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APPENDIX I
FIRES PARAGRAPH AND FIRE SUPPORT EXECUTION MATRIX
This appendix addresses considerations for the development of the fires paragraph and the fires support execution matrix. Examples of both are shown.

The fires paragraph and/or the FSEM should address four specific areas to best convey your scheme of fires. These areas are as follows:

  • Scheme and/or purpose -should address exactly what you want fire support to accomplish during each phase of the battle. It should be specific in addressing attack guidance and engagement criteria. This is the most important part of the fires paragraph. The FSCOORD must articulate how fire support as a battlefield operating system will be synchronized with the other BOSs.

  • Priority -designates POF and when or if it shifts for each phase. Include all systems when assigning POFs.

  • Allocations -designates the allocation of FS assets to include the following:

      ° Targets allocated to brigade and task forces for planning.

      ° Close air support sorties.

      ° Smoke, expressed in minutes and size.

      ° Priority targets, FPFs, and Copperhead priority targets.

      ° Combat observation/lasing teams.

  • Restrictions -addresses FSCMs and the use of specific munitions. Some examples are critical FSCMs and specific munition restrictions such as those placed on the employment of illumination, smoke, dual-purpose improved conventional munitions (DPICM), and FASCAM.

These four areas must be addressed in the fires paragraph and/or FSEM. The most important document is the FSEM. It is normally the document used by fire supporters to execute the fire plan. It must be a stand-alone document. More importantly, specific target responsibility must be included in the brigade and TF maneuver matrix. One of the most important lessons learned is many company or team maneuver commanders will not have the FSEM posted to their situation map during execution. Normally, the only individual who posts the FSEM is the FSO, and when he becomes a casualty, fire support tends to become a nonplayer in their fight. It is this lesson that requires the FS portion of the maneuver matrix to be filled in with responsibilities and not "see fires paragraph."

Two examples (1), (2) of scheme of fires paragraphs and an FSEM are shown below. A figure that precedes the FSEM lists the abbreviations and acronyms used in it.

EXAMPLE 1
Fires (3a(2)). The purpose of fires is to initially support the counterreconnaissance battle and then provide fires in support of the brigade's deliberate defense along the FEBA to defeat the lead regiment. On order, provide fires in support of the brigade counterattack.

Phase I (counterreconnaissance). Use Copperhead to destroy reconnaissance vehicles (HVTs). Priority of fires to TF 3-35. COLT 1 and COLT 2 are attached to TF 3-35. Use of illumination requires brigade approval during this phase.

Phase II (rearward passage of lines). A 20-minute counterpreparation will be fired in support of TF 3-35 passage of lines. Priority of fires remains with TF 3-35. Twenty minutes of artillery smoke is allocated to TF 3-35.

Phase III (MBA defense). Indirect fires will initially disrupt the lead regiment between PL WALT and PL BOB and then suppress the lead elements as they enter EA KILL. Priority of fires is to TF 2-6, on order to TF 2-8. Copperhead will destroy breaching assets (HVT). COLT 3 is attached to TF 2-6 and allocated one Copperhead priority target. FASCAM will be fired when the second echelon is committed to isolate the lead regiment in EA KILL. On order, TF 2-8 will execute four CAS sorties to attrit the second echelon regiment. TF 2-6 and TF 2-8 are both allocated one battery FPF each. ACA Blue will be implemented by the brigade FSE.

Phase IV (counterattack). Brigade FSE will plan and control a 15-minute preparation to support the brigade counterattack on OBJ EAGLE. Priority of fires to TF 2-9. The corps FSCL is PL DICK; the division CFL is PL SABER; on order, PL JAY.

EXAMPLE 2
The purpose of fires is to support the movement of the brigade to OBJ HAMMER, to provide close fires in support of 1st brigade's seizure of OBJ HAMMER, and to delay and neutralize the second echelon regiment beyond PL Yellow. Once OBJ HAMMER is seized and the defense is reestablished along PL Blue, fires will neutralize remaining elements of the 2d echelon regiments. Priority of fires to TF 3-7 during the movement to and seizure of OBJ HAMMER. On order, priority shifts to TF 1-64 in the defense. COLT 1 and priority of Copperhead is allocated to TF 3-7, on order to TF 1-64 in the defense. FASCAM is retained at division level. No DPICM will be fired on OBJ HAMMER. No smoke or illumination will be fired without the brigade commander's approval.



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