How Air Assault Works - Featuring the Rakkasans of the 101st Airborne

Summary

In this video, Ryan Macbeth explores the relevance of air assault in modern warfare, focusing on the 101st Airborne Division's capabilities. He discusses the Russian military operation in Ukraine, where air assault tactics faced challenges, and questions the viability of such strategies against advanced surface-to-air missiles. Macbeth's firsthand experience at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, home to the 101st Airborne, reveals the division's unique air assault techniques, including night operations and sustainment strategies. The video also highlights the rigorous training and courage of the soldiers, emphasizing the importance of air assault in contemporary military operations.

Takeaways

• 💤 The video discusses the effectiveness and relevance of air assault tactics, particularly in the context of modern warfare.
• 🛏️ Ryan Macbeth, the host, shares his personal experience with a Helix mattress, emphasizing its American assembly and health benefits.
• 🚁 The Russian military's failed air assault on Hostomel airport in Ukraine is highlighted to question the current utility of air assault strategies.
• 🎖️ The 101st Airborne Division's history and evolution from an Airborne to an Air Assault division is detailed, showcasing its adaptability and specialized capabilities.
• 🏔️ The significance of the air assault doctrine, especially in providing rapid mobility and sustainment in combat operations, is underscored.
• 🔥 The video provides insights into the planning and execution of air assault missions, including the critical role of aviation in modern warfare.
• 🛬️ The discussion includes the challenges of air assault operations, such as the vulnerability of helicopters to surface-to-air missiles.
• 👥 The unique capabilities of the 101st Airborne Division, including their ability to move and sustain large forces by helicopter, are highlighted.
• 🌙 The importance of night operations and training for the 101st Airborne Division is emphasized, showcasing their preparedness for various combat scenarios.
• 🎖️ The video concludes by acknowledging the courage and resilience of the soldiers in the 101st Airborne Division, highlighting the human element in air assault operations.

Q & A

What is the significance of the Helix mattress sponsorship in the video?

The Helix mattress sponsorship is significant as it provides financial support for the content creator to conduct research and produce the video. The creator discusses the benefits of the Helix mattress, such as being assembled in America, fiberglass-free, and contributing to reduced back pain, which adds a personal touch and endorsement to the product.

What was the outcome of the Russian VDV Airborne Forces' air assault on Hostomel airport during the military operation in Ukraine?

The air assault on Hostomel airport was a disaster for the Russian VDV Airborne Forces. They lost several helicopters, failed to resupply their troops, and the runways were eventually rendered unusable by Ukrainian artillery. Despite eventually taking the airport, its utility as a logistics hub was denied to Russian forces.

Why is the 101st Airborne Division considered unique in the US Army?

The 101st Airborne Division is considered unique because it is the only division solely dedicated to air assault operations. It has the capability to move and sustain troops by helicopter, including the ability to sling load artillery and other heavy equipment, making it a versatile and rapidly deployable force.

What historical event marked a shift in the 101st Airborne's operational focus from Airborne to Air Mobile?

The historical event that marked a shift in the 101st Airborne's operational focus from Airborne to Air Mobile was the Vietnam War. The US realized it needed light units to engage the Viet Cong, leading to the development of air mobile operations, which relied on helicopters for troop movement and sustainment.

How did the 101st Airborne validate the doctrine of air assault during the Gulf War?

The 101st Airborne validated the doctrine of air assault during the Gulf War by moving an entire brigade 155 miles into Iraq and establishing a forward arming and refueling point (FARP) at FOB Cobra, which was used to cut off the Iraqi city of Basra from Baghdad. This demonstrated the effectiveness of rapid, helicopter-borne troop movements and sustainment.

What is the difference between a 'hot' and 'cold' Landing Zone (LZ) in the context of air assault operations?

A 'hot' Landing Zone is expected to receive enemy fire, while a 'cold' LZ is not. The designation is crucial for planning air assault operations as it influences tactics, such as whether to land or loiter airborne, and the level of caution and preparation required for the troops.

What is a 'gun raid' as mentioned in the context of the 101st Airborne's capabilities?

A 'gun raid' refers to a technique used by the 101st Airborne where artillery can be moved by helicopter closer to the front line to support a raid or to be the raid itself. This allows for the rapid deployment and retrieval of artillery in a single period of darkness, enhancing the element of surprise and tactical flexibility.

