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SECTION III

PLANNING LESSON LEARNED: THE FIELD ARTILLERY S-2
CONTRIBUTES TO TARGET SELECTION STANDARDS

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Based on knowledge of capabilities and limitations of target acquisition sources (survey parties