Field Artillery units constitute the single most powerful combat multiplier on the battlefield under the direct control of the BCT Commander. By adeptly utilizing artillery fires, Commanders can effectively shape the deep fight prior to enemy forces making contact with the lead units of the BCT. They can also provide additional firepower to disrupt, neutralize, or even destroy enemy elements in the close fight. The decision to employ artillery and the decision to transition the weight of your artillery fires from one task to another cannot be haphazardly controlled. The deliberate execution of a scheme of fires, conducted in concern with the movement of direct fire ground forces onto enemy positions (the very definition of maneuver) constitutes one of the single most important tasks a Commander must perform to be successful in a decisive action training environment against a near peer threat.
Commanders are responsible for training artillery formations. This means understanding that, in order to be effective, you must employ your artillery against an enemy which has fire superiority (both in terms of mass and range). Routinely, Commanders struggle to get artillery formations into the fight due to inadequate home station training plans. Training small artillery units to operate at the platoon level in a dispersed manner while massing their effects, utilize camouflage, and able to range well forward of the FLOT enables them to operate effectively against enemy formations.
Reconnaissance Operations for Artillery Positions (RSOP)
Observation
Artillery units often fail to conduct reconnaissance operations for Artillery Positions.
Best Practice
Successful firing batteries understand and adhere to Chapter 3 of ATP 3-09.50 and ATP 3-09.70 (Paladin Operations) regarding RSOP. Battery leadership that develops and adheres to a site selection checklist while applying concentrated efforts in identifying and training advanced party personnel (including Fire Direction Center and Battery Trains Personnel) and rehearsing advanced party operations (i.e. individual howitzer positioning, battery trains positioning, area clearance, security, and communication feasibility) are able to meet in-positon, ready to fire timelines that are nested with the brigade’s scheme of maneuver.
Occupy and Defend a Tactical Area
Observation
In a decisive action training environment, every Soldier at every echelon must, without a doubt, be capable of defending their position. Often, field artillery batteries become so overwhelmed with their ability to deliver fires, they fail to properly occupy and formulate a defensive plan for their assigned tactical area.
Best Practice
Battery Occupations and Defense Operations are a direct reflection of the level of quality put into the RSOP. A quality RSOP sets conditions for a streamlined occupation and defensive posturing. RSOP personnel must maximize opportunities to analyze terrain for incorporating security posturing during occupations. Chapters 4 and 5 of ATP 3-09.50 and ATP 3-09.70 discuss multiple relevant techniques for occupations and defense preparations. Units that train occupation under both digital and degraded conditions and under varying threat levels are more prepared when Opposition Forces attempt to disrupt the brigade’s fires assets. Every Soldier and leader must understand how to create a crew served range card, how to employ a defensive plan, and illustrate a defensive diagram.
Fire Mission Processing
Observation
Fire Mission Processing constitutes a fundamental task for the fires enterprise. The tasks, conditions, and standards are pre-scribed in Army doctrine. Units which truly understand the word ‘mastery’ have practiced performing these tasks under the most demanding replicated combat conditions possible – at the pace required to succeed in a decisive action training environment against a near peer threat. Great units ruthlessly adhere to these established standards and do not deviate due to time constraints or other pressures found on the modern battlefield. They can perform these tasks – to standard – regardless of the battlefield conditions.
Best Practice
ATP 3-09.81 is the system of record for fire command standards. The only authorized deviations are those outlined in the ATPs. NO OTHER STANDARDS SHOULD BE PERMITTED! Successful batteries conduct Platoon and Battery fire mission processing to a validated standard. When that standard is achieve, these unit increase the demands on their formations while still adhering to the common standard of performance to demonstrate true mastery. Battery Leadership that understands when to transition the battery to fully degraded operations are able to maximize fires responsiveness in support of the brigade. Special munitions (i.e. Smoke in Adjust, Excalibur, FASCAM) that are rehearsed from sensor to shooter during the unit’s digital system sustainment training and other training events are better prepared to support the brigade during combined arms breach and brigade level defense operations.
POC: LTC Matthew Fox, Wolf 03, Fire Support S3 Trainer, matthew.m.fox4.mil@mail.mil
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