What is the role of the Aviation Brigade in the 101st Airborne Division?

The Aviation Brigade in the 101st Airborne Division plays a crucial role in providing air mobility, delivering troops, artillery, and supplies via helicopter. It contains various types of helicopters, including Apache attack helicopters, Blackhawk utility helicopters, and Chinook medium lift helicopters, enabling rapid deployment and sustainment of forces.

Why is the planning and execution of air assault operations described as a 'ballet'?

The planning and execution of air assault operations are described as a 'ballet' because of the intricate coordination and timing required among various elements, such as helicopters, ground troops, and support units. Each component must move in harmony to ensure the mission's success, much like the synchronized movements in a ballet.

What is the significance of the 'cherry' and 'ice' terms in air assault planning?

The terms 'cherry' and 'ice' represent risk levels in air assault planning. 'Cherry' indicates a landing zone that is too dangerous to land in, requiring diversion to an alternate LZ or other actions. 'Ice' means the landing zone is below acceptable risk criteria for landing. These terms help assess and manage risk during mission planning.

Outlines

00:00

💤 Helix Mattress Review and Introduction to Air Assault

The paragraph introduces Ryan Macbeth, who discusses his experience with Helix mattresses, emphasizing their American assembly and fiberglass-free design. He mentions an improvement in his back pain since using the mattress. Ryan then transitions to the topic of air assault, questioning its relevance in modern warfare, especially after the Russian military's failed air assault during the invasion of Ukraine. He expresses his intent to explore the capabilities of the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, which specializes in air assault operations.

05:01

🚁 The Evolution and Relevance of Air Assault Tactics

This section delves into the history and current relevance of air assault operations, particularly focusing on the 101st Airborne Division. It outlines the division's origins in World War II, its transformation into an air mobile unit during the Vietnam War, and its specialization in air assault operations. The paragraph also discusses the 101st's unique capabilities, such as gun raids and the ability to move artillery by helicopter, which set it apart in modern warfare. The discussion concludes with the author's positive assessment of air assault's continued relevance after his time with the 101st Airborne.

10:02

🎓 Training and Logistics in Air Assault Operations

The paragraph focuses on the training and logistical aspects of air assault operations within the 101st Airborne Division. It details the importance of sling loading for sustainment, the challenges faced during the Russian attack on Hostile airport, and the extensive training that 101st Airborne soldiers undergo. The text also describes the composition of the division, including its infantry brigades, sustainment brigade, artillery brigade, and the largest Aviation Brigade in the Army. The capabilities of the Aviation Brigade are highlighted, emphasizing the division's ability to move and sustain an entire brigade within a short timeframe.

15:03

✈️ Planning and Execution of Air Assault Missions

This section outlines the intricate planning and execution process of air assault missions by the 101st Airborne Division. It covers the 72-hour planning window, the roles of various teams such as scouts, Pathfinders, and the Aviation Brigade, and the importance of factors like weather, moon phase, and enemy capabilities. The paragraph also details the execution of a hypothetical mission, including the coordination between different units, the use of Blackhawks and Apaches, and the tactics employed during the assault on enemy positions.

20:04

🏹 Scouting, Pathfinders, and the Human Element in Air Assault

The paragraph emphasizes the human element in air assault operations, particularly the roles of scouts and Pathfinders. It explains the use of scouts for surveillance and the insertion of Pathfinders to prepare landing zones. The text also discusses the importance of rehearsing the loading and unloading of helicopters, the planning of air movement, and the execution of the mission. The narrative includes a detailed account of a nighttime mission, highlighting the bravery and training of the soldiers involved.

25:04

🌟 The Courage and Expertise of the 101st Airborne

In this final paragraph, the focus is on the qualities that make a good soldier in the 101st Airborne Division, with courage being a recurring theme. The text praises the division's soldiers for their ability to overcome fear through rigorous training. It also expresses gratitude to various individuals and units at Fort Campbell for their support in creating the video content. The paragraph concludes with a humorous series of fictional endorsements for Bunker Branding merchandise, adding a light-hearted touch to the video script.

