ATP-3-09-42 Fire Support for the Brigade Combat Team Download
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Chapter 6 6-16 ATP 3-09.42 1 March 2016 major challenge in the process is integrating and coordinating air support with surface fires. The overarching goal is integrating all close air support assets with other fire support assets and maneuver to achieve the desired effects from the air attack without suspending the use of the other supporting arms or unnecessarily delaying the scheme of maneuver. An additional goal is to offer a reasonable measure of protection to the aircraft from friendly surface fires and enemy fires. Key close air support considerations are commander’s intent and desired close air support effects, which unit has priority for close air support, positioning of joint terminal attack controllers, and whether the plan promotes simultaneous engagement of targets by close air support and surface fires. During this step, close air support planners: Analyze relative combat power Generate options used to develop possible courses of action. Develop close air support employment concept (includes best use of close air support and placement of Air Force tactical air control parties). Coordinate with the Air Force air liaison officer in developing engagement areas, target areas of interest, triggers, objective areas, obstacle plan, and movement plan. Coordinate with the BCT SWO to provide weather effects assessments and running estimates for all fires assets throughout Fires planning and development of the fire support plan. Develop the unit airspace plan for close air support. Prepare close air support requests for each course of action. Prepare course of action statements and sketches (battle graphics). ANALYZE RELATIVE COMBAT POWER 6-48. By analyzing relative combat power, the BCT staff and fire support planners determine friendly and opposing force strengths and weaknesses, and determine how to best meet the commander’s objective. The fire support planners ensure that the BCT staff considers fire support aspects of combat power (for instance close air support aircraft against anticipated enemy surface forces, including air defense threats). Generate Options 6-49. After determining available courses of action and forms of operations, the BCT staff generates options for meeting mission objectives. As many feasible options as time allows are developed as courses of action. The fire support planners assist the staff in determining decisive points/supporting efforts, on elimination/modification of courses of action, and consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of fire support for each possible course of action. 6-50. The fire support planners also advise on the integration and synchronization of fire support with maneuver and maneuver support and other warfighting functions. They help determine which desired effects might be best generated by fire support in conjunction with the other warfighting functions. An example is whether to use field artillery assets for military deception operations instead of using the artillery to weight the decisive operation. The BCT staff considers these tradeoffs when generating options and reviews them during course of action analysis. Array Initial Forces 6-51. The fires support planners array the fire support assets needed to support each friendly course of action and propose generic fire support/field artillery organization for combat for each course of action. The fire support planners ensure the BCT staff considers the impact of available fire support resources on force ratios and help determine initial placements. 6-52. BCT planners also consider the deception plan during this step. Because aspects of it may affect target selection and unit positioning; the staff considers major elements of the deception plan before developing courses of action.