U.S. Special Operations Specialites

Pathfinder Operations

What is the Role of a Pathfinder?

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.

Appropriately equipped and trained pathfinders can fulfill the following responsibilities.

(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.)

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