Keywords

💡Air Assault

Air Assault refers to a military operation where troops are transported by helicopter to engage in combat in areas that are difficult to reach by traditional means. In the video, the concept is explored through the lens of the 101st Airborne Division's operations, emphasizing the strategic use of helicopters for rapid deployment and sustainment of forces. The video discusses the relevance of air assault in modern warfare, especially in the context of the Russian military operation in Ukraine, where air assault tactics faced significant challenges.

💡Helix Sleep

Helix Sleep is a mattress company that sponsors the video. The video's host, Ryan Macbeth, discusses his personal experience with a Helix mattress, highlighting its American assembly, fiberglass-free composition, and the positive impact it has had on his sleep quality. This keyword serves as an example of product placement within the video's content, showing how the host integrates sponsorship into the narrative.

💡Sustainment

In military operations, sustainment refers to the logistics of supplying and supporting troops in the field. The video emphasizes the 101st Airborne's expertise in sustainment, particularly their ability to deliver supplies and artillery via helicopter, which is crucial for prolonged operations. The script mentions how the 101st can perform 'gun raids,' moving artillery by helicopter to support raids or as the raid itself, showcasing the division's unique capabilities.

💡Air Mobile Operations

Air Mobile Operations were a tactical shift during the Vietnam War, where light infantry units were deployed by helicopter for rapid response and mobility. The video connects the 101st Airborne's current air assault capabilities to their historical roots in air mobile operations, highlighting how the division has evolved to specialize in helicopter-borne warfare.

💡101st Airborne Division

The 101st Airborne Division is a division of the U.S. Army known for its history of airborne and air assault operations. The video focuses on the division's current capabilities, training, and the significance of their role in modern warfare. The 101st is described as a versatile 'multi-tool' within the U.S. Army, capable of a wide range of战术 operations, from rapid deployment to sustained combat support.

💡Sling Loading

Sling loading is a technique where supplies or equipment are suspended underneath a helicopter for transport. The video explains that the 101st Airborne is skilled in sling loading, which is essential for sustainment operations. This capability allows them to transport a wide range of loads, including artillery and vehicles, to support troops in the field.

💡Pathfinders

Pathfinders are specialized soldiers who prepare landing zones for helicopter operations by marking obstacles and ensuring safety for incoming aircraft. In the video, Pathfinders are depicted as crucial to the success of air assault missions, as they assess and secure landing zones before main forces arrive.

💡Gun Raids

Gun Raids are a military tactic where artillery is transported by helicopter to a forward position to provide fire support, and then quickly moved to avoid counter-battery fire. The video discusses how the 101st Airborne practices gun raids, demonstrating their ability to project firepower with mobility and speed.

💡Air Assault School

The Air Assault School is a training program run by the 101st Airborne Division, teaching soldiers the skills required for air assault operations. The video mentions the school's rigorous training, which includes planning air movements, sling loading, and other critical skills for helicopter-borne operations.

💡Chinook Helicopters

Chinook helicopters are heavy-lift transport helicopters used by the U.S. military to move troops, equipment, and supplies. The video describes the Chinook's role in the 101st Airborne's operations, particularly in the context of moving an entire brigade quickly and efficiently across the battlefield.

Highlights

Introduction to the topic of air assault and its relevance in Modern Warfare.

Personal experience and research at Fort Campbell to understand air assault operations.

Sponsorship by Helix Sleep and the promotion of their mattress product.

Discussion on the Russian military operation against Ukraine and the failure of the air assault on Hostile airport.

Analysis of the limitations of air assault tactics and the challenges faced by helicopters in modern warfare.

History of the 101st Airborne Division and its evolution from Airborne to Air Assault capabilities.

The significance of air mobile operations and the 101st Airborne's role in the Vietnam War.

The strategic use of air assault during the Gulf War by the 101st Airborne Division.

Description of the unique capabilities of the 101st Airborne, including their versatility in air assault operations.

The importance of sustainment in air assault operations and the 101st's expertise in this area.

Details on the training and preparation that goes into air assault missions, including planning and rehearsals.

The role of Aviation Brigade in the 101st Airborne Division and its various assets.

The process of planning and executing a complex air assault mission, from coordination to execution.

The significance of courage in the 101st Airborne Division and its role in successful air assault operations.

Reflections on the experience of being embedded with the 101st Airborne and the insights gained.

Conclusion and summary of the key points discussed about air assault and the 101st Airborne Division.

