ATP-3-09-30 Observed Fires Download

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Chapter 1 1-6 ATP 3-09.30 28 September 2017 and experience of the observer who calls for fire and the equipment used to determine self-location and target location. 1-19. Observers equipped with nothing more than a map, binoculars, and compass typically have a mean target location error of about 250 meters. This is not good enough for first round fire for effect or target suppression. 1-20. Attainable accuracy for today's observer teams equipped with optical and electronic devices, such as laser designator and rangefinder and position locating systems, has improved greatly over the past few years. When properly used by trained and qualified observers, these devices assist the observer to attain first round fire for effect accuracy. WARNING Lasers have inherently hazardous characteristics. Lasers that are not eye safe can inflict severe eye injury. 1-21. Each observer party, company or troop fire support officer (FSO), and battalion FSO must ensure the maneuver commander recognizes the capabilities and limitations on attainable accuracy of indirect fire systems and considers this when developing a scheme of maneuver. FIRE SUPPORT PLANNING AND COORDINATION 1-22. Effective fire support does not happen without prior planning and coordination. The observers must know what their responsibilities are and where they fit into the overall plan. 1-23. The company or troop FSO is in charge of the FIST, and also the principal fire support advisor to the commander when attached to or supporting a company or troop. The FIST plans, coordinates, and executes fire support for the commander's concept of operations. The FSO ensures the scheme of fires fully supports the commander’s intent for fire support. 1-24. The maneuver commander has the responsibility to integrate fire support with the scheme of maneuver, and provides the commander’s intent for an operation and issues guidance, including guidance for fire support. The FSO translates the guidance into fire support tasks. Each fire support task and purpose directly supports a maneuver task and purpose. The FSO then assigns responsibility of tasks in the Fire Support Plan, assets, and priority of fires, to the observers using all available assets. The FSO ensures dissemination of fire support (FS) products to all supporting assets. 1-25. Overall, the maneuver commander is legally and morally responsible for his decisions and actions. He must work with the Company or Troop FSO and take into consideration the civilian populace, noncombatants, friendly forces, and collateral damage when planning fire support. Members if the Fire Support Team all have the legal and moral obligation to challenge a proposed fire mission if they believe it will violate the Law of War or the moral principles of the Army Ethic. Together they must plan ahead and have the foresight to mitigate and reduce the risk of unintended effects such as excessive collateral damage and negative psychological impacts on the civilian populace and noncombatants – which create or reinforce instability in the area of operations. Improper planning could lead to severe consequences that adversely affect efforts to gain or maintain legitimacy and impede the attainment of both short and long term goals for the U.S. forces commander. Note. Risks are always present when employing fires. Everyone involved with the planning, coordinating, and delivery of fires is responsible for evaluating and managing the risks. For more information on risk management see ATP 5-19.