Pathfinders "...provide navigational aid and advisory services to military aircraft in areas designated by supported unit commanders..."
PZ - Pick-up Zone
LZ - Landing Zone
DZ - Drop Zone
A pathfinder's key job description is to set up PZ/LZ/DZs for rotary (mainly) and fixed-wing aircraft. They inform the A/C of advisories (wind, obstacles, slope, enemy situation etc.). At the staff level, they provide the Commander with advice and insight to help plan Air Assault/Mobile/Drop ops.
This guide will also encompass basic air traffic control and terminal guidance.
Pathfinder Structure
U.S. Army:
Pathfinders tend to fall under the CAB (Combat Aviation Brigade). Most Pathfinder units are based on company/platoon sized elements. However, when fielded most teams will have 3-6 members. Other attachments (engineers, etc) are added as needed as is extra and specialized equipment (ATC tower, runway graders etc.).
U.S. Air Force
The U.S. Air Force Special Tactics Squadrons perform pathfinder-type roles. This falls onto Combat Controllers and Special Reconnaissance.
Combat Control Teams specialize in all aspects of air-ground communication, including air traffic control, pathfinding, fire support (including fixed and rotary wing close air support), and command, control, and communications in covert, forward, or austere environments.
Special Reconnaissance are trained Air Force personnel assigned to Special Tactics Squadrons who operate deep behind enemy lines to conduct covert direction of air and missile attacks, place remotely monitored sensors, and support other special operation units.
U.S. Marine Corps
In the United States Marine Corps, pathfinder missions are conducted by the Force Reconnaissance platoons by inserting in the battlefield and placing signal panels, illuminating flashers, remote sensors and beacons.
Mission
Primary Mission:
Conduct planning, survey, selection, marking, improving, and controlling sites to load/unload troops/supplies/equipment/land aircraft.
Secondary Mission:
Conduct CSAR (Combat Search And Rescue), limited reconnaissance/surveillance missions, and a limited QRF (Quick Reaction Force) and/or air interdiction force.
Infiltration Methods
Based on the type of Pathfinder unit, different insertion/extraction methods are used.
Conventional forces • Air Assault
• Mobility (dismounted/mounted)
• Static line parachute
SOF (Special Operation Forces) • Fast rope
• SPIES/FRIES
• Static line parachute
• CRRC (Combat Raiding Rubber Craft)
• Surface swimmers
• HALO/HAHO
• SCUBA teams
"Tools of the Trade"
Primary
• Standard fighting kit
• Mission specific items
• Short-range multi-frequency portable radio (e.g. AN/PRC-152)
• Long-range multi-frequency portable radio (e.g. AN/PRC-117F)
• Global Positioning System (e.g. MicroDAGR / DAGR)
• Tactical Laptop
• 2x min Colored Smoke (Friendly issued)
• IR Strobes
LZ/PZ/DZ Marking Signals
Various types of signals exist (electronic, visual, audible etc).
"Beam bag" lights are used to tactically identify the landing spot(s). Different colored lights can be used to help identify different landing spots.
Pathfinders can mark important LZ/PZ/DZ for incoming personnel:
• Assembly areas
• Medical
• Communication center
• Obstacles
• Supplies
Air Force Cross recipient Staff Sergeant Robert Gutierrez, Jr
Combat Search & Rescue Tools
"Hooligan" Tools
Saw
Torch
Manual Extraction Tool Set
Mission Planning
In order for a Pathfinder mission to succeed, effective planning is crucial.
This process starts with receiving:
• WARNO
The WARNO will let the team know what equipment, personnel and supplies will be needed for the mission. The unit will be able to start preparing even before the actual mission planning takes place.
The WARNO should address several key points:
• Current enemy situation
• State the mission thus far
• Troop attachment needs
• List of needed tools
• Needed supplies to be brought
• Any special instructions
• Necessary coordination with other units
If the unit must leave for the mission with only the WARNO, they should try to:
• Conduct a rehearsal
• Use a terrain model to better understand the AO (Area of Operations)
Pathfinder mission planning checklist
Surface wind limits based on load type
Military Coordination
Coordination between Pathfinders and other military units is fundamental for MC (Mission Complete).
Here is a list illustrating those coordination steps.
• ALO - Air Force Liaison Officer
• GUC - Ground Unit Commander
Terminal Guidance
Other personnel besides Pathfinders can also give aircraft the terminal guidance needed to operate safely in the area.
