ATP-3-09-42 Fire Support for the Brigade Combat Team Download
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Chapter 6 6-18 ATP 3-09.42 1 March 2016 6-62. The fire support planners, including the electronic warfare officer and electronic warfare element, and the information operations officer and the information operations element, submit their requests for this information to the S-2 when nominating targets for engagement by nonlethal means. If these targets are approved, the fire support, electronic warfare, and information operations information requirements needed to assess the effects on them become priority information or intelligence requirements that the S-2 adds to the information collection plan (see the discussion in chapter 4 and FM 3-55). If the BCT does not have the assets or resources to answer the requirements, the target is not engaged unless the attack guidance specifies otherwise or the commander so directs. The targeting working group (see ATP 3-60) performs this synchronization. Fire support planners must synchronize the lethal attack of targets with any directed nonlethal activities. 6-63. Fire support planners at different echelons may desire to engage the same targets or may require different effects. Therefore, targeting includes coordinating and deconflicting targets with higher, adjacent supporting and subordinate echelons. Other staff elements may identify targets for attack using fires or other means. The FSCOORD, fires cell planners, and targeting officers consult with the BCT S-3 and discuss the advantages and disadvantages associated with lethal fires and nonlethal activities to generate the desired effects. The targeting working group and the S-3 recommend for the BCT commander’s approval how to best employ available resources to engage these targets. 6-64. Parallel planning must begin as early as possible in the MDMP. The fire support planners exchange and share all pertinent information with subordinate units and adjacent and higher headquarters. 6-65. BCT staff representatives of all warfighting functions will participate in targeting working group sessions and war gaming to ensure a complete understanding of what targets must be engaged and where, when to attack them in time and space, and which system(s) and the tactics used to find and attack them will best achieve the BCT commander’s desired effects. Together, they identify the available assets to be allocated, additional assets required, and communication channels needed to provide information on a real- time basis. 6-66. The targets identified are linked to information collection and target acquisition assets in the initial information collection plan (see FM 3-55). The initial information collection plan is developed to identify which assets are available to locate the targets where and when the attacks can be most effective. As requirements for acquisition of targets are developed, information collection and target acquisition assets are committed to find, identify and fix high-payoff targets. Using a systematic process, the fires cell staff focuses targeting resources and refines targeting information so that high-payoff targets can be effectively attacked. The targeting working group will develop and the BCT commander will approve the high-payoff targets, target selection standards and attack guidance that will become part of the fire support plan. Effects Generated by Attacking the Target 6-67. Targeting systematically analyzes and prioritizes targets and matches appropriate lethal and nonlethal actions to those targets to create specific desired effects that achieve the commander’s objectives. (JP 3-60) The commander states clear and simple targeting guidance The guidance must focus on essential enemy capabilities and functions that could interfere with the achievement of friendly objectives. Based on the BCT commander’s targeting guidance, the FSCOORD, brigade fires support officer and fires cell planners and targeting officers link desired effects to actions and tasks. 6-68. Effects refer to the target attack criteria in the attack guidance matrix. The targeting working group should specify attack criteria according to the commander's general guidance. Target attack criteria should be given in quantifiable terms. Attack criteria can be described in standard terms such as destroy, neutralize, or suppress. However, the subjective nature of what is meant by these terms means the BCT commander must ensure the FSCOORD, brigade FSO, fires cell planners and targeting officers, and the targeting working group understand the use of them (see FM 3-09). For example, destruction might be expressed as the elimination of a function (for instance a bridge no longer able to support vehicle traffic) or a percentage of the force. The commander may state that the desired effect on an infantry unit to be destroyed may include killing or wounding 50 percent of the personnel and destroying 20 percent vehicles in the targeted enemy position. Fire support planners must be prepared to advise the commander on the impact of desired effects on ammunition supply and planning. Desired effects may also be described in further detail such as disrupt air landings for 24 hours. Creating this desired effect would likely include