations found in FM 6-0. The principal audience for FM 3-99 is the commanders, staff, officers, and noncommissioned officers (NCOs) of the brigade, battalions, and companies within the brigade combat team. The audience also includes the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command institutions and components, and the United States Army Special Operations Command. It serves as an authoritative reference for personnel developing doctrine, materiel and force structure, institutional and unit training, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for airborne or air assault operations. This publication applies to the Active Army, the Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, and the United States Army Reserve unless otherwise stated.