Avenger Platoon, Section, and Squad Operations

1 FM 44-44 ContentsivManual Provided by eMilitary Manuals - 44-44 PrefaceThe mission of air defense artillery is to protect the force and selectedgeopolitical assets from aerial attack, missile attack, and 44-44 is the doctrinal forward area air defense (FAAD) manual for theAvenger platoon, section, and Squad . It explains how Avenger provides airdefense for the force and survives on the manual also details tactics, techniques, and procedures used bythe Avenger platoon when engaged in decisive offensive and defensive op-erations.

2 Most importantly, it describes how Avenger platoons, sections,and squads protect deploying or deployed forces and critical assets by pre-venting enemy aerial platforms (unmanned, rotary, and fixed wing) andmissiles from locating, striking, and destroying manual is required reading for commanders, platoon leaders, pla-toon sergeants, and section and Squad leaders who will direct and supervisethe employment of Avenger weapon systems. Other recommended essen-tial reading includes FM 7-8 Infantry Rifle Platoon and SquadFM 7-20 The Infantry BattalionFM 7-30 Infantry, Airborne, and Air Assault Brigade OperationsFM 44-43 Bradley Stinger Fighting Vehicle Platoon and SquadOperationsFM 44-64 FAAD Battalion and Battery Operations (TBP)

3 FM 44-100 US Army Air Defense OperationsFM 71-1-1 Tank and Mechanized Infantry Company TeamFM 71-2 The Tank and Mechanized Infantry Battalion Task ForceFM 71-3 Armored and Mechanized Infantry BrigadeFM 71-123 Tactics and Techniques for Combined Arms HeavyForces: Armored Brigade, Battalion/Task Force, andCompany/TeamFM 44-44 is unclassified. Therefore, threat information contained inthe publication is general in nature. Where detailed and current informa-tion is required, consult authoritative threat sources.

4 Classified informationpertaining to Avenger capabilities, limitations, and AD planning is found in(S)FM 44-100A(U)(TBP).iiManual Provided by eMilitary Manuals - 44-44 This publication implements the following international standardiza-tion agreements (STANAGs):STANAGTITLEEDITION201420192034 20413700373638053880 Operation Orders, Warning Orders,and Administrative/Logistics Orders7 Military Symbols for Land BasedSystems (APP-6)3 Land Forces Procedures for AlliedSupply Transactions4 Operations Orders, Tables andGraphs for Road Movement4 NATO Tactical Air Doctrine ATP-33 (B)4 Offensive Air Support Operations ATP-27 (B) 8 Doctrine & Procedures for Airspace Controlin Times of Crisis and War ATP40 (A)4 Counter Air Operations ATP-42 (B)

5 2 The proponent of this publication is the United States Army Air De-fense Artillery School. Send comments and recommendations on DA Form2028 directly to Commandant, US Army Air Defense Artillery School,ATTN: ATSA-TAC-D, Fort Bliss, TX this publication states otherwise, masculine nouns and pronounsdo not refer exclusively to Provided by eMilitary Manuals - 1 Avenger PLATOON OPERATIONSAND ORGANIZATIONThis chapter discusses missions, capabilities,organization, and roles of the Avenger Avenger plays an integral role in the com-bined arms team, especially with winning theinformation war.

6 The Avenger missions are tocounter enemy RISTA efforts and to providelow-altitude air defense to the force and its criti-cal Army ADA mission is to protect theforce and selected geopolitical assets from aerialand missile attack and surveillance. The Avengerplatoon leader must understand Army operationsdoctrine so that the platoon s employment is syn-chronized with the supported force s main ef-fort. The FAAD mission is to provide low-alti-tude air defense protection to the force and itscritical assets.

7 FAAD contributes to force-pro-tection Operations by countering threat RISTAand lethal aerial platforms. FAAD weapon sys-tems ensure the force has the freedom to ma-neuver during combat in Army Operations .. 1-2 Organization of Platoon .. 1-3 Platoon Personnel Responsibilities .. 1-4 Characteristics and Capabilities .. 1-6 Components .. 1-71-1 Manual Provided by eMilitary Manuals - 44-44 PLATOON IN ARMY OPERATIONSFM 100-5 describes how theArmy organizes and applies corn-bat power and synchronizesoperating systems on the battlefieldto achieve victory.

8 There are fivetenets which describe the character-istics of a successful tenets apply to all leaders ofcombat, combat support, and com-bat service support Avenger leader must practiceand train within these tenets to besuccessful on the sets or changes theterms of battle by action and im-plies an offensive spirit in theconduct of all Operations . Initiativerequires that leaders anticipateevents on the battlefield so that theyand their units can act and reactfaster than the enemy. Applied toindividual soldiers and leaders, ini-tiative requires a willingness andability to act independently withinthe framework of the commander sintent.

9 The Avenger platoon mustbe able to anticipate enemy actionsand organize its assets to defeat ordestroy the enemy air threat beforethe air threat can negatively impactthe friendly force or is the ability of friendlyforces to react faster than the enemyand is a prerequisite for seizing andholding the initiative. It is as mucha mental as a physical quality. Forthe Avenger platoon, agility is theability to adjust platoon coverage tomeet varying air threats. The deci-sion support matrix (DSM) and theexecution matrix are examples oftools that the Avenger platoon leadermay use to achieve agility throughrapid concentration of air defenseweapons against enemy air is the extension of op-erations in time, space, resources,and purpose.

10 It is the ability to gaininformation and influence opera-tions throughout the battlefield. TheAvenger platoon achieves depth byusing air defense direct fire andearly warning assets throughout theentire supported unit s area of is arrangingactivities in time and space to massat the decisive point. It requires aclear understanding of the sup-ported unit commander s Avenger platoon achieves syn-chronization by massing fires at thecritical point on the battlefield. Anexample of synchronization for theAvenger platoon is the proper posi-tioning of fire units (FUs) on thebattlefield to mass fires at the criti-cal point, according to the supportedcommander s intent, to destroy ordefeat any enemy air Provided by eMilitary Manuals - 44-44 VERSATILITYV ersatility is the ability to meetAn example of versatility for andiverse mission requirements.