FM 57-35 Airmobile Operations - Survival Books

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMb. A thorough briefing on the assembly plan is conducted by allunits. As time and facilities permit, maps, charts, aerial photographs, and sand tables should be used.c. Assembly aids used at landing sites and strips are of threeclassifications: visual, audible, and electronic.(1) Visual assembly aids. Panels, flags, smoke, andpryotechnics are used in a variety of colors. The arrangement and color of a given aid on the periphery of thelanding zone indicates the location of subordinate unitassembly areas. Additional visual aids may be used inthe form of distinctive markings on the helmets of thetroops of each subordinate unit or a bright strip of cloth(a different color for each unit) attached at a designatedplace on the men.(2) Audible assembly aids. Audible aids include whistles,crickets, cowbells, bugles, and other devices that makea distinctive sound that can be heard above the soundof battle. Subordinate units can be briefed to assembleat the source of a specific sound. Consideration must begiven, however, to the fact that aircraft noise may overpower these audible aids.(3) Electronic assembly aids. Electronic aids include radioand radio homing devices. The organizational groundradio can assist in guiding troops to a given locationwhen properly modified with the standard directionalhoming antenna.d. Generally, the same considerations apply to night and dayassembly. Briefings, particularly on the aids used to support nightassembly plans, are more detailed. Aircraft landing direction isemphasized for directional orientation in the landing zone. Emhasisis placed on the use of infrared and visible light sources.Codes are arranged at each light source to differentiate it fromothers and indicate subordinate unit assembly areas. Visible lightsources are used in conjunction with a color scheme, but they mustbe carefully shielded. More time is needed to establish night assembly aids and this will increase the assembly time.AGO 2294B 95