Each air assault battalion has assigned to it a headquarters and
headquarters company (HHC).
It also includes three rifle companies.
The
antiarmor company of the air assault battalion is shown here. This company
provides antitank assistance to the line companies of the battalion.
Elements of the headquarters company include a reconnaissance platoon and
81-mm mortar platoon.
The number of weapons systems organic to the
battalion are as follows:
o
6 60-mm mortars.
o
4 81-mm mortars.
o
18 Dragons.
o
20 TOWs.
Air Assault Division Aviation Brigade.
An important organizational
characteristic of the air assault division which makes it unique is the
aviation brigade.
The mission of the aviation brigade of the air assault
division reads as follows: "To provide aviation support to the division and
aviation special staff personnel to the division headquarters."
The
aviation brigade provides numerous capabilities to the division.
Listed
below are 11 of the more important capabilities of the brigade.
o
Provides command and control, staff planning, and supervision of
subordinate and attached units.
o
Provides aviation
special
staff
personnel
for
the
division
headquarters.
o
Provides limited
aerial battlefield surveillance to acquire
information from
the enemy and terrain and performs target
acquisition.
o
Provides nearly continuous (day and night) operations during
visual weather conditions and limited operations under instrument
flight conditions.
o
Airlifts supplies,
equipment,
and
troops
of
units
of
the
division.
o
Provides aircraft to support the division headquarters,
the
support command and other units without organic aircraft.
o
Provides aircraft for general support and reinforcement to the
units with organic aircraft.
o
Provides augmentation of Army air ambulance resources by air
movement of sick and wounded personnel when requested by medical
authority.
o
Provides pathfinder support for the division.
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IS7003
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