Army CAB units field a platoon of ATC (Air Traffic Control).
Once the LZ/PZ/DZ is secure, these troops and their equipment allow for much more C2 (Command and Control)
Mobile ATC Tower
Ground to Air Scenarios
Scenario 1: Location of aircraft is known
• Initial contact
• ATC information (heading, L/R landing pattern etc.)
• Advisory information (winds, slope percentage, flight/landing/departure etc.)
• Relevant notices
• Aircraft in view
• Departing instructions
• Scenario 2: Aircraft reports in from a direction/distance
• Scenario 3: Aircraft with in-flight emergencies
• Scenario 4: 'Lost' aircraft that needs navigational assistance
Ground to Air Communications
Pathfinders must be able to perform effective GTA (Ground To Air) communications with aircraft.
GTA communications are not part of traditional radio training. Learning them is easy enough but applying them in the field takes a lot of practice
Aircraft Landings Approaches
When aircraft is landing in a LZ/PZ/DZ, they must follow a landing pattern.
The different parts of an approach landing
Pathfinders must be able to effectively control congest airspace
Safety distances between aircraft on the airstrip
Landings/take-offs must be recorded
Special Ops Support
AFSOCs (Air Force Special Operations Command) / AFSW (Air Force Special Warfare) Combat Control Team (CCT) are SME (Subject Matter Experts) on all things LZ/PZ/DZ and supporting aircraft.
H-Minus Operations
Pathfinders infiltrate the planned LZ/DZs several hours to several days before the main assault force timeline.
Once they infiltrate into the AO (air assault, parachute, MFF etc.), they make their way into the contested area (dismounted or mounted).
Engineer in protective gear for a tree landing
Land navigation once on the ground
With attachment support (engineers, security force etc.), Pathfinders clear the area, mark obstacles and provide force protection to the Pathfinder teams.
Trees can be reduced by chainsaw and/or explosive charges. Larger obstacles can be dragged away with vehicle support. If the LZ/DZ needs to be graded, engineer support with bulldozers can level out the area.
Downed Aircraft Recovery Team
DART - Downed Aircraft Recovery Team
Pathfinders can help DART recover all types of aircraft equipment
The 2 most used methods of equipment extractions are:
• Mounted (vehicular)
• Airlift
HLZ Operations
HLZ - Helicopter Landing Zone
Helicopter danger zones
The larger the aircraft the larger the landing zone. Also, cargo aircraft and limited visibility add extra space to the HLZ (Helicopter Landing Zone).
The term "cleared to ground level" has been coined to illustrate the need to clear the entire site of debris that could damage the rotor blades of aircraft.
Obstacles that can not be reduced or removed must be marked in red (spray paint, chemlights, marker panels, tape etc.). Site obstacles are considered such when they are over 18" and cannot be removed.
Ground slope general rules:
• Light utility and observation do not land with over 7 degrees of slope • Heavy utility and cargo aircraft receive an advisory when 7-15 degress
• Aircraft can only hoover over LZ when slope is >15 degrees
• Advise pilots when landing on a side slope
DZ Operations
DZ - Drop Zone
CARP - Computed Air Release Point
Day/night DZ markings
The ONLY 4 Army code letters
Raised Angle Marker (RAM)
Forward throw of personnel/cargo from fixed-winged A/C
Surface wind limits
Actions on the Objective
Pathfinders set up a CC (Control Center) party that is not located on the LZ/DZ. This is to prevent Enemy EW (Electronic Warfare) from locating the actual LZ/DZ
Radio 'check-ins' are made through out the AO to communicate the aircraft moving position(s).
Sling Load Operations
Pathfinders must be proficient in advising, preparing and inspecting aircraft sling loads.
Sling load inspection
Forward Arming & Refueling Point Operations
Pathfinders aren't responsible for FARPs but they can help with set-up and aircraft control.
Prevailing Winds (MEW)
Mean Effective Wind (MEW)
Pathfinders must be able to judge wind speed for A/C landings, personnel/cargo drops. They do this by inflating a weather balloon and releasing it off into the air to rise. Pathfinders then count the seconds since that release and use an instrument to judge the angle of the balloon. Then, they match the time passed with the angle noted and can judge the wind speed. This will inform them of ground winds to drop altitude winds and allow an airdrop operation to take place.
Helium balloons typically come in 2 weights:
• 10 grams
• 30 grams
The balloons are inflated to 2 different circumferences based on time of day: