ATP-3-09-42 Fire Support for the Brigade Combat Team Download
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Coordinating Fire Support 1 March 2016 ATP 3-09.42 5-11 OTHER FIRES CELL PERSONNEL ASSISTANT BRIGADE FIRE SUPPORT OFFICER 5-41. Assistant brigade FSOs assigned within the BCT main command post fires cell enable 24-hour operations. The assistant brigade FSO focuses on developing and refining the plans and products needed for the MDMP. A primary area of concentration is targeting, including assessment of system performance and attack effectiveness. The assistant brigade FSO actively participates with the S-2 and intelligence staff in intelligence preparation of the battlefield (see ATPs 2-01.3 and 2-19.4) to identify appropriate high-value targets and refine intelligence, sensor, and acquisition information, and works with fires cell targeting officers, the targeting working group and the targeting board to select high-payoff targets from among high-value targets. The assistant brigade FSOs process and perform staff coordination to ensure fire support is incorporated into BCT operations as required and fire support related assessment is conducted as appropriate. An assistant brigade FSO may deploy with the command group supporting the BCT deputy commander or function as a shift leader in the tactical command post fires element. The assistant brigade FSO’s duties and responsibilities include: Assist the brigade FSO in performing duties and act as the brigade FSO in that individual’s absence. Assist in the development of the fires input to the BCT OPLAN or OPORD and the fire support annex, if used. The high-payoff target list, target selection standards, attack guidance matrix, targeting synchronization matrix and fire support execution matrix may be included either in the main body of the OPLAN or OPORD or in the fires annex. TARGETING OFFICERS 5-42. The BCT main command post fires cell may have one or more targeting officers who collect, analyze, refine and process the information required for target attack. They use the information provided by information collection (see the discussion in chapter 4 and FM 3-55) systems and target acquisition radars, as well as those assets available through reach-back to locate high-payoff targets for attack. The targeting officers oversee the BCT certification program for and supervise and conduct target coordination mensuration and collateral damage estimation when required. The targeting officer(s) provide recommendations and advice to the S-3, plans officer and the targeting working group and board (see ATP 3-60) during the MDMP (see chapter 6). They contribute to the development of targeting and assessment guidance to be entered into the AFATDS as well as to be distributed within mission orders. They assist in providing counterfire guidance, including radar deployment instructions, to the field artillery battalion S-2 and targeting officer. The targeting officer(s), together with the S-2, and S-3 develop the high-payoff target list, attack guidance matrix, target selection standards, targeting synchronization matrix, and fire support related measures of performance and measures of effectiveness for assessment. 5-43. During operations, targeting officer(s) present target identification and location requirements to the targeting working group based on updated targeting priorities. The targeting officers prepare products for the targeting working group and board. They direct updating and purging of targeting files. The targeting officer(s) ensure that interoperability is maintained with information collection assets. The targeting officers(s) provide information to the S-2 and develop the guidance to be entered into the AFATDS so that the fires cell receives targeting information from intelligence automations systems. Targeting officer duties and responsibilities include: Coordinate with the S-2 to identify and refine high-payoff targets. Advise the S-2 and information collection planners to ensure that the BCT information collection plan is synchronized with the fire support plan. Advise the brigade FSO on issues concerning targeting and fire support. Participate as a member of the targeting working group and board. Manage changes to the radar azimuth of search and to radar zones. Oversee the certification program for target coordinate mensuration and collateral damage estimation.