ATP-3-09-90 Division Artillery Operations and Fire Support Download
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ATP 3-09.90 2-1 Chapter 2 Division Fire Support This chapter describes fire support at the division level in the operations process. Fire support follows the mission command activities performed during operations: planning, preparing, executing, and continuously assessing the operation. These four activities serve as a template for coordinating other actions associated with an operation including integrating processes, continuing activities, and actions specific to each operations process activity. Both integrating processes and continuing activities occur throughout an operation. Commanders synchronize them with each other and integrate them into all operations process activities. Fires is the use of weapon systems or other actions to create specific lethal or nonlethal effects on a target (JP 3-09). Fire support as defined in chapter 1 is fires that directly support land, maritime, amphibious, and special operations forces to engage enemy forces, combat formations, and facilities in pursuit of tactical and operational objectives. This chapter focuses on fire support, which is the employment of fires in direct support of operations. SECTION I – FIRE SUPPORT PLANNING WITHIN THE MILITARY DECISIONMAKING PROCESS The military decisionmaking process is an iterative planning methodology to understand the situation and mission, develop a course of action, and produce an operation plan or order (ADP 5-0). The MDMP helps leaders apply thoroughness, clarity, sound judgment, logic, and professional knowledge to build shared understanding, develop options to solve problems, and reach decisions. This process helps commanders, staffs, and others think critically and creatively while planning. THE MILITARY DECISIONMAKING PROCESS Working with the division commander and staff through the MDMP, the FSCOORD and fires cell planners develop effective, integrated, and executable fire support plans to support division operations. They employ the principles of fire support planning, coordination, and execution as a guide. For detailed information on the principles of fire support planning see FM 3-09. An effective fire support plan clearly defines fire support requirements and focuses on accomplishing the division commander's fire support tasks. It is a critical subset of the OPLAN or OPORD. An effective fire support plan reflects a detailed understanding of the division commander's intent. The fire support plan also requires the expertise necessary to assemble, to coordinate and to direct appropriate information collection, TA, and engagement assets toward a common objective. The utilization of fire support coordination measures and airspace coordinating measures create clarity on a complex battlefield and facilitate permissive and responsive fires through the rapid clearance of ground and airspace for fires engagements. Fire support coordination measures promote the synchronization of fires and fire support with maneuver and the other warfighting functions. Commanders employ permissive and restrictive fire support coordination measures to expedite engagement of targets, protect forces, populations, critical infrastructure, and sites of religious and cultural significance; deconfliction of fire support tasks, and set the stage for future operations. Permissive measures should be placed as close to friendly positions as possible to optimize the employment and effectiveness of all fire support means. For example, commanders should place the coordinated fire line as close as possible to the forward line of own troops or forward of lead elements in an attack. The coordinated fire line should be consistent with close and deep operations to permit rapid and effective employment of fires and to protect the force. By establishing a fire support coordination line close-in, yet at sufficient depth so as to not limit high-tempo maneuver, commanders ease the 12 October 2017