Which of the following is a rule of thumb for ACA establishment?

• A. Ingress, Egress, Employment (standoff munitions, dive, etc) and Holding (10NM by 5 NM for HA)
• B. Hold distances are 2 NM by 2 NM
• C. Always place the circle around the artillery to maximize fires
• D. Hold only in the airspace

Answer: (A)

ACA establishment is about shaping the airspace so aircraft can enter, operate, and exit safely while fires are planned and deconflicted. A practical rule of thumb is to define clear ingress and egress routes, specify how fires will be employed (including standoff munitions and dive options), and establish a holding area large enough to maneuver and sequence forces without impeding adjacent areas. The holding box, commonly around 10 nautical miles by 5 nautical miles for high-altitude operations, gives you a defined space to coordinate approaches, releases, and transitions while keeping safety margins.

The other options don’t capture this balance. A 2 by 2 nautical mile hold is too restrictive for safe maneuver and deconfliction; simply placing a circle around artillery doesn’t address the broader airspace management and employment planning; holding only in airspace ignores the need for explicit ingress/egress and a defined holding area to manage multiple aircraft and fires.