ATP-3-09-42 Fire Support for the Brigade Combat Team Download
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Chapter 4 4-12 ATP 3-09.42 1 March 2016 coordination (airborne). In the absence of a JSTARS, a forward air controller (airborne) provides communications relay between the Air Force TACP and attack aircraft as well as other agencies of the tactical air control system. Tactical air coordination (airborne) also expedites close air support aircraft-to- forward air controller hand-off during heavy traffic close air support operations. Company Fire Support Team 4-61. The company FIST (see chapter 1) plans, coordinates, and executes fire support for the company commander’s concept of operations. In the absence of an Air Force TACP, the company commander may use the FIST to coordinate close air support. Non-JTAC-qualified personnel providing terminal attack control of a close air support mission may increase the risk of fratricide. The decision to use non-JTAC-qualified personnel for terminal attack control of close air support must be balanced against potential loss of friendly forces to enemy action. Regardless, FIST personnel provide qualified and expert targeting information that close air support and other fire support personnel can use. Qualified Helicopter Aircrews 4-62. Qualified helicopter aircrews can also function as a forward air controller (airborne); providing the ground commander with an additional capability for terminal attack control of close air support. A heliborne JTAC may also direct the terminal attack control of close air support. This provides the ground commander flexible and responsive terminal attack control across a larger area of operations and is especially useful when JTACs are limited and Army aviation support is available. PLANNING AND COORDINATING CLOSE AIR SUPPORT FOR BCT OPERATIONS 4-63. At the BCT level, the joint fire support planning team includes the Air Force TACP personnel, the FSCOORD, brigade FSO, fires cell planners and ADAM/BAE, the targeting working group and the targeting board. Close air support planning is an integral part of the BCT military decisionmaking process (MDMP) and is crucial in developing the overall BCT fire support plan. Integrating and coordinating air support with surface fires is a major challenge. The overarching goal is to integrate fire support with maneuver in such a way that the BCT commander’s desired effects from air support are achieved without suspending the use of other means of fire support or unnecessarily delaying the scheme of maneuver. An additional goal is to offer a reasonable measure of protection to supporting aircraft from friendly surface fires and enemy fires. It is important to leverage and exploit weather effects information provided by the SWO based on current and forecast weather conditions impacting the employment of close air support assets. PREPLANNED CLOSE AIR SUPPORT 4-64. Forward as preplanned requests those planned close air support requirements that can be foreseen early enough to be included in the joint air tasking order or the mission order. See figure 4-1.