Transcripts

how does air assault work and is it even

still relevant in Modern Warfare well

I'm going to answer that question but

driving out to Fort Campbell to research

this story on my own dime wasn't cheap

so give me two minutes to pay the bills

here this video is sponsored by Helix

sleep hey it's me Ryan Macbeth and I'm

wearing a different shirt now

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pillows let me let me take uh let me

take you on a walk here a lot of people

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and this back here is my new Helix

mattress I've had it for a couple of

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and this is pretty darn important to me

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Ryan Macbeth to get 20 off plus two free

pillows now let's talk about Air Assault

on February 24th 2022 Russian President

Vladimir Putin announced special

military operation against Ukraine

Russian vdv Airborne forces performed an

air assault on the Hostile airport which

was just a few miles Northwest of the

Ukrainian capital of Kiev the attack was

a disaster the vdv Lost several

helicopters during the assault they

couldn't resupply their troops and

eventually the runways were turned to

Rubble by Ukrainian artillery the

airport was finally taken by ground

assault but its usefulness as a

logistics Hub was denied to Russian

forces now the vdv was Russia's Premier

Airborne Force if they couldn't do this

what does that say about the relevance

of America's Air Assault capabilities

maybe possible to lift a decisive Force

by helicopter in a coin or

counter-insurgency environment but in a

lisco or large-scale combat operations

environment

I don't know

helicopters are pretty delicate machines

and the surface-to-air missile threat

the travels at Mach 4 will always be

able to outrun a helicopter what chance

would the 101st Airborne stand against

modern surface-to-air missiles why are

we spending all this money doing

dangerous things like flying at night to

support the concept of vertical

envelopment which certainly seems

outdated so I traveled to Fort Campbell

Kentucky Home of the 101st Airborne the

world's only division that is solely

dedicated to aerosol operations

and what I saw really opened my eyes now

a bit about 101st Airborne this

division's lineage goes all the way back

to World War II when the unit was formed

its first Commander William C Lee said

that the unit had no history but it had

a rendezvous with Destiny they probably

have the most recognizable patch in the

history of the US Army the Screaming

Eagle you've probably seen this patch if

you've watched the longest day Saving

Private Ryan Band of Brothers a bridge

too far and Hamburger Hill paratroopers

from the 101st even protected

African-American students from violence

when Arkansas refused to segregate their

public schools in 1957. the 101st

Airborne was initially an Airborne unit

meaning they reached their objective by

glider or by Parachute but the end of

World War II saw a shift in thinking

away from Airborne operations toward a

future where Wars would be fought in

Europe with heavy armor and nuclear

weapons Vietnam changed all of that the

US realized it needed light units to

take the fight to the Viet Cong but

fighting is nothing with about

sustainment so the units would travel

fight and be sustained by helicopter

they called this air mobile operations

and its Doctrine was pioneered by the

first Cavalry division that we see in

that we were soldiers moving the 101st

Airborne was designated as an air mobile

unit and they distinguished themselves

in Vietnam it's sort of a 9-1-1 response

Force they fought in every area of the

conflict earning them the nickname the

nomads of Vietnam by 1974 the 101st had

gotten the hang of this air mobile thing

and it became their specialty they were

redesignated as America's only air

assault division they formed an air

assault school at Fort Campbell Kentucky

and they honed their craft

on August 2nd 1990 Saddam Hussein's

Iraqi Army invaded Kuwait and the 101st

Airborne was part of the Coalition

response remember the 101st Airborne

moves and fights by helicopter at the

time it had two attack helicopter

battalions worth of Apaches and 180 tow

anti-tank missiles mounted on Humvees

these Humvees were highly mobile across

the desert and they outrange The Guns of

the Iraqi armor and these Humvees could

even be moved by helicopter this ability

to move an anti-tank Force anywhere they

wanted was a capability that only the

101st had when defending Saudi Arabia it

was the 101st Airborne Apaches that

fired the first shots of the war on

January 17 1991 when Apache helicopters

attacked an Iraqi radar early warning

site they opened the door for the

Coalition air War

the Coalition pounded Iraqi defenses for

six weeks and then the ground War began

first brigade of the 101st Airborne and

a battalion from second Brigade left

their staging area of the helicopter and

established a Ford operating Base called

Ford operating base Cobra 94 miles

