FM 57-35 Airmobile Operations - Survival Books

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COM79. Movement to ContactDuring movement to contact, airmobile forces may be employedwith the covering force, between the covering force and advanceguard, with the advance guard, and on the flanks of the main body(fig. 5). Reconnaissance for suitable landing zones is continuousthroughout movement to contact. Airmobile security elementsbetween the advance guard and covering force normally are undercontrol of the column commander. He controls them by assigningphase lines; specific objectives; and zones, areas, or routes ofreconnaissance.LEGEND: »• = AIRMOBILE FORCEFigure 5. Movement to contact.80. OffenseAirmobile forces employed in offensive actions can transformlimited success into sizable gains, or they can substantially lessenthe time required to execute an operation.a. Meeting Engagement (Fig. 6). In a meeting engagement, theforce that seizes the initiative has the advantage. The columncommander must have control over an Army aviation unit to beable to use airmobile forces quickly and effectively in a meetingengagement.(1) He can use airmobile security forces to quickly seizecritical terrain on the enemy flanks or rear and to gainknowledge of enemy actions. The size of these forces isAGO 2294B53