ATP-3-09-42 Fire Support for the Brigade Combat Team Download
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Organization and Capabilities for Fire Support within the Brigade Combat Team 1 March 2016 ATP 3-09.42 1-3 1-11. Augmentation to the BCT main command post fires cell typically includes an Air Force tactical air control party and, depending upon the mission variables, may include a naval surface fire support liaison officer, a Marine Corps liaison officer, and an Army space support team. Other Army or joint resources and assets can further augment the BCT main command post fires cell as needed. The functions of the BCT main command post fires cell and duties and responsibilities of its personnel are described in Chapter 5. BATTALION FIRE SUPPORT COORDINATION ORGANIZATIONS 1-12. Fire support personnel manning the battalion’s main command post fires cell, company FISTs, and platoon forward observers are assigned to the BCT’s cannon field artillery battalion. These fire support personnel habitually associate with supported battalions and companies or platoons for training, but for combat operations will be deployed by the BCT commander and the FSCOORD when and where needed based on METT-TC. BATTALION FIRES CELLS 1-13. Fires cells in the BCT’s maneuver battalions and cavalry squadron provide a fire support coordination capability for battalion operations and are organized with an FSO and noncommissioned officer (NCO), an electronic warfare NCO, and digital systems operators. The fires cell may also have an Air Force tactical air control party (TACP). FIRE SUPPORT TEAM AND OBSERVERS 1-14. Company FIST headquarters personnel and platoon forward observers enable effective artillery and mortar support for the maneuver force. The observers are the ears and eyes of the field artillery and a major source of information for field artillery and maneuver commanders as the observers execute assigned tasks and respond to enemy actions. Fire Support Team 1-15. A fire support team is a field artillery team providing support to each maneuver battalion and selected units to plan and coordinate all available supporting fires, including mortars, field artillery, naval surface fire support and close air support integration. 1-16. FISTs are assigned to the BCT’s cannon field artillery battalion and provide the maneuver companies with fire support coordination, precision targeting, type 2 and 3 terminal attack control, and effects assessment capabilities. The use of precision target location tools is the preferred method of establishing accurate target location. These tools include a targeting device or a precision targeting device, a forward entry device, and imagery based mensuration tools. The observer may have an optical device using a laser range finder for distance and an Azimuth Vertical Angle Module to acquire direction and vertical angle. Each FIST’s fire support vehicle, if provided, possesses a target acquisition and communications suite with the capability for laser range finding and designation for laser-guided munitions. Observers 1-17. Effective field artillery fires require qualified observers to call for and adjust fires on located targets. Forward observers, forward air controllers, naval gunfire spotter teams, joint fires observers (JFO) and joint terminal attack controllers (JTAC) train together and work effectively as a team to request, plan, coordinate, and place accurate fires on targets that create the effects desired by the BCT commander. 1-18. A forward observer is an observer operating with front line troops and trained to adjust ground or naval gunfire and pass back battlefield information. In the absence of a forward air controller, the observer may control close air support strikes (JP 3-09). Platoon forward observers are assigned to the FIST supporting each infantry company or cavalry troop in the BCT and to the battlefield surveillance brigade. 1-19. Forward air controllers (airborne), JTACs, and naval gunfire spotter teams may not always be available when and where their support is required. Therefore field artillery observer teams must be proficient in planning and executing close air support when a JTAC is not available, Army aviation engages