inside of Iraq the 101st then turned fob

Cobra into a farp or forward arming and

refueling Point think of it like a

Mobile gas station for rearming and

refueling helicopters fob Cobra was then

used by Third Brigade of the 101st

Airborne to re-arm and refuel as it

leapfrogged 155 Miles Ahead to Highway 8

to cut off the Iraqi city of Basra from

the Iraqi city of Baghdad that's right

the 101st moved an entire Brigade 155

miles into Iraq and the Iraqis couldn't

do a thing about it the doctrine of air

assault had been validated

but is it still valid today

after my time with 101st Airborne before

Campbell

yeah

yeah it is so why did Russia attack

Hospital airport at dawn well they did

that because they had very little

experience in flying at night Russia

also failed to bring any Heavy Artillery

with them the 101st not only practices

slinging their artillery under their

helicopters they also practice a

technique known as gun raids and when I

heard the term gun raid I thought that

meant the 101st could move artillery by

helicopter closer to the front line and

yeah they can if they want to they can

also move artillery by helicopter deep

into enemy territory either to support a

raid or the artillery is the raid so

that means the 101st can rig their

artillery fly it into enemy territory

perform a night fire mission rig it

again in the dark while wearing night

vision and fly back out again all during

one period of Darkness yeah and the more

time I spent with the 101st the more I

realized that these guys are unique in

the US Army if you consider the 82nd

Airborne to be a scalpel and something

like the first Armored Division to be a

sledgehammer the 101st Airborne is more

like a gerber multi-tool they can fly to

the objective by helicopter they can

also sling load or carry infantry Squad

vehicles that can give them extended

range or fly then drive or fly then walk

it's really a unique capability now you

might have served in the military and

done a couple of helicopter insertions I

know I have so you might wonder what's

the big deal

well the big deal and the one thing that

the 101st does better than anybody is

sustainment anybody with helicopters can

move people by helicopters it's not

trivial but you can do it but the 101st

can do it at scale and continue to do it

for one night two nights three nights

and on and on and on and bring with them

all of their artillery and even their

Engineers the exercise I attended

operation lethal legal three is 21 day

exercise I arrived on day 17 and the

101st was still pedaled to the freaking

floor running air missions

it all starts with air assault school

which is run by the 101st it's a school

that many people call the 10 toughest

days in the Army and while some of it is

physical a good portion of it is mental

the school teaches the basics of aerosol

operations like how to plan air

movements and how to do cool guy stuff

like repelling but the most important

component is sling loading because

that's how you sustain you can actually

sling supplies underneath your

helicopters and use those to supply your

troops in the field as Russia realized

at hospital airport you have to do more

than just get your troops there you need

to supply them as well and you can sling

a heck of a lot more stuff under the

helicopter than you can put inside of it

in fact there are sections of the school

that just concentrate on figuring out

how to sling different loads everything

from generators to new kinds of vehicles

now the 101st contains three infantry

brigades a sustainment brigade a

division Artillery Brigade a

headquarters element and then the

largest Aviation Brigade in the Army now

let me talk about this Aviation Brigade

for a moment the Aviation Brigade

contains 48's Apache Attack Helicopters

eight Gray Eagle drones 12 Shadow drones

38 Blackhawk utility helicopters 24

Chinook medium lift helicopters and 15

Medevac Blackhawks it's enough to move

an entire Brigade in 96 hours that means

5 000 or so troops anywhere and sustain

them the average Blackhawk company

contains 10 uh-60 helicopters split into

two platoon of five helicopters each

each platoon has 10 pilots and roughly

the same number of maintainers you know

the crew chiefs that you sit in the back

of a helicopter helping load and unload

the bird or man the door guns those crew

chiefs hold the MOs or military

occupational especially a 15 Tango on

the Blackhawks or 15 uniform on the

Chinooks every helicopter company has a

maintainer company and only the best

maintainers that volunteer to fly are

actually moved from the maintenance

company to the aviation companies to be

crew chiefs on those helicopters and

piloting isn't exactly an easy job

either there's a myth in the army that

warrant officers have these really easy

jobs but that isn't true in aviation

quick note in 1949 the Army wisely

decided that you didn't need a college

degree to be a pilot most Pilots remain

warrant officers which are above

enlisted soldiers but below commissioned

officers the whole idea is that these

warrant officers don't need to worry

