ATP-3-09-42 Fire Support for the Brigade Combat Team Download

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Chapter 1 1-4 ATP 3-09.42 1 March 2016 the enemy in contact with friendly ground forces, and naval gunfire. With additional training and certification, the forward observer can qualify as a JFO. 1-20. A joint fires observer is a trained Service member who can request, adjust, and control surface-to- surface fires, provide targeting information in support of Type 2 and 3 close air support terminal attack controls, and perform autonomous terminal guidance operations (JP 3-09.3). The JFO is not an additional Soldier in the Army fire support organization, but rather an individual who has received the necessary training and certification to be awarded the JFO’s additional skill identifier. A JFO is not a certified JTAC. Terminal guidance operations are those actions that provide electronic, mechanical, voice or visual communications that provide approaching aircraft and/or weapons additional information regarding a specific target location (JP 3-09). Terminal attack control is the authority to control the maneuver of and grant weapons release clearance to attacking aircraft (JP 3-09.3). A joint terminal attack controller is a qualified (certified) Service member who, from a forward position, directs the action of combat aircraft engaged in close air support and other offensive air operations. A qualified and current joint terminal attack controller will be recognized across the Department of Defense as capable and authorized to perform terminal attack control (JP 3-09.3). 1-21. Air Force JTACs, if available from the battalion Air Force TACP can deploy forward with a maneuver company and position where they can best support the operation. Tactical air control party JTACs provide the commander and the subordinate and supporting units with recommendations on the use of close air support and its integration with ground maneuver and other attack resources. JTACs also perform terminal attack control of individual close air support missions. Duties and responsibilities of the JTAC are discussed in Chapter 4. UNTRAINED OBSERVERS 1-22. Occasionally the cannon field artillery battalion may need to process fire missions from untrained observers. An untrained observer is anyone not military occupational specialty qualified in requesting and adjusting indirect fire. Often these are critical requests where the requestor is under fire. Field artillery battalion and battery fire direction centers should be identified as the primary handlers of untrained observer missions. For more information on untrained observer procedures, see TC 3-09.81. For more on observers see the discussions in Chapters 4 and 5 of this manual and in ATP 3-09.30. SECTION III – INDIRECT FIRE AND ELECTRONIC ATTACK ASSETS 1-23. One method of massing combat power initiates Army long-range indirect fires as the enemy comes within range. In extreme cases, airburst artillery and mortar fires have been called in on friendly positions to successfully defeat an enemy attack when adequate overhead protective cover was available for friendly forces and the unit was in danger of being overrun. Electronic attack begins at the point the commander believes it to be most effective to disrupt the enemy’s command and control. CANNON FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION 1-24. The BCT’s cannon field artillery battalion provides responsive and accurate field artillery fires to the BCT and its subordinate units according to the commander’s scheme of maneuver. The field artillery battalion also provides counterfire against enemy mortar, artillery, and rocket elements in the BCT’s area of operations. The field artillery battalion is able to operate over a widely dispersed area due to its communications capability, organic radars, and support from the BCT’s sustainment and surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. 1-25. The BCT cannon field artillery battalion coordinates with fires cells at BCT and battalion level; and FISTs and forward observers at company level. The field artillery battery’s fire direction center controls the battery’s firing and is required to maintain the current tactical situation, commander’s guidance for fires, the five requirements for accurate fires and respond to the supported unit and higher headquarters. Each firing platoon has personnel and equipment to determine firing data and conduct fire missions.