AATP-3-91-1 Joint Air Ground Integration Center Download
Page 52 of 82
Appendix A A-6 ATP 3-91.1/AFTTP 3-2.86 17 April 2019 have been used if available in brigade or battalion areas. However, there are times at the division level, when field artillery fires is an acceptable attack option and should be used instead of CAS. A-15. The JAGIC chief, SAD, and ATOM work closely together in determining what air assets should be used as the attack option. The ATOM checks for available aircraft resources and coordinates with the SAD. In some instances, the JAGIC chief may determine the CAS request to be a higher priority than existing missions and the SAD will reassign an aircraft. A-16. Concurrent with the determination of air asset availability is the JAGIC chief and SAD’s decision to select either an Army or air component resource as the attack option. In some cases, the decision may be delegated to the SAD. If CAS is selected, the SAD informs the JARNO to send the approval message back to the requestor, the ATOM tasks the asset, and Army and Air Force airspace managers determine if ACMs are required. If an ACM is required, Army airspace personnel and the Air Force airspace manager create and distribute the ACM. The SOF fires liaison officer verifies locations of any special operations elements near the target area and alerts them of incoming fires. The component liaisons, if any, do the same. If the JAGIC chief selects surface fires, the chief notifies the fire control NCO who enters the data into the fire direction system, checks for airspace conflicts, and transmits the fire mission to the appropriate firing unit(s). When possible, the JAGIC should attain an accurate characterization of detected objects in the operational environment sufficient to support an engagement decision; this process (called combat identification) is further discussed in JP 3-09. A-17. A procedural controller assumes control of the aircraft from the CRC or AWACS and provides the aircrew with updates on the tasking, targets, and transit instructions. The procedural controller then instructs the aircraft to contact the JTAC for mission execution. The JTAC provides a CAS mission briefing, as required, and provides final control of the CAS aircraft. Upon exiting the target area, the CAS aircraft submits an in-flight report to the JTAC controlling the CAS mission and the procedural controllers in the JAGIC. The in-flight report is submitted to the ASOC intelligence officer or technician and the JARNO. Finally, if ACMs were activated, the Army airspace personnel or the Air Force airspace manager deactivate the ACMs. (See figure A-4 on page A-7 for a detailed flowchart of the immediate close air support process.)