about office of strategy and planning

responsibilities their only job is to be

the best darn pilot they can be all they

do is fly and get better at their craft

this is Paramount when you're lifting a

giant M triple seven Howards or and the

load is oscillating and the bird is

swaying back and forth like a pirate

ship pilots also have to understand

whether rain and wind can affect the way

the helicopter handles excessive heat

can make the air thinner and harder to

carry heavy loads even the phase of the

moon is important to know because

Moonlight can illuminate your bird after

speaking with the aviators the one thing

that I took away was humility you have

to know every single system on that bird

every Fuel and hydraulic line and the

exact procedures to follow if something

goes wrong

flying a helicopter at night isn't like

flying a jet fighter where you're at 35

000 feet and you have time to diagnose

the problem or get help from the ground

you need to know exactly what to do in

an emergency because you're 200 feet

from the ground and you're responsible

for the lives of the soldiers in back

now let's talk about these soldiers and

back

on the Infantry side a typical Brigade

on the 101st Airborne contains three

infantry battalions a Cavalry Squadron

an artillery Battalion equipped with a

mix of 105 and 155 millimeter guns the

Titan of engineers in a sport Battalion

in my case I was embedded with third

Brigade 187th infantry the famous

rockathans and I have to spend a moment

speaking about them this is a very

unique unit it wasn't actually attached

to the 101st during World War II instead

it came from the Pacific Theater and it

was made part of the 101st Airborne in

1955. the rockassons got their name when

they served on occupation Duty in Japan

after World War II a translator didn't

know the Japanese word for parachute

when explaining what they did so he

literally called them falling down

umbrella men literally rockassons the

name stuck and the rakasan Tori was

adapted from the gates that Mark

Japanese Shinto's shrines today the

Tories Mark rockason country which if

you're the Ave adversary is not a place

you want to be the rockassons probably

rivaled the Marine Corps in their level

of unit pride in fact they probably

surpassed the Marine Corps not even

Marines put up eagle globe and anchors

everywhere they go rockathans put up

Tories everywhere and where they go is

wherever the heck they want to go now

when you perform an aerosol operation

there are quite a few factors you need

to take into consideration there's

typically a 72-hour planning window

everything centers off the ground

tactical plant this answers the question

of what the unit on the ground intends

to accomplish

then the plan gets sent to the Aviation

Brigade which basically acts as customer

service it's their job to figure out how

to support the mission the Aviation

Brigade may have to start movement or

create farts these forward arming

refueling points that I talked about

earlier from the first Gulf War I may

also consider filling up Chinooks with

gas for fat cow operations where

Chinooks are loaded with fuel and

essentially become mobile gas stations

the Aviation Brigade also develops the

air movement plan they figure out how

they're going to get to the fight and

what they'll do after they drop off the

troops will they fly back to the pickup

zone and get more troops or will they

land nearby and prepare for casualty

evacuation or kazavac meanwhile ground

units are finalizing the ground tactical

plan completing the loading plan and the

staging plan these parts are just as

important as the ground tactical plan

Air Assault is really a game of gas

every second that helicopters on the

ground picking up troops or supplies is

one less second that they can be in the

air small problems on the front end can

cause a compounding effect later so

special teams are created to make sure

the pz or pickup zone can handle any

problems such as loads that aren't

rigged right or helicopters that break

down in the middle of picking up troops

rehearsals are a big part of this as

well troops practice entering and

exiting the helicopter since that's the

most dangerous and critical part of the

loading process and for loading the

standard to do so at night is no more

than five minutes

the assault Force also has to develop a

cherry and Ice plan on the LZ or Landing

zone now I'm sure you've heard the term

hot LZ or cold all Z

well a hot LZ or Landing zone is defined

as a landing Zone that is expected to

receive fire a cold LZ is not expected

to receive fire so cherry or ice is a

representation of risk if the LZ is

Cherry that means it's too dangerous to

land then it will divert to an alternate

Landing zone or perhaps loiter Airborne

to wait for a change in conditions or

even logger where we'll just land the

birds and just wait

ice means that the landing zone is below

the acceptable risk criteria for landing

even if the LZ is hot it's important for

everyone to know what to do in the event

of either cherry or ice circumstance now

