What are the six factors that determine abort criteria?

The six factors that determine abort criteria are crucial for effective mission planning and execution, especially in air assault operations. The correct answer includes weather, time, available aircraft, mission essential combat power, mission criticality, and enemy.

Weather plays a vital role because it can significantly affect visibility, flight safety, and operational capabilities. Time is another critical factor, as operations may need to align with specific windows for effectiveness and safety. The availability of aircraft ensures that the necessary resources are ready for the mission, which directly impacts the ability to launch or continue.

Mission essential combat power refers to the minimum combat power required to achieve mission objectives, and this consideration helps determine if the mission can be completed successfully. Mission criticality assesses the importance of the mission in the context of overall objectives—some missions may have higher stakes and warrant continued efforts despite challenges.

Finally, understanding enemy factors is essential, as hostile actions or threats can necessitate a reconsideration of a mission's feasibility. Each of these elements plays a significant role in ensuring that operations proceed under the most favorable conditions, and they help in making informed decisions about whether to abort a mission to minimize risk and maximize effectiveness.