Trailblazers of Tomorrow: The Evolving Legacy of Pathfinder Operations

“The night before a jump is like the night before the battle. You wait. You wonder. You get ready. And you know, when you go in, the Pathfinders have already been there. They’ve made it possible for you to find your way.” — GEN Matthew B. Ridgway

GEN Matthew B. Ridgway, commander of the 82nd Airborne Division during World War II, recognized the importance of pathfinder operations, leading to the prominent legacy that now occupies a storied place in the annals of military history. Pathfinders — those elite Soldiers who clear the way for larger forces — were instrumental in shaping the outcomes of major conflicts throughout the 20th century. Pathfinders represent not only a specialized skill set but also an ethos of precision, innovation, and bravery on the battlefield. The significance of having trained pathfinders, both in a historical context and for future military applications, is undeniable. As the U.S. Army looks to the future battlefield, the role of pathfinders and pathfinder units will continue to evolve, yet their foundational skills and significance on the battlefield will remain critical in an era where rapid mobility and precision are vital to success.

This article delves into the history of pathfinder operations, highlighting their key contributions to famous military campaigns and operations. It also explores how these operations are adapting for modern and future battlefields, considering new technologies and threats. Finally, it considers the future of pathfinder training and operations, particularly in light of the consolidation of training at the last remaining active-duty Pathfinder School at Fort Campbell, KY.

The Origin Story: A History of Pathfinder Operations and Famous Pathfinder Units and Operations

Pathfinder operations date back to World War II, when the Allied forces identified a need for small, highly trained units that could establish landing zones and drop zones in enemy territory. These operations required a unique combination of technical proficiency, physical endurance, and battlefield audacity. The Soldiers who became pathfinders were trained to operate behind enemy lines and use their unique skills to guide paratroopers and aircraft to precise locations in hostile and often austere environments.

The first U.S. pathfinder units of the 82nd Airborne Division were created to address the hard lessons of the 1943 airborne invasion of Sicily. The parachute assaults in support of Operation Husky were plagued by friendly fire, high winds, and navigational challenges. These problems served as the impetus for the U.S. Army’s first pathfinder capability. Consequently, 82nd Airborne Division pathfinders were trained and employed in Salerno during Operation Avalanche to reconnoiter and mark drop zones, establish navigational aids, and provide positive control to friendly aircraft.

Among the most famous is the 101st Airborne Division’s Pathfinder Company. This unit played a crucial role in numerous operations, including the D-Day invasion and Operation Market Garden in World War II, as well as in Vietnam. The bravery and effectiveness of these pathfinders earned them a legendary status within the airborne community.

Another notable unit during Operation Market Garden is the British 22nd Independent Parachute Company, which served as the pathfinder unit for the British 1st Airborne Division during World War II. This unit led the way during one of the largest airborne operations in history. Although the operation ultimately failed due to unforeseen challenges, the pathfinders’ role in guiding and coordinating the landings was essential to its initial success.

In the Pacific Theater, pathfinders also played a critical, versatile role during operations in the Philippines. Their ability to move stealthily through enemy lines on foot and also land by boat extended the battlefield and enabled the rapid concentration of combat power. The success of these early operations demonstrated the importance of precision and coordination in modern warfare. In his AUSA Institute of Land Warfare Paper, John M. Carland remarked that pathfinders became an indispensable part of airborne and airmobile operations throughout the war given their ability to assess the situation and direct larger forces.1

Following World War II, pathfinders were again called upon during the Korean War. Operating in rough, mountainous terrain, they used their skills to coordinate helicopter evacuations, supply drops, and troop movements. The war demonstrated the importance of heliborne or airmobile operations, and pathfinders became key players in this new form of warfare. Their ability to quickly identify and secure landing zones allowed for greater mobility and flexibility on the battlefield.