before the main body moves the scouts

are inserted usually 24 to 48 hours

before the main body the scouts will

perform multiple fake insertions meaning

the Choppers will pretend to land in

many different places before actually

offloading the scouts then they may

perform a few more fake insertions

afterward to complete the ruse the

scouts will move toward the objective

and get Eyes On Target 100 and first may

even allocate drones to OverWatch the

target if it's safe to do so now you may

wonder why human Scouts are used when

drones are so prevalent and the reason

is persistence drones are very useful

tools but they have limited endurance

Scouts can sit in the hide site and

watch a target for days so Scouts are a

very important part of the surveillance

equation and they carry their own small

drones like the black hornet in case

they need to see over the next Hill

after the scouts come the Pathfinders

Pathfinders move in a 24 hours before

the main body these are Elite aerosol

soldiers who have expertise in setting

up Landing zones slopes of over 15

degrees are a no-go for helicopter

Landings so are obstacles like trees or

craters or power lines so it's the

Pathfinder's job to make sure the LZ is

safe and Mark any dangerous obstacles

now before the main body moves the

Planters split their units into chalks

cereals and lifts

chalks are the individual assignments to

each helicopter Harkens back to the

early days of aerosol operations where

loads were identified with different

colors of chalk

cereals are collections of chalk so

there might be four or five helicopters

Inland cereal and lifts are groups of

cereals which makes one complete turn

out to and back from The Landing Zone

you designate who goes on what serial

chalk and lift because if you need 20

helicopters to carry all of your troops

but you only have room for five

helicopters in the landing Zone they all

can't show up at the same time think of

the planning like a ballet that runs on

Aviation gas finally the main body is

picked up and flies to The Landing Zone

and there is a science to that as well

you may choose to exit the helicopter on

one side which takes longer but provides

the greatest Firepower toward the enemy

or on both sides which is faster but not

as good for massing fires then the

soldiers move toward their objective and

they take it so now let me actually take

you on the mission everybody get out

your notepads and listen up all right

situation

enemy forces continue to form delaying

actions in zarnal though blast weather

for the mission is partially cloudy with

a high of 80 degrees and a low of 64

degrees tonight's moon is a waxing

crescent with 22 percent illumination

enemy force is consistently platoon from

the 75th motor rifle regiment with added

support from an unknown anti-aircraft

missile system the enemies most likely

course of action is to hold the town as

fetlava and continue to deny access to

the svetlava bridge over the lazora

river

friendly forces consist of company a one

one eight seven as the main assault and

Pathfinder element first platoon troop

Charlie 133 Cavalry for scouting Alpha

and Bravo Company six the one of the

first Aviation provides 20 Blackhawks

for Lyft in kazavac sport and Company A1

101 provides a tax support most of the

civilians have led the town but Intel

suggests that some remain in the town's

Church which has been handing out

humanitarian assistance to those who

can't leave so take special care to

avoid targeting the church when in doubt

follow your standard Rules of Engagement

Mission Alpha Company first the 187th

attacks fet lava and seizes fat lava

Bridge intact

execution first platoon troop Charlie

133 Cavalry departs fob Eagle for LZ

radiant and secures objectives barley

wheat and rye Pathfinder teams depart

fog evil and evaluate LZ stellar and LZ

Odyssey for landing company a 1 101

departs fob eagle and attacks objective

Oak and maple remaining on station for

the main attack Alpha Company first the

187th departs fob eagle and assaults LZ

Stellar taking objectives Maple and Oak

for transport ships will lager at LZ

radiant to provide kazavac once

objective Oak is taken objective Maple

will be reinforced for counter-attack

service and support

supplies will be coordinated through

sport Brigade casualties will be

collected at LZ Stellar enemy prisoners

of War will be held at objective Oak

until they can be moved to LZ Mirage for

Evac LZ Mirage will be used as the

casualty collection point after

objective Oak is taken Madden signal all

radio call signs per standard operating

procedure

and now

the planning process begins the S3 or

operation staff shop first the 187th

infantry begin their planning process

they also start coordinating with the

Aviation Brigade to make sure the crews

have enough rest to complete the mission

and all the airframes are available for

the operation the air movement plan is

constructed chalks and cereals are

created for the scouts we'll go in first

and the Pathfinders who will go in

afterwards meanwhile Alpha Company 1187

