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 6-53  Which target acquisition and information collection assets should be used to find and track the high-payoff targets?  When to engage each high-payoff target.  Which system or attack means to use against each high-payoff target.  The desired effects from each attack.  Requirements for assessment; which of the high-payoff targets require assessment. Note: The FSCOORD, fires cell planners, and targeting officers submit assessment requirements for fire support and appropriate aspects of information operations and cyber electromagnetic activities-related targets to the S-2 for inclusion in the information collection plan.  Which high-payoff targets require special instructions or require coordination. COURSE OF ACTION COMPARISION 6-194. During course of action comparison (see table 6-27), the BCT staff compares feasible courses of action to identify the one with the highest probability of success against the most likely enemy course of action and the most dangerous enemy course of action. The FSCOORD, fires cell planners, and targeting officers evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each course of action and present their findings. The staff outlines each course of action in terms of the evaluation criteria established before war gaming and identifies the advantages and disadvantages of each with respect to the others. The FSCOORD, fires cell planners, and targeting officers record this analysis in paragraph 3 of the fires running estimate. Table 6-27. BCT fires cell during course of action comparison MDMP STEP 5: COURSE OF ACTION COMPARISON BCT Staff Key Fires Cell Actions Fires Cell Output  Conduct advantages and disadvantages analysis.  Compare courses of action.  Conduct a course of action decision briefing.  Participate with BCT staff in comparing strengths, weaknesses, advantages, and disadvantages of each course of action, emphasizing fire support aspects. Update fire support and information operations estimates.  Brief results of fire support analysis including best course of action from fire support perspective and adequacy of scheme of fires and supporting assets (for example sustainment and protection).  Develop draft fires paragraphs and annexes to include fire support tasks, fire support execution matrix, target list and overlay, targeting synchronization matrix or modified (high-payoff target list, target selection standards, attack guidance matrix). Integrate information operations and cyber electromagnetic input into targeting products.  Provide inputs to the information collection plan. Update fire support running estimate.  Assist FSCOORD in briefing fire support plan for each course of action.  Final drafts of the: Scheme of fires. Annex D (FIRES) and appendices. Fire support execution matrix. Target list worksheet (automated or manual). Target overlay. Observer plan. Targeting synchronization matrix or modified (high-payoff target list, target selection standards and attack guidance matrix). FSCMs. Named areas of interest and target areas of interest. BCT – brigade combat team FSCOORD – fire support coordinator FSCM – fire support coordination measure MDMP – military decisionmaking process CONDUCT A COURSE OF ACTION ADVANTAGE AND DISADVANTAGE ANALYSIS 6-195. After the analysis, the S-3, S-2, FSCOORD, fires cell planners, and targeting officers compare strength and weaknesses, highlight advantages and disadvantages from the perspective of the fires warfighting function and other warfighting functions, assess risks, and determine which course of action promises to be most successful.