In Vietnam, pathfinder operations took on an even greater significance.2 Helicopters became a central feature of the U.S. military’s strategy, and pathfinders were critical in supporting air cavalry operations, troop insertions, and resupply missions. The terrain in Vietnam — dense jungles and rugged mountains — posed significant challenges, but the pathfinders adapted, developing new techniques and tools to ensure the success of their missions. Pathfinders were vital in establishing fire bases and other forward positions, ensuring that troops and supplies could be moved quickly and safely across the battlefield.

In more recent history, the U.S. Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment has incorporated pathfinder operations as a core mission set. While the regiment is primarily known for its direct action and special reconnaissance capabilities, its use of pathfinders during operations in Afghanistan and Iraq demonstrated the continuing relevance of these skills. Pathfinders have been essential in establishing forward operating bases, landing zones, and drop zones in hostile environments, ensuring the safe and timely insertion of troops and supplies.

Key Changes: The Evolution of Pathfinder Operations

Whereas the traditional role of pathfinders remains rooted in their ability to set up and operate drop zones, pickup zones, and helicopter landing sites for airborne operations, air resupply operations, or other air operations in support of the ground unit commander, their mission set has evolved significantly over the past few decades. Advances in technology, such as the Global Positioning System (GPS), drones, and advanced communication systems, have changed the nature of pathfinder operations, making them more precise and efficient.

Today, pathfinders are not just responsible for marking landing zones and drop zones; they are also involved in reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, target acquisition, and infiltration. As discussed in a recent Infantry article, of the multiple forms of maneuver, infiltrations hold a particular advantage in today’s conflict as they are designed to move forces deeper into enemy-controlled areas which will be contested and denied more often.3 Therefore, the modern pathfinder must be proficient in a wide range of skills, from navigating in difficult terrain to operating advanced communication and sensor systems.

One of the most significant developments in recent years has been the integration of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) into pathfinder operations. UAVs provide pathfinders with real-time intelligence and reconnaissance capabilities, allowing them to assess the battlefield and make informed decisions about where to establish landing zones and drop zones. This technology has been particularly useful in counterinsurgency operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, where pathfinders have had to operate in complex and ever-changing environments.

At the same time, pathfinders must still rely on their traditional skills of navigation, communication, and coordination. In another recent Infantry article, SGM Bradley Watts suggests that airborne operations will remain relevant in large-scale combat operations, which begets a need for pathfinders.4 Despite the advances in technology, the need for human judgment and decision-making on the battlefield remains critical. Pathfinders must continue to be able to adapt to changing conditions and make split-second decisions that can have a significant impact on the success of a mission.

The Future of Pathfinder Training: The Sole Pathfinder School at Fort Campbell

Over the last few years, the Army has terminated the Pathfinder Course at all but one of its active-duty locations — Fort Campbell. Some may argue that the consolidation of pathfinder training at the Sabalauski Air Assault School (TSAAS) is one of the most significant challenges facing the future of pathfinder operations due to throughput of trainees and continuous access to aviation assets. More than likely, one must be stationed at Fort Campbell to become pathfinder qualified going forward. While this consolidation may result in a smaller number of trained pathfinders and raises important questions about the future of pathfinder operations, it also presents an opportunity to modernize and enhance the course curriculum.

As the battlefield evolves, so must the training that pathfinders receive in order to remain relevant. TSAAS, the Army’s active-duty center of excellence for pathfinder and air assault operations, chooses to rise to the challenge rather than become paralyzed by the consolidation, incorporating the latest technologies and tactics into its training programs. For example, in June 2024, TSAAS extended the Pathfinder Course from 15 to 18 days to incorporate additional blocks of instruction on modern radio communications and set up and operation of forward arming and refueling points (FARPs). Future evolutions could include unmanned system (air and ground) integration, protection warfighting function capabilities such as counter-UAS, tactical signals intelligence (SIGINT) and electronic warfare (EW) systems, air-ground common operating picture capabilities, reduced electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) signature communications, and modern meteorological and geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) reconnaissance capabilities.

By providing pathfinders with training that reflects the complexities of future warfare, the Army can ensure that these Soldiers remain an indispensable asset on the modern battlefield. A consideration that TSAAS may want to investigate would be partnering with civilian agencies involved in disaster relief or the Futures and Concepts Center at Army Futures Command. These and other relationships could offer forthcoming pathfinders valuable experience, further broadening their skill set.