infantry is rehearsing they build a

small model of the Town objective Oak

and the hill to the Northeast objective

Maple they also come up with a plan to

take objective Maple and use it as a

mortar and machine gun position it's key

terrain and it can be used to fire down

the road which is the most likely out

move counter-attack or used to support

the assault on objective Oak the scouts

leave fob Eagle under cover of Darkness

after performing several false

insertions they landed LZ radiant and

moved to OverWatch objective Oak the

scouts at objective wheat and rye spot a

mechanized will tune of three bmps and a

dozen dismounted infantry a

surface-to-air missile system sits

watching in the distance on the hill at

objective maple the Pathfinders arrive a

helicopter at LZ Odyssey they survey the

LZ and remain in the forest visually

surveying LZ Stellar to the north

the Apaches arrive and they perform seed

or suppression of enemy air defenses

hovering slightly over the Treetops by

LZ Odyssey they attack and destroy the

missile system at objective Maple

okay we got a low ball box all right

tell him uh shout out and Fire

out all right yep

that's a good missile

oh yeah damn

all right the Apaches then turn their

guns toward the town mind told the

church and any civilians present and

they attack and destroy the enemy bmps

with cannon fire

the surviving enemy soldiers scatter

into the town

it's going to take infantry to dig them

out

as this has happened back at fob Eagle

Alpha company Bristol 187th is boarding

they come in at night five chalks to a

lift one helicopter experiences

mechanical failure and it moves itself

to the far end of the pz it's okay they

plan for this with a bump plan the squad

that was supposed to go on that down

bird gets moved to another and the

pickups continue as the Blackhawks

travel the Apaches stay on station

hunting down individual enemy Soldiers

with cannon fire wherever they can

first lift hits LZ Stellar they exit out

one side moving up to and securing

objective maple more or less pouring at

Alpha Company consolidates on objective

Maple with the last lift complete

platoon of Blackhawks loggers of LZ

radiant to kazavac any wounded Alpha

Company leaves weapon Squad and a mortar

team on objective Maple as they enter

the town the fighting is house to house

but the enemy soon realizes that their

position is untenable and they rapidly

surrender

objective Oak is secure and with it the

main Bridge across the Ozarka River

now not all missions are as successful

as that one things go wrong people get

lost but the 101st has some highly

motivated soldiers they usually figure

it out you know

every time I interview people for a

video I always ask the question what

makes a good soldier when I ask

parachute riggers what makes a good

rigger they said oh attention to detail

when I asked what makes a good sniper

they said resilience

but what I asked what makes a good

soldier in the 101st Airborne the word

courage kept popping up and it seems so

odd because of course you're supposed to

have courage

but this is different you know it's one

thing to strap on a javelin missile a

100 pound rucksack and ride in the

machine that's trying to vibrate itself

apart

but it's quite another thing entirely

to step off that bird and into the night

where the monsters lurk unless you're

braver than the monster

and when you think about it we all get

scared once that first round flies by

your head but training is the bridge

over the chasm between scared and brave

and that's why the 101st Airborne trains

so much at night while the rest of us

are sleeping they're working to make the

gap between scared and brave as narrow

as possible I was the first YouTuber

ever invited to Fort Campbell to cover a

story and I am grateful to the following

people who made this happen

to start Lieutenant Colonel Anthony

Hoffler public affairs officer for the

101st Airborne and Captain Trayvon

Andrews public affairs officer for the

rocks on Brigade I'd also like to thank

Captain Jonathan mcleroy commander of

the 101st airborne's Air Assault school

and starting first class Matthew D

Conrad aerosol Chief instructor for

their incredible technical expertise I

could not have done this without you

gentlemen thank you to Captain Jacob

O'Neill a chinook pilot for the

background in aviation which was

essential to the story and thank you to

Major Stephen Perry and Theodore de Lou

for the background on planning missions

especially on how the 101st conducts gun

rates that is awesome and blew my mind

and finally special thanks to Captain Ty

Weaver and staff sergeant long they

allowed me to accompany their Scouts on

a night mission where I'm tripping all

over the place trying to film and do

night vision at the same time I really

appreciated that experience and this

made the video so much better hey if you

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branding everything goes to supporting

awesome content like this and thank you

guys so much for watching oh hi America

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