question about Pathfinders...

[GLax]

He219 has posted a few photos of Pathfinders from the 101st Airborne lately in his picture of the day topics. i was wondering, exactly how do you become a pathfinder? whats the training focused on, infantry skills, recon skills? thx for your help...

[warchild1/27scout]

we did a little bit in air assault school but they have a whole course at benning (pathfinder) you mark landing zones finding best area's to parachute or air assault onto. and also calculating wind speed, best direction to enter and all that good ****. i'd sai air force spec ops does alot of this too when they can combine arms.any corrections from fellow servicemen welcome on my comments.

[ibstolidude]

Army pathfinders primarily provide navigational assistance and advisory services to military aircraft in areas designated by supported unit commanders. Their secondary missions include providing advice and limited assistance to units planning air assault/airdrop operations.

(1) Reconnoiter areas selected by supported unit commanders and select LZs and DZs.

(2) Infiltrate areas of operation by foot, vehicles, or watercraft, and airland, rappel or parachute from aircraft.

(3) Prepare LZs and DZs to include establishing and operating visual and electronic navigational aids and removing minor obstacles.

(4) Employ GTA radio communications to provide pilots with guidance and air traffic advisories within an area of operations.

(5) Advise pilots concerning friendly mortar and artillery fires through direct coordination with fire support units.

(6) Provide technical assistance for the assembly of supplies, equipment, and troops before aircraft loading for deployment to LZs and DZs.

(7) Advise and provide limited physical assistance in preparing and positioning supplies, equipment, and troops for air movement.

(8) Conduct limited NBC monitoring and surveying of designated areas.

(9) Provide limited weather observations, to include wind velocity and direction, cloud cover, visibility, and approximate cloud ceiling.


(10) Operate, by agreement with the USAF, DZs and airfields for USAF aircraft in the absence of CCT.

(11) Survey DZs for use by USAF and Army aircraft. (In this situation, it maybe necessary to provide pathfinders with radios [UHF or VHF] that are compatible with USAF radio equipment. Aviators and pathfinders must coordinate to ensure they understand ground markings and radio procedures to be used.)

[GLax]

wow, thx guys... theyre kinda there own little Special Ops group in those respects...

[NcDeuce]

Yep, best the Airborne units have to offer.

[ibstolidude]

actually Airborne is not a prereq to being Pathfinder..

I have seen several that were not Abn but AA and have attended Pathfinder.

[NcDeuce]

Yeah, I meant Air Assault too. Can't believe there are only 3 Pathfinder units

101 Avn. Regiment Pathfinder Co. (Air Assault)

17 Avn. Bde Pathfinder Section

C/509 Inf. (Pathfinder)

[ibstolidude]

No Problems.

It wasn't a 'ding' it was an FYI for many who do not realize that leg Pathfinders do exist and play important roles


I actually met a CSM that wore Pathfinder from veitnam area that wore neither AA or Abn, if I recall correctly..

[Vance]

82nd AB doesn't have Pathfinders? That sucks :(