FM-3-09 Fire Support and Field Artillery Operations Download
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Chapter 3 3-18 FM 3-09 30 April 2020 Table 3-2. Clearance of fires responsibilities Position Responsibilities Maneuver Commander Clears fires. Normally this is delegated to their CP and executed by the battle staff under the lead of the FSE. FSCOORD Recommends clearance of fires guidelines to the commander. FSE Ensures friendly force safety through adherence to ROE, FSCMs and maneuver control measures. Use maneuver control measures and FSCMs to facilitate clearance of fires. Coordinate for clearance of fires across boundaries as required. Use automated systems to request clearance of fires. Warn controlling HQ if FSCMs or commander's attack guidance is about to be violated. Use rehearsals to validate responsibilities for clearance of fires. CP command post FSCM fire support coordination measure FSCOORD fire support coordinator FSE fire support element HQ headquarters ROE rules of engagement 3-45. During the planning process, staff officers must consider how to position sensors not only to gather intelligence but also to support information requirements that will assist in assessment and the clearance of fires. Although sensor placement may primarily focus on gathering enemy information, information collected on friendly forces is equally important. 3-46. Clear and understandable maneuver control measures are also a significant first step in the clearance of fires. Again, digital systems will enhance the accurate and rapid transmission of these measures. FSCMs not only assist in the integration of fires by facilitating the rapid engagement of targets. They also safeguard friendly forces. 3-47. Permissive measures (if positioned correctly and disseminated to all higher, adjacent and subordinate units), such as CFLs and free-fire areas, offer the opportunity for responsive fires on targets of opportunity. The size of restrictive measures (no fire areas, restrictive fire area [RFA]) should be verified to preclude unwarranted delays for otherwise responsive fires. 3-48. A procedure to consider in certain circumstances is pre-clearing fires. In some very specific instances, units can clear fires during the planning phase. Two such instances are: (1) fires into a planned CFFZ resulting from a radar acquisition from that planned CFFZ - the CFFZ must have been planned in advance and published in the radar deployment order; and (2) fires on a preplanned target, with a definable trigger, against a specific enemy, and according to the scheme of FS. 3-49. When fires are requested that are not pre-cleared or allowed by a permissive FSCM, they must be positively cleared. This procedure should be a battle drill in CPs. The best method is a redundant drill where a call for clearance is transmitted over two nets, the FS net and the maneuver net. 3-50. Positive clearance of fires is normally facilitated through prior planning, rehearsals, and careful placement of FSCMs. However, the clearance of targets of opportunity often presents special challenges. They must be delivered on short notice without undue delay in responsiveness and without jeopardizing friendly force security. For positive clearance of fires, the following should be obtained: Best available method of target location. Positive identification of targets as enemy. Eyes on target, if at all possible. Clearance from appropriate external elements if target is outside unit boundaries.