ATP-3-09-42 Fire Support for the Brigade Combat Team Download
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Chapter 6 6-2 ATP 3-09.42 1 March 2016 and supporting commanders act to achieve the commander’s desired results without further orders, even when the operation does not unfold as planned (JP 3-0). The concept of operations is a statement that directs the manner in which subordinate units cooperate to accomplish the mission and establish the sequence of actions the force will use to achieve the end state (Army doctrine reference publication [ADRP] 5-0). Understanding the commander’s intent, concept of operations and operational requirements for the maneuver elements is necessary for the FSCOORD and fires cell planners to provide sound advice to the commander and the staff. They focus how to employ available fires to achieve the BCT commander’s desired effects. The scheme of fires is the detailed, logical sequence of targets and fire support events to find and engage targets to accomplish the supported commander’s intent (FM 3-09). The scheme of fires is planned to support the commander’s scheme of maneuver and is built on the fire support tasks developed by the FSCOORD, brigade fires support officer, and fires cell planners. COMMANDER’S GUIDANCE FOR FIRE SUPPORT 6-5. The BCT commander's guidance is directly linked to the commander’s intent and desired end state. It is used to focus staff planning and execution activities. The BCT commander’s guidance for fires provides the staff, FSCOORD and fires cell planners, and subordinate and supporting units with the general guidelines and restrictions for the employment of fires and their desired effects. 6-6. The guidance emphasizes in broad terms when, where, and how the BCT commander intends to synchronize the effects of fires with the other elements of combat power to accomplish the mission. Commander’s guidance should include priorities and how the commander envisions the operation unfolding and the impact that fires will have on its success. Priority of fires is the commander’s guidance to the staff, subordinate commanders, fires planners, and supporting agencies to organize and employ fires in accordance with the relative importance of the unit’s mission. FIRE SUPPORT PLAN 6-7. A plan is a continuous evolving framework of anticipated actions that maximizes opportunities. It guides subordinates as they progress through each phase of the operations. Any plan or order is a framework from which to adapt, not a script to be followed to the letter. 6-8. Fire support is a force multiplier and can rapidly increase combat power to weight decisive operations. It is imperative that fire support considerations are included in the planning of all operations. The FSCOORD, FSO, and fires cell planners at each echelon of command recommend effects, capabilities, and techniques for delivering fires that will support the commander’s guidance and assist the unit in achieving its objectives. Field artillery personnel integrate all available fire support resources and synchronize them in accordance with the commander’s intent, concept of operations and priority of fires. 6-9. Fire support planning is the continuing process of analyzing, allocating, and scheduling fires to describe how fires are used to facilitate the actions of the maneuver force (FM 3-09). Fire support planning is focused on using the timely and effective delivery of fires to enhance the actions of the maneuver force. It involves the assignment of command or support relationships and positioning of field artillery units. It also identifies the types of targets to attack and the collection assets that acquire and track the targets, specifies the fire support assets to attack each identified target, and establishes the criteria for target defeat. The objective of fire support planning is to optimize the application of combat power. Fire support planning is performed as part of the operations process. Fire support planning includes developing fire plans (target lists and overlays) and determining forward observer control options to ensure fire support is integrated into the commander’s scheme of maneuver and can be executed in a timely manner. 6-10. Fire support planning is normally developed by the higher headquarters and further refined by subordinate headquarters. This is sometimes referred to as top down planning, bottom up refinement. For example there is usually not enough time during preparation for combat for the brigade FSO to wait for platoon forward observers and company FSOs to identify, consolidate, and forward targets for inclusion into the brigade fire support plan. Fire support plans developed by the brigade FSO include the commander’s intent and can be refined by the subordinate battalion and company FSOs. 6-11. A fire support plan is a plan that addresses each means of fire support available and describes how Army indirect fires, joint fires, and target acquisition are integrated with maneuver to facilitate operational