Joint Pub 3-17 Joint Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures for Theater Airlift Operations 18 July 1995 PREFACE 1. Scope 3. Application This publication provides fundamental a. Doctrine and selected tactics, principles and doctrine for the conduct of techniques, and procedures and guidance aerial delivery and airland delivery established in this publication apply to the operations throughout the range of military commanders of combatant commands, operations. subunified commands, joint task forces, and subordinate components of these 2. Purpose commands. These principles and guidance also may apply when significant forces of This publication has been prepared one Service are attached to forces of another under the direction of the Chairman Service or when significant forces of one of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. It sets Service support forces of another Service. forth doctrine and selected tactics, techniques, and procedures (JTTP) b. The guidance in this publication is to govern the joint activities and authoritative; as such, this doctrine and performance of the Armed Forces of selected tactics, techniques, and procedures the United States in joint operations will be followed except when, in the as well as the doctrinal basis for US judgment of the commander, exceptional military involvement in multinational circumstances dictate otherwise. If conflicts and interagency operations. It arise between the contents of this provides military guidance for the publication and the contents of Service exercise of authority by combatant publications, this publication will take commanders and other joint force precedence for the activities of joint forces commanders and prescribes doctrine unless the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of and selected tactics, techniques, and Staff, normally in coordination with the procedures for joint operations and other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, training. It provides military guidance has provided more current and specific for use by the Armed Forces in guidance. Commanders of forces operating preparing their appropriate plans. It as part of a multinational (alliance or is not the intent of this publication to coalition) military command should follow restrict the authority of the joint force multinational doctrine and guidance ratified commander (JFC) from organizing the by the United States. For doctrine and force and executing the mission in a procedures not ratified by the United States, manner the JFC deems most appropriate commanders should evaluate and follow the to ensure unity of effort in the multinational command’s doctrine and accomplishment of the overall mission. procedures, where applicable. For the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: WALTER KROSS Lieutenant General, USAF Director, Joint Staff i Preface Intentionally Blank ii Joint Pub 3-17 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................... vii CHAPTER I GENERAL OVERVIEW • Basic Concepts......................................................................................................... I-1 • Categories of Theater Airlift ................................................................................... I-6 • Methods of Airlift Delivery ................................................................................... I-10 • Augmentation of Theater Airlift............................................................................ I-14 • Military Operations Other Than War .................................................................... I-16 • Special Operations ................................................................................................. I-17 CHAPTER II COMMAND AND CONTROL OF THEATER AIRLIFT FORCES • General ................................................................................................................... II-1 • Broad Guidelines ................................................................................................... II-1 • The Joint Air Operations Center ........................................................................... II-1 • The Theater Air Control System ........................................................................... II-2 • Control of Augmenting Forces .............................................................................. II-4 • Command and Control of USTRANSCOM Mobility Forces ............................... II-4 CHAPTER III APPORTIONMENT, ALLOCATION, REQUEST, AND CONTROL OF THEATER AIRLIFT MOVEMENTS • General .................................................................................................................. III-1 • Apportionment ...................................................................................................... III-1 • Allocation and the Joint Movement Center.......................................................... III-1 • Requests ................................................................................................................ III-1 • Validation .............................................................................................................. III-3 • Request Procedures............................................................................................... III-3 • The Army Component System ............................................................................. III-3 • The Marine Corps Component System ................................................................ III-5 • The Air Force Component System ....................................................................... III-7 • The Navy Component System .............................................................................. III-8 • The Special Operations Forces Component System ............................................ III-9 • Control ................................................................................................................ III-10 CHAPTER IV PLANNING THEATER AIRLIFT OPERATIONS • General .................................................................................................................. IV-1 iii Table of Contents • Command Responsibilities ................................................................................... IV-1 • Preliminary Planning ............................................................................................ IV-5 • Plan Development ................................................................................................. IV-5 • Landing Plan ......................................................................................................... IV-6 • Air Movement Plan .............................................................................................. IV-8 • Intelligence Planning .......................................................................................... IV-10 • Operations Security and Counterintelligence Planning ..................................... IV-11 • Command, Control, Communications, and Computer (C4) Systems Planning. IV-11 • Logistics Planning .............................................................................................. IV-12 • Materiel Collection and Classification Planning ............................................... IV-14 • Planning for Enemy Prisoners of War ................................................................ IV-14 • Medical Support Planning .................................................................................. IV-14 • Weather Planning ................................................................................................ IV-14 • Marshalling Plan ................................................................................................. IV-15 • Withdrawal or Restaging Plan ............................................................................ IV-15 CHAPTER V MARSHALLING • General ................................................................................................................... V-1 • Preparations ........................................................................................................... V-1 • Dispersal Procedures ............................................................................................. V-2 • Responsibilities ...................................................................................................... V-3 • Execution ............................................................................................................... V-3 CHAPTER VI AERIAL DELIVERY OPERATIONS • General .................................................................................................................. VI-1 • Responsibilities ..................................................................................................... VI-1 • Airdrop Support Responsibilities ......................................................................... VI-1 • Drop Zone Types .................................................................................................. VI-2 • Drop Zone Criteria and Considerations ............................................................... VI-4 • Drop Zone Surveys ............................................................................................. VI-12 • Separation of Personnel and Equipment ............................................................ VI-13 • Equipment Delivery Operations ......................................................................... VI-13 • Types of Equipment Airdrop .............................................................................