At the same time, it is essential that the Army continues to emphasize the importance of traditional pathfinder skills. Whereas technology has certainly made some aspects of the pathfinder’s job easier, the core skills of navigation, communication, and coordination are timeless and arguably will continue to be a lost art.5 The lessening of pathfinder training opportunities should not lead to the dilution of these essential skills; rather, it should serve as an opportunity to refine and enhance them.

Pathfinder 2.0: Future Uses of Pathfinders on the Battlefields of Tomorrow

Expanding upon the future of pathfinder training, as the nature of warfare continues to evolve, so too should the role and use of pathfinders. The modern battlefield is increasingly characterized by rapid mobility, precision strikes, and decentralized operations. Pathfinders, with their unique skill set, are well-positioned to play a key role on this new warfare stage.

With the ever-increasing transparency of the modern battlefield through the proliferation of UAVs, SIGINT, EMS sensing, and space-based intelligence capabilities, the need to revive maneuver in modern warfare is critical. This will inevitably drive the need to rapidly aggregate and disaggregate forces, likely enabled by the mobility and versatility of vertical lift capabilities. Competent, relevant, and modernized pathfinder capabilities will be critical to modern maneuver.

One of the most significant areas where pathfinder operations will remain crucial is in support of multidomain operations (MDO). The U.S. military’s growing focus on the integration of land, sea, air, space, and cyber domains requires an unprecedented level of coordination, and pathfinders are uniquely suited to facilitate this coordination. In MDO, pathfinders can establish landing zones for various types of aircraft, including manned and unmanned systems, using new age and long-reaching satellite communications. They could also guide logistical resupply missions that span across domains or enable the link or connection of a remote physical node that may make possible or enhance a cyber effect.

For instance, future conflicts may involve autonomous or remotely piloted systems that rely on accurate ground coordination for deployment or retrieval. Pathfinders, using advanced UAVs and communications (comms) technology, will be able to coordinate across vast distances and in austere environments, ensuring that these UAVs and comms can effectively support larger combat or support elements. Moreover, they can also facilitate joint operations, enabling rapid movement and synchronization to overwhelm adversaries through integrated and timely actions.

A critical insight into the future relevance of pathfinder operations must include the potential to operate in technologically degraded environments. With peer adversaries gaining ground in counterspace, cyber, and EMS capabilities to deny our technological advantages and disrupt our operations, the joint force must train on, become proficient at, and maintain the ability to operate and fight under degraded conditions in denied environments.6 The Army’s future pathfinder employment concept must carefully envision these requirements across all warfighting functions and shape the direction of future pathfinder doctrine and training to meet these challenges.

An often overlooked yet critical application of pathfinder operations in the future battlefield could be in the role of humanitarian and disaster relief. As natural disasters become more frequent and severe, militaries will increasingly be called upon to respond quickly and efficiently. Pathfinders’ ability to assess terrain, secure landing zones, and coordinate movements of personnel and supplies can make them invaluable in such missions. For example, consider the scenario of a large-scale natural disaster in a remote or hostile region. Pathfinders could deploy ahead of larger military or humanitarian units to survey the area, establish critical points for supply distribution, and guide rescue or medical teams to where they are most needed. Their ability to operate autonomously in chaotic environments would allow them to facilitate the rapid and coordinated response required in these missions, ultimately saving lives and reducing suffering.

Pathfinders’ expertise in navigation and terrain analysis can also support UAV, MDO, and humanitarian operations in urban settings, where debris, damage, or denied territory has rendered traditional routes unusable or inaccessible. Their skills in identifying alternate routes and establishing landing zones in unconventional locations will be critical to enabling aerial resupply and medical evacuations in these areas. As these missions grow more complex, the continued development of pathfinders’ technological and logistical capabilities will be essential.

