Dated February 2016

Introduction

• Joint force commanders conduct forcible entry operations at the operational level of war. Commanders operating at the tactical level conduct airborne or air assault operations to gain a positional advantage or to envelop or turn the enemy. Airborne and air assault operations are types of entry operations that use a vertical envelopment to insert a force into an area of operations (AO).

The Gold Book retains a focus on brigade and battalion air assault task forces.

To address the demands of current operations, information on smaller scale air assaults and supporting operations is included.  Regardless of echelon, the fundamentals of air assault planning and execution remain the same and are based on air assault doctrine. The Gold Book also addresses the role of aviation brigades and their supporting relationship to the Air Assault Task Force Commander (AATFC).

The Gold Book is not authoritative joint or U.S. Army doctrine. However, familiarity and proficiency with the Gold Book standards are critical for this Division to perform air assault operations routinely both in training and combat. Regular reviews of the Gold Book ensure incorporation of wartime lessons learned and changes in Doctrine, Organization, Training, Material, Leadership & Education, Personnel, and Facilities (DOTMLPF) related to air assault operations. The Gold Book is a key tool by which the Division prepares for its next “Rendezvous with Destiny.” Air Assault!

This book is a "mini" (7 1/4 inches high by 5 1/2 inches wide) size - A popular size to carry anywhere (briefcase, large pocket, purse) but the print is large enough for easy reading.  The binding is with coil, allowing easy flipping of pages without jamming.

The color covers are laminated for weather protection with super white quality paper.