ATP-3-09-42 Fire Support for the Brigade Combat Team Download
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Planning and Integrating Fires for BCT Operations 1 March 2016 ATP 3-09.42 6-3 success (FM 3-09). The BCT FSCOORD and fires cell planners develop an effective and integrated fire support plan to support BCT operations. An effective fire support plan clearly defines fire support requirements, focuses on the tasks and their resulting effects, uses all available acquisition and attack assets, and applies the best combination of fire support assets against high-payoff targets. 6-12. The fire support plan identifies critical times and places where the commander anticipates the need to maximize effects from fire support assets. Fire support planning considers existing limitations on the employment of fires, such as rules of engagement and positive identification requirements, weather effects on fires assets, the presence of special operations forces within the area of operations, desired conditions of subsequent phases, and requirements for collateral damage avoidance. The commander augments maneuver with fires to mass effects, achieve surprise, destroy enemy forces, and obtain decisive results. The commander‘s guidance gives specified attack criteria for supporting fire support assets, thus focusing fire support planning and integrated and coordinated execution on critical times and events. The specified attack criteria are developed as a function of the commander‘s guidance, desired effects, and high-payoff targets and attack priorities. Effective fire support planning and coordination ensures that desired effects are achieved on high-payoff targets without wasting assets through repetitive engagements by multiple friendly systems. Continuous planning and coordination facilitates the immediate actions required to support ongoing operations; and anticipates actions that may be required in the future. 6-13. The fire support plan is a significant component of the BCT commander's operation plan (OPLAN) or operation order (OPORD) and Annex D (FIRES) (if used) with its associated appendices, tabs, or enclosures (see appendix B). The development of the fire support plan is the responsibility of the FSCOORD and fires cell planners. The brigade FSO’s duties include oversight of the development and production of the fire support plan. Execution of the fire support plan is the responsibility of the BCT commander, FSCOORD, fires cell planners, and targeting officers. Also, the subordinate and supporting commanders, FSOs, fires cells, and fire support personnel perform tasks leading to fully integrated maneuver and fire support. The essential elements of a fire support plan include but are not limited to: Clear and concise articulation of fire support tasks, their purpose, and the desired effects for each task. Allocation of all fire support assets. Projected changes to the allocation of fire support assets based on tactical contingencies in the OPLAN or OPORD. Coordination and synchronization instructions for the timely detection, tracking, and attack of high-payoff targets. Requirements for positioning of assets, the makeup of basic loads, and the controlled supply rate. Restrictions on ammunition expenditures, types of fires, areas of employment, and creation of obstacles. Limiting risk to friendly troops and minimizing the loss of civilian life. Note: Based on rules of engagement, collateral damage estimation, and target coordination, target coordinate mensuration may be required. Establishment and changes in FSCMs (described in FM 3-09). Special instructions on rules of engagement, fire support communications, and sustainment. Locations of command posts, ammunition supply points, and ammunition transfer holding points. 6-14. Subordinate units do not change the overall plan but provide recommendations and refinements such as improved target locations. Effective fire support planning permits the supported maneuver commander to orchestrate and employ all available fires and related resources in an integrated and synchronized fashion consistent with the concept of operations. 6-15. Fire support agencies should disseminate the fire support plan in digitally formatted messages (as opposed to plain text) to subordinate levels to reduce the probability of errors in transmission. Forward