Final Thoughts: From WWII’s Frontlines to Future Battlefields, Pathfinders Will Continue to Lead the Way

Being first in and last out has not and will not change. Pathfinder operations have a rich history, dating back to World War II, when small teams of elite Soldiers cleared the way for larger forces in some of the most significant military campaigns of the 20th century. Their role has evolved over the years, but the core principles of precision, adaptability, and bravery remain at the heart of what it means to be a pathfinder.

As seen during the Kursk incursion, conflicts today require leadership in uncertainty and embracing innovation.7 As the nature of warfare continues to change, with new technologies and tactics emerging, pathfinders will continue to play a critical role on the battlefield of tomorrow. Whether supporting multidomain operations or providing essential aid in humanitarian missions, pathfinders will remain essential to the success of military operations. The consolidation of active-duty pathfinder training at Fort Campbell represents both a challenge and an opportunity, and it is up to the Army to ensure that the legacy of the pathfinder continues.

First in, last out!!

Notes

1 John Carland, “How We Got There: Air Assault and the Emergence of the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), 1950–1965,” AUSA Land Warfare Paper No. 42, May 2003, https://www.ausa.org/sites/default/files/LWP-42-Air-Assault-and-the-Emergence-of-the-1st-Cavalry-Division-Airmobile-1950-1965.pdf.

2 National Pathfinder Association, History Page, 2017, https://www.nationalpathfinderassociation.org/history.

3 LTC Aaron Childers and MAJ Michael Stewart, “Relearning Infiltrations: The Light Infantry Advantage,” Infantry, Fall 2024, https://www.benning.army.mil/infantry/magazine/issues/2024/Fall/PDF/INFMag-Fall24.pdf.

4 SGM Bradley S. Watts, “Airborne Is Relevant,” Infantry, Fall 2024, https://www.benning.army.mil/infantry/magazine/issues/2024/Fall/PDF/INFMag-Fall24.pdf.

5 MAJ John Vickery, “The Lost Art of Dismounted Land Navigation,” Infantry, October-December 2015, https://www.benning.army.mil/infantry/magazine/issues/2015/Oct-Dec/pdf/INFMAG_OCT-DEC15.pdf.

6 Lisa Frye, “Support from Space: Vision Homes in on Ground Forces, Multidomain Operations,” ARMY Magazine, December 2024.

7 Chaveso Cook, “Kursk Incursion Supplies Lessons for Young Leaders,” ARMY Magazine, December 2024.

LTC Chaveso “Chevy” Cook, Ph.D., is a Psychological Operations officer currently serving as a division chief on the Joint Staff, working in the Deputy Directorate for Global Operations (J39). A LTG James Dubik Writing Fellow, he previously served as a battalion commander at Fort Meade, MD, speechwriter for the Secretary of the Army, and as a tactical officer and instructor at the United States Military Academy. Other assignment experiences have taken him to Iraq, Afghanistan, Qatar, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Tajikistan, Niger, and the United Arab Emirates.

LTC Michael A. Hamilton is a 20-year Infantry officer currently assigned as the J55 Deputy Chief of Strategy for U.S. Southern Command. He has six deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, and his previous assignments include command of 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, as well as duty with the 1st Armored Division, 75th Ranger Regiment, and 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade.

MAJ Jessica B. Colsia is a Judge Advocate currently assigned as an attorney advisor in the Office of Military Commissions – Trial Judiciary. Her previous assignments include serving as deputy Staff Judge Advocate, Fort Meade; Special Assistant United States Attorney for the District of the District of Columbia; litigation attorney, Military Personnel Division, United States Army Legal Services Agency; brigade Judge Advocate for the 1st Cavalry Division Sustainment Brigade, Fort Hood, TX; and brigade Judge Advocate for the 18th Military Police Brigade, Grafenwoehr, Germany. MAJ Colsia was also enlisted for several years in the Georgia Army National Guard as a human intelligence collector.

This article appeared in the Spring 2025 issue of Infantry. Read more articles from the professional bulletin of the U.S. Army Infantry at https://www.benning.army.mil/Infantry/Magazine/ or https://www.lineofdeparture.army.mil/Journals/Infantry/