Military

a. Organic. This is a unit that forms an essential part of an Army organization and is listed in its table of organization and equipment or table of distribution and allowances.

b. Assigned. This is a unit that is placed in an organization on a permanent basis and is controlled and administered by the organization to which it is assigned.

c. Attached. In this relationship, a unit is assigned temporarily to a command other than its parent unit. The attached unit is under the command of the commander of the unit to which it is attached.

d. Operational Control. This relationship places a unit under the control of a commander for specific operations. The relationship is limited by function, time, or location. OPCON does not imply responsibility for administration, logistics, discipline, internal organization, or training. The commander's relationship with OPCON units is otherwise the same as with organic or attached subordinate units.

a. Direct Support. This is when one unit, under command of its parent unit commander, supports another specific unit. The supporting unit answers directly to the supported unit's requests. The CO may not suballocate, reassign, or task-organize the force supporting him.

b. General Support. Units in GS to battalion are under control of their parent unit commander. They support the battalion as a whole, not any specific company. Company commanders request support from the GS unit through the battalion.

a. The battalion's antiarmor platoon is normally assigned areas of responsibility for the battalion.

b. The company receives supporting fires from the battalion mortars. The battalion order designates the priority of fires and allocates priority targets. The CO considers his priority in the battalion plan. If he is first in priority, his calls for fire take precedence over all other battalion units. This may allow the CO to depend less on the company mortars or even move without them to lighten the soldiers' loads. The battalion commander should be aware that the company is without its mortars. Also, the CO must understand the risks involved; for example, the priority of fires may change. If a priority target is allocated to the company, the CO plans to employ it when and where it will be most effective.

c. The battalion scout platoon is organized and equipped for reconnaissance-not to seize/retain terrain. Its primary missions are to reconnoiter and screen. When the scout platoon is operating near the company, the CO may communicate with the scout platoon leader on the battalion command net, or he may use visual signals. Necessary signals and contact procedures are arranged between the CO and the scout platoon leader. If scouts must pass through the company (or vice versa), contact points, passage points, passage lanes, guides, and procedures must be arranged. The scout platoon may be attached to the company for a counter reconnaissance mission. Scouts serve as the commander's eyes and ears (not fists) on the battlefield. Scouts provide continuous battlefield information on operations; they should only use their organic weapons in self-defense.

d. Snipers may operate in support of the company for specific missions. They are most effective when tasked to kill specific enemy soldiers and when allowed to operate with few restrictions.

a. Field Artillery. Artillery fire is planned (to support the battalion commander's concept of the operation) by the battalion FSO in coordination with the plans developed by the battalion S3. Company indirect fire support is planned by the company FSO and approved by the CO. The integration of indirect fires is critical to the success of the company. The effects of these fires on an enemy force are much greater than the effects of the company's organic weapons. Artillery provides the most destructive, accurate, and flexible combat multiplier the CO has to employ. Table 7-1 lists the capabilities of the indirect fire systems that may support an infantry company.

b. Air Defense. Air defense support, if provided, is normally a MANPAD (Stinger) team in or near the company's position. The two-man team carries six missiles in its vehicle (HMMWV). It should be positioned to provide air defense for critical assets the commander feels are enemy air targets (for example, the company trains). These positions should cover the most likely avenue of enemy air approach.

c. Close Air Support. CAS is normally provided by the Air Force, but may also be provided by Navy and Marine aircraft. CAS aircraft carry a variety of munitions, to include bombs (free-fall and guided), cluster bomb units, antiarmor missiles, napalm, rockets, and scatterable mines. In general, CAS ordnance is most effective against tanks and other armored vehicles, moving targets, and troops (exposed and protected). Some CAS aircraft carry the 20-mm cannon, which is effective against lightly armored vehicles. The A-10 airplane carries the 30-mm cannon, which is -effective against tanks and other armored vehicles. Although the company FSO is not the primary designator, he has the capability to employ laser designators to guide CAS precision munitions.

d. Naval Gunfire. This support is planned and controlled by an element of the air and naval gunfire liaison company, which is supporting the operation. A shore fire control party from the ANGLICO may support an infantry battalion when naval gunfire is available. The SFCP consists of a naval gunfire liaison team and a naval gunfire spot team. The liaison team assists the battalion FSO in planning and controlling naval gunfire support. The spot team, which is similar to the company's FSO, may operate with one of the maneuver companies.

e. Engineer. An engineer platoon may be placed in DS of a battalion. The engineers supporting dismounted infantry units are usually sappers. Although each platoon has mine detectors, demolition kits, and chain saws, they use field expedients, ingenuity, and specialized training to accomplish many of their tasks. In situations where heavy earthmoving equipment is available, the M9 ACEs and SEEs from the engineer battalion may be attached to engineer elements. The ACE is most effective for digging vehicle survivability positions and for countermobility tasks. The SEE is best used to dig weapon positions or trench lines.

f. Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical. Reconnaissance and decontamination support is provided by the corps or divisional NBC defense company. An NBC defense platoon from the NBC defense company can be attached to each brigade. The brigade commander can control the entire platoon or have a decontamination squad support each battalion.

g. Military Intelligence. The infantry battalion S2 plans the employment of the supporting MI elements, which come from the division MI battalion. When they are in the company's area, the CO coordinates their positioning. MI support normally consists of remote sensors and radars for day and night RSTA.

a. Providing this level of guidance is not easy. Artillery fires are not instantaneous; three to seven minutes are required to process routine targets and get fires in the target area. Planning must allow for this lag time. While wargaming the maneuver, the CO refines the critical targets or EAs, priority of targets, priority of engagement, sequence of fires, and results desired. Then he can see when and how to synchronize direct and indirect fires to destroy the enemy and protect the force.

b. The CO normally designates the company7s main effort to have priority of fires. This prioritizes requests when two or more units want fires at the same time. He also designates where to place obscuration or illumination, suppressive fires, and preparation fires.

a. The company FSO does most of the company fire planning; however, he may receive targets and target information from platoon leaders, platoon FOs, and the battalion FSO. The commander and FSO should not plan too many targets.

b. The company FSO completes the fire plan and briefs the CO. He may alter the plan or approve it as is; he makes the final decision. When the plan is approved by the CO, the FSO makes sure the targets are passed to the battalion FSE where the fire plans are integrated into the battalion scheme of maneuver.

c. The FSO must make sure platoon leaders and FOs are thoroughly familiar with the fire plan. He also provides target overlays to the platoon leaders, FOs, and the commander. The company fire support plan may also be disseminated as a target list and a fire support execution matrix. This must be done in sufficient time to allow subordinates to brief their platoons and sections. (A good plan given with the company order is better than a perfect plan handed out at the line of departure.)

d. Battalion fire support plans may be distributed in matrix format. The fire support execution matrix is a concise, effective tool showing the many factors of a detailed plan. It may aid the company FSO and the CO in understanding how the fire plan supports the scheme of maneuver. It explains what aspects of the fire support plan each FSO or FO is responsible for, and at what time during the battle these aspects apply. For more information on the battalion fire support matrix, see FM 7-20.

e. The advantage of the matrix is that it reduces the plan to one page and simplifies it. The company fire support matrix (Figure 7-1) also directs execution responsibilities and reduces the possibility that planned fires will not be executed. Dissemination of the fire plan is the responsibility of the CO. The CO and his key subordinate leaders must understand the categories of targets and how to engage those targets to create the desired result.

f. Figure 7-1 is an example of a completed fire support matrix for a company deliberate attack. In the AA, a field artillery FPF is allocated for 1st and 2d platoons; 3d platoon has been allocated a mortar FPF; 2d platoon has priority of mortar fires from the LD to Checkpoint 7. From Checkpoint 7 to Objective Green, 3d platoon has been allocated a mortar priority target and has designated it as CA3017; 2d platoon is backup for execution. 1st platoon has been allocated a mortar FPF; 2d and 3d platoons have been allocated field Artillery FPFs. At company level, information in each box of the matrix includes--

a. A priority target is one that could decisively affect the unit mission. The brigade commander may allocate artillery priority targets to battalions. Battalion commanders may in turn allocate priority targets to his subordinate companies. Normally, company priority targets are designated by the company commander (with recommendations provided by the FIST).

b. When the battalion commander designates priority targets, he provides specific guidance to the FSO and his subordinate companies as to when certain targets become priority targets, when they cease to be priority targets, the desired effects on the targets, and any special type of ammunition to be used. Firing units lay the guns on priority targets when they are not engaged in a fire mission; this reduces reaction time. Each field artillery battery usually lays on one priority target. FPF is an example of a priority target in a defensive situation.

c. A target number is assigned to each planned target by the company FSO. Blocks of alphanumeric target numbers (two letters and four numbers) are provided for all fire-planning agencies. They serve as an index to all other information regarding a particular target, such as location, description, and size. All TRPs that are targeted by the company FSO are assigned target numbers. Mortar sections have blocks of target numbers, so they can assign a target number when an observer directs "record as target" upon completion of a registration.

d. A standard target is an area about 100 meters in radius. The symbol for a standard target is a cross. It may be canted if several targets are close to each other, or if the symbol might be mistaken as a grid intersection. The intersection of the lines marks the center of the target. The target list describes the nature of the target and other pertinent information. (This applies to targets planned for conventional and improved conventional ammunition.)

e. When the expected target will be moving, extra planning is required. Determine a trigger point that will allow the FO sufficient time to initiate the call for fire, the firing unit time to prepare and fire, and the projectiles time to reach the target. The FO calls for fire as the vehicles/unit reaches the trigger point and the enemy continues moving to the target. If timed properly, enemy and projectiles will arrive at the target at the same time.

f. Other types of targets (linear, groups, series) are discussed in FM 7-20.

a. Screening fire s are closely related to obscuration fires; they also involve the use of smoke and WP. However, screening fires mask friendly maneuver elements to disguise he nature of their operations. For example, they are used to screen river crossings for enveloping force. Screening fires may assist in consolidating an objective by placing smoke in areas beyond the objective. They may also be used to deceive the enemy into believing that a unit is maneuvering when it is not. Screening fires require the same precautions as obscuration fires.

b. Special munitions may be used for illumination, which may be scheduled or on-call. It is used to allow the use of friendly direct-fire weapons and adjustment of indirect fires, to illuminate areas of suspected enemy movement, or to orient moving units.

a. Once the target has been passed tot he platoon or included by the platoon in the fire support plan, the platoon leader must position the observer and make sure he understand the following in precise terms:

a. If time or conditions do not permit full-scale rehearsals, key leaders can meet, preferably at a good vantage point, and brief back the plan. A sand table depiction of the terrain can be used. Each player explains what he does, where he does it, and how he plans to overcome key-leader casualties. The fire support plan execution is integral to this process and is rehearsed in exactly the same way.

b. As the operation is conducted, the fire plan is executed. Targets are fired as required and adjustments are made because of enemy reactions. Priority targets are cancelled as they are passed by friendly units or no longer relevant to the maneuver.

a. Company Command Net FM (Voice). Platoon leaders, the XO, and attachments use this net to send reports, receive instructions, and request fires. Any COLTs attached to the company will monitor this net. The company headquarters is the NCS. The company FSO will monitor it if he is separated from the command FSO.

b. Battalion Mortar Fire Direction Net FM (Voice). Observers use this net to request fires of the battalion mortar platoon. Other stations on the net include the FIST headquarters and the battalion FSE. The battalion mortar platoon is the NCS.

c. Company Mortar Net (Voice). Observers or the company FSO use this net to request fire from the company mortars.

d. FA Fire Direction Net FM (Voice). This net is used for FA fire direction. The FIST headquarters may digitally forward calls for fire from its observers on this net. The direct support battalion FDC is the NCS. When a COLT is present, it will use this net to request FA fires. The battery FDC and battalion FSE are also on this net.

a. The Effect Required. In the defense, this may be to destroy enemy soldiers and to degrade the effectiveness of enemy vehicles by causing them to fight buttoned-up. In the attack, the suppression/obscuration of enemy positions to allow the breach and seizure of a foot hold on the objective is probably the desired effect.

b. The Accuracy of the Delivery System. There are many variables that impact on the accuracy of the weapon. The FSO has the technical knowledge to assist the commander. These weapons are area weapons systems; this means that every round fired from the same tube will impact in an area around the target or aiming point. This dispersion is greater in length than in width. The weather conditions (wind, temperature, and humidity), the condition of the weapon, and the proficiency of the crew also will affect the accuracy.

c. The Protection of his Unit as the Rounds are Impacting. If in well-prepared defensive positions with overhead cover, an FPF could be adjusted very close Oust beyond bursting range). If required, the CO could even call for artillery fires right on his company position using proximity or time fuses for air bursts. It is much more dangerous to call for close indirect fires during an attack. The CO considers the terrain, the breach site, and the enemy positions to determine how close to adjust his supporting indirect fires.

d. The Integration of Indirect Suppressive Fires. When integrating indirect suppressive fires to support the breach and assault, the following points are key:

e. Timings and Control. The final requirement for integrating these fires is to establish timings and control to ensure these targets are initiated, adjusted, and shifted properly. If possible the company FSO should locate where he can observe these targets (possibly with the support element). A detailed execution matrix that assigns responsibility for each target to the leader or FO who is in the best position to control them should be developed. These soldiers must know when each target/series/group is fired, what effect is desired on which enemy positions, and when to lift or shift the fires. Consider the use of pyrotechnic or other signals to ensure communication.

a. CAS missions are either preplanned (at battalion) or immediate. Preplanned missions are normally controlled by the Air Force forward air controller. Using specialized radios available to him, the ground FAC positions himself where he can see the target. If the FAC is unavailable or cannot reach the area in time, the FSO or FO can control the CAS mission. At company level, CAS concerns consist of the following:

b. Figure 7-3 is an example of a nine-line CAS request. It provides the information required to safely and accurately guide aircraft to the target. These considerations should be noted when filling out this request: