FM-3-09 Fire Support and Field Artillery Operations Download
Page 80 of 256
Chapter 3 3-34 FM 3-09 30 April 2020 SECTION III – FIRE SUPPORT PREPARATION 3-78. Fire support preparation facilitates and sustains transitions, including those to branches and sequels. Preparation requires action by fire support personnel at every echelon. Preparation consists of those activities performed by units and Soldiers to improve their ability to execute an operation (ADP 5-0). Preparation creates conditions that improve friendly forces' opportunities for success. It requires commander, staff, unit, and Soldier actions to ensure the force is trained, equipped, and ready to execute operations. Preparation activities help commanders, staffs, and Soldiers understand a situation and their roles in upcoming operations. Mission success depends as much on fire support preparation as on fire support planning and coordination. REHEARSALS "Unrehearsed plans are like brand new boots, you can use them, but you won't go far." Gen Dwight D. Eisenhower, March 1944. 3-79. Rehearsals allow leaders and their Soldiers to practice key aspects of the concept of operations. These actions help Soldiers orient themselves to their environment and other units before executing the operation. Rehearsals help Soldiers build a lasting mental picture of the sequence of key actions within the operation. A rehearsal is an effective organizational tool in gaining support, improving strategic and operational understanding, and fostering mutual trust within a commander's sphere of control. The commander and staff are able to visualize the terrain, and enemy and friendly units arranged by military action in time, space, and purpose. For more detailed information on rehearsals see FM 6-0. 3-80. Each rehearsal type achieves a different result and has a specific place in the preparation timeline. The four types of rehearsals are the: Backbrief. Combined arms rehearsal. Support rehearsal. Battle drill or SOP rehearsal. Conduct CP displacement rehearsals. 3-81. Fire support personnel are involved in every type of rehearsal. Multiple rehearsals ensure that maximum integration and synchronization in supporting the scheme of maneuver with fires. When time is limited, the number and scope of rehearsals are reduced. In these cases, rehearsals may focus on FS tasks or particular aspects of the maneuver plan and the associated FS plan. The FS rehearsal, in coordination with the FA technical rehearsal, should be conducted prior to the combined arms rehearsal and if possible, include members of the operations and intelligence staff and other members of the targeting team. 3-82. Rehearsals are based on a completed OPORD. Units may rehearse a contingency plan to prepare for an anticipated deployment. The rehearsal is a coordination event, not an analysis. It does not replace war- gaming. Commanders avoid making major changes to OPORDs during rehearsals. They make only those changes essential to mission success and risk mitigation. Risk management is the process to identify, assess, and control risks and make decisions that balance risk cost with mission benefits (JP 3-0). For more information on risk management see ATP 5-19. BACKBRIEF 3-83. A backbrief is a briefing by subordinates to the commander to review how subordinates intend to accomplish their mission (FM 6-0). These briefs allow commanders to clarify the commander's intent early in subordinate planning. Commanders use the backbrief to identify any problems in the concept of operations and to increase understanding and synchronization through the passage of information. At a minimum the FSCOORD should cover the following items during the backbrief: Commander's guidance for fires. Initial scheme of fires. Priorities of fires by phase. High-payoff targets.