ATP-3-09-42 Fire Support for the Brigade Combat Team Download
Page 195 of 308
Planning and Integrating Fires for BCT Operations 1 March 2016 ATP 3-09.42 6-35 They should provide for alternate observers, if possible, for each target. Any observation posts assigned to battalions or squadrons must consider FIST and observer survivability as well as the number of maneuver elements to provide security. Additionally, the FSCOORD, fires cell planners, and targeting officers must consider options such as decentralized observer or FIST employment vice centralized employment. 6-130. Once the observation course of action is determined to be both suitable and feasible, the FSCOORD, fires cell planners, and targeting officers must verify with the S-3 and BCT commander that the tactical advantage gained through attacking the targets is acceptable. If the cost in resources is unacceptable, then they must go back to the supported task and determine if there is another means of accomplishing this task without the use of ground-based observers or of developing some risk mitigation measures to increase the acceptability of the course of action. Step 4: Task Observers and Observation Points in a Top-Down Observer Plan 6-131. Once the FSCOORD and brigade FSO have recommended, and the BCT and affected maneuver battalion and company troop commanders have approved the observer course of action, the S-3 tasks the units to provide observation of key targets. This plan should be incorporated in the fire support plan, which implies that it is also incorporated into the information collection plan. The FSCOORD, fires cell planners, and targeting officers include the target and observation tasking into the fires paragraph and the S-3 tasks observation requirements as a unit-specified task in paragraph 3 of the BCT OPORD. Observers for designated targets must be clearly identified in the OPORD. These fire support tasks, if supporting a BCT essential task, cannot be buried in the fires annex. The best fire support plan is one that is integrated and synchronized with the maneuver forces. 6-132. When the OPORD lists the observer tasking(s), it cannot simply end with a tasked unit, but must provide both the assigned unit and associated observation post. The order should list a primary and alternate observer. Addressing the who of the observer plan, and neglecting the how of the observer plan means that observer positioning is not a synchronized effort, but left to chance. Often, unit assignment of responsibility to execute a target is where the observer planning stops. In Step 4 of developing a top-down observer plan, the tasking for the target must provide the assigned unit a clear task and purpose linked to a target and associated observation points. How the observer gets into position is in accordance with the unit- directed scheme of maneuver. For example, a method for observation might read: Example method for establishing observation: Task Force 3-316 Infantry maneuvers to and establishes observation of AE0030 from Observation Posts 301 and 302 not later than 0530 hours to neutralize a suspected antitank firing line to limit enemy ability to impede BCT movement along AXIS ARROW. Observation posts may disengage once task force trains are in position at Command Post 3. 6-133. This plan is top-down, and it may change as the enemy situation and the maneuver plans of subordinate units are refined from the bottom-up. However, the positioning of observers to accomplish fire support tasks is well defined. Targets and related observation posts are as linked in task and purpose as a maneuver unit being told to occupy an attack by fire position in order to enable the attack to seize an objective. Observation for the attack of targets is part of the information collection plan in its area of operation to prevent fratricide. Observer planning is too important to leave to chance. Top-down tasking of a synchronized observation plan ensures that the plan is part of an overall maneuver plan. The observation plan is however, still an unrefined plan. Step 5: Refine and Rehearse the Observation Plan 6-134. Target refinement and the combined arms rehearsal are two key events that have the capability of adding to the level of synchronization between maneuver and fire support for the upcoming BCT operation. In relation to planning observation from the target back, a change in target location, if not updated, could invalidate the entire observer course of action. Therefore, during target refinement, the FSCOORD, fires cell planners, and targeting officers must continually go back to Steps 2 and 3 of the process to ensure that changes to the target location do not change the suitability, feasibility, or acceptability of the observation plan.