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 5-25 Note: Fire support tasks are related in time and space and should be discussed in relation to each other. For AFATDS purposes, fire support tasks identify the unit that has priority of fires. Information should also include target number and grid coordinates; purpose of the target; primary and alternate triggers to include periods of limited visibility and description of how triggers are related in time and space to the scheme of maneuver; primary and backup sensors or observers; delivery units(s); and time-space relationship between unit response time, duration of fires, and scheme of maneuver. 5-101. After review of each fire support task, process the missions from the sensor or observer to the delivery system level. In particular, validate the mission value; system preferences (AFATDS selects the fire support system); delivery system attack methods (shell, fuze, unit, volleys); proper intervention points; target coordination requirements; and mission routing functions. 5-102. After review of each fire support task, the cannon field artillery battalion S-3 discusses field artillery actions and field artillery tasks to support each phase of the operation to include movements required during the phase, their triggers, and their relationship in time and space to fire support tasks. For the Level I and III rehearsals, displacing firing units change their grid location and send their status to selected units or to a distribution list that will update AFATDS operational facilities. Address sustainment requirements in the phase at this point in the rehearsal. DIGITAL REHEARSAL CHALLENGES 5-103. The effect of automatic data distribution during digital rehearsals is potentially far reaching. As digital systems are designed to disseminate information automatically, safeguards must be in place to separate digital rehearsals from real world events. In the Level I and III rehearsals, AFATDS operational facilities electronically move unit icons in the AFATDS from assembly areas or battle positions into planned battle positions to range targets for the rehearsal. Note: To process targets in the AFATDS, units must be able to range the respective targets. 5-104. Preferably, rehearsal missions must be distinctly separate from actual missions. Otherwise, digital rehearsal missions and associated exercise messages should not be automatically passed to addressees unless they are rehearsal participants or are aware of the rehearsal and able to differentiate between actual and rehearsal information. Alternatively, non-participating net members may have to leave the net for the duration of the rehearsal. 5-105. Safeguards must also be taken to prevent live rounds from being fired at rehearsal targets, while maintaining the capability to react to real threats. Units must retain the ability to terminate or postpone rehearsals instantly when an actual fire mission needs to be processed. 5-106. Although the AFATDS permits dividing an operation plan into distinct phases, creating and switching among multiple phases of a plan during rehearsals creates the potential for introducing database errors. Therefore, phases within a plan should be kept to a minimum and created only when necessary. SECTION V - CLEARANCE OF FIRES AND AIRSPACE CONTROL 5-107. The BCT commander is responsible for the clearance of fires within the BCT’s area of operations. The BCT commander conducts clearance of fires so that fires used to engage the enemy will not result in casualties to friendly forces and noncombatants. 5-108. Commanders clear fires through staff processes and the use of control measures, by embedding the processes in automated battle command systems, or through active or passive recognition systems. During planning and execution the BCT commander, S-3, FSCOORD and fires cell planners use all of these means in various combinations to set the conditions for clearance of fires. Even with automated systems, clearance of fires remains a command responsibility at every level; commanders must assess the risk and decide the extent they will rely on automated systems to assist in the clearance of fires.