ATP-3-09-42 Fire Support for the Brigade Combat Team Download

Planning and Integrating Fires for BCT Operations 1 March 2016 ATP 3-09.42 6-7 Table 6-3. Planning for the immediate battle Action Responsibility 1 Receive higher headquarters OPORD. BCT staff and brigade FSO and fires cell. 2 Conduct mission analysis (higher headquarters mission, intent, and area of operations, tasks, assets available, limitations, risk, and time). BCT staff, brigade FSO and fires cell. 3 Identify specified/implied tasks for fire support. Brigade FSO and fires cell. 4 Identify intent for maneuver and fire support guidance, including priorities for support. BCT commander. 5 Course of action development, war-game, and produce the decision support template. Conduct initial targeting working group session to determine high- payoff targets and plan for attack. Supporting data include responsibilities for observing named areas of interest, target areas of interest, and decision points, recommendations for attack of target areas of interest by weapon system and the associated trigger point, BCT directed obstacles, initial BCT target list and target overlay and input for the initial BCT targeting synchronization matrix. BCT S-3 and S-2, FSCOORD, brigade FSO, Brigade Judge Advocate, Air Force air liaison officer, engineer coordinator, Army aviation liaison officer, and S-5. 6 Formulate BCT commander’s attack guidance (based on field artillery attack matrix and target value analysis). State priorities for support. See ATP 3-60. BCT commander, FSCOORD, brigade FSO and fires cell. 7 Compute number of field artillery targets available for allocation. Allocate field artillery volleys and targets for planning based on commander’s priorities. Brigade FSO and fires cell, field artillery battalion S-3. 8 Develop commander’s attack criteria from BCT commander’s attack guidance and enter it into fire support computer. BCT fire support NCO. 9 Develop fire support execution matrix. Distribute to subordinate and supporting unit FSOs and fires cells and to the division and corps fires cell. Brigade FSO and fires cell. 10 Conduct rehearsals. Include as many members of the fire support system as possible: subordinate and supporting unit fires cells, forward observers, field artillery battalion S-3 and fire direction officer, mortar platoon leader(s), radar NCO, Air Force air liaison officer, engineer coordinator, Army aviation liaison officer, and others as necessary. If time does not allow for a face-to-face rehearsal, consider using other means such as radio and electronic messaging (dependent on the existing threat). At a minimum, war-game the fire support plan with the brigade FSO, field artillery battalion S-3, and fire direction officer present. The rehearsal should cover (1) Verification of target grids, numbers, and trigger points; (2) Positioning of observers; (3) Positioning and movement of field artillery, mortars, and azimuth of fire; (4) Communication networks and variables; (5) Obstacle plan with fire support; (6) Use of close air support and attack/reconnaissance helicopters; (7) Maneuver and FSCMs, including field artillery, mortar, and air-delivered weapon risk estimate distances. BCT commander, FSCOORD, brigade FSO and fires cell, field artillery battalion S-3. 11 Integrate weather effects assessments for all fires assets throughout planning. BCT Staff Weather Officer ATP – Army techniques publication BCT – brigade combat team FSCM – fire support coordination measure FSCOORD – fire support coordinator FSO – fire support officer NCO – noncommissioned officer OPORD – operation order S-2 – battalion or brigade intelligence officer S-3 -- battalion or brigade operations officer Table 6-4. Execution planning Action Responsibility 1 FSCOORD and selected fires cell personnel position themselves where they can best execute the fire support plan (not always with the BCT commander). FSCOORD, brigade FSO and fires cell. 2 Communicate with: (1) supported commander; (2) subordinate, supporting, and higher echelon fires cells; (3) Field artillery battalion fire direction center, other fire support assets (such as Air Force tactical air control party, Army aviation liaison officer). Brigade FSO and fires cell. BCT – brigade combat team FSCOORD – fire support coordinator FSO – fire support officer