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 6-37 Step 6: Monitor and Adjust Observer Plan Execution 6-141. The ability of fires cells at all levels to monitor the execution of the observation plan is critical to the success of fire support as a whole and contributes to continuous assessment. The FSCOORD, fires cell planners, and targeting officers must be able to monitor the situation and ensure the synchronization of available fire support assets to place the right attack means on the correct target at the precise time. In the case of observer planning, a fire support asset is any assigned observer regardless of branch, rank, or unit. From the FIST or forward observer to each battalion fires cell and BCT, the positioning of observers must be tracked and adjusted. This is because observers may be lost through enemy contact or the targets may change based on enemy action. 6-142. The fires running estimate must include any loss of observation of critical targets during execution. The BCT staff uses the estimate to make adjustments, as necessary, to achieve the desired end state. 6-143. Observation post locations must be known and understood throughout the BCT, not just within the fire support system. The FSCOORD, fires cell planners, and targeting officers must use the risk estimate diagram to ensure that it can provide advice on other observation post locations if maneuver execution renders some planned observation posts untenable. In this case, the risk estimate diagram becomes a tool to maintain observer-positioning flexibility during execution. ASSIGN HEADQUARTERS 6-144. The BCT staff recommends forces and headquarters to execute each course of action. When approved, these assignments become the task organization. The FSCOORD and fires cell planners identify units to perform fire support tasks and make task organization recommendations based on fire support requirements. The BCT staff tailors employment of fire support assets to mission requirements and type of operation and consider how best to: Task-organize and clarify responsibilities and command and support relationships. Minimize fratricide risk. Synchronize combat power at decisive points. 6-145. The BCT FSCOORD, brigade FSO, and fires cell planners make task organization recommendations based on the fire support capabilities of each headquarters and fire support resources. The fires running estimate, including the vulnerability assessments, provide the information needed to support any fire support related recommendations. Another consideration is the headquarters experience in conducting fire support. DEVELOP COURSE OF ACTION STATEMENTS AND SKETCHES 6-146. The S-3 prepares a course of action statement and supporting sketch for each course of action for the overall operation. The statement and sketch cover who, what, when, where, and why for each subordinate unit. They also state any significant risks for the BCT as a whole. The FSCOORD and fires cell planners and targeting officers provide fire support input to each course of action statement and sketch. At a minimum, each course of action statement or sketch should include the scheme of fires. This statement may identify fire support tasks for the course of action. The sketches: Portray how fire support will assist in mission success. Provide an overview of fire support capabilities, limitations, and requirements. Show the scheme of fires and information such as FSCMs, command posts, and displacement. The fires cell planners should consult with the field artillery battalion S-3 to verify that the information is complete prior to briefing. 6-147. The desired fires cell output for course of action development is a draft fire support plan for each course of action, branch, or sequel. Fire support tasks should be clearly identified. In some cases, the fire support plans may not change significantly to support different courses of action.