ATP-3-09-42 Fire Support for the Brigade Combat Team Download
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Appendix D D-12 ATP 3-09.42 1 March 2016 D-35. FISTs employed at company level provide maneuver companies and cavalry troops with fire support coordination, targeting, input for terminal attack control, and assessment capabilities. Forward observers are trained to adjust ground or naval gunfire and pass back battlefield information. D-36. Fire support personnel with additional training and certification may be qualified as joint fires observers. Platoon joint fires observers have target acquisition devices that assist in accurately locating targets and the communications equipment needed to call for fire and conduct terminal guidance operations. The joint fires observer provides the capability to exploit the tactical environment by using supporting air delivered fires. D-37. A joint fires observer in the company is frequently collocated with the platoon leader. Joint fires observers provide target refinement, submit key targets to the company fire plan (limited fire planning), advise the platoon leader on all indirect fire support matters; prepare, maintain, and use situation maps, designate targets for smart munitions, report combat information, execute planned fires, and request and adjust fires for their supported platoons. SECTION II - TARGETING AND TARGETS D-38. There are two targeting categories - deliberate targeting and dynamic targeting. See ATP 3-60 for detailed discussion of the targeting process. DELIBERATE TARGETING D-39. Examples of deliberate targeting range from targets on target lists in the applicable plan or order to those targets detected in sufficient time to be placed in the joint air tasking cycle, mission type orders, or fire support plans. D-40. Planned targets include scheduled and on-call targets: Scheduled target – A planned target on which fire is to be delivered at a specific time. On-call target – A planned target other than a scheduled target on which fire is to be delivered when requested. DYNAMIC TARGETING D-41. Dynamic targeting prosecutes targets of opportunity and changes to planned targets or objectives. A target of opportunity is 1. A target identified too late, or not selected for action in time, to be included in deliberate targeting that, when detected or located, meets criteria specific to achieving objectives and is processed using dynamic targeting. 2. A target visible to a surface or air sensor or observer, which is within range of available weapons and against which fire has not been scheduled or requested (JP 3-60). Targets engaged as part of dynamic targeting are previously unanticipated, unplanned, or newly detected. D-42. Targets engaged as part of dynamic targeting are previously unanticipated, unplanned, or newly detected. There are two types of targets of opportunity: unplanned and unanticipated: Unplanned targets – Targets known to exist in the area of operations, but no action has been planned against them. The target may not have been detected or located in sufficient time to meet planning deadlines. Alternatively, the target may have been located, but not previously considered of sufficient importance to engage. Unanticipated targets – Targets that are unknown or not expected to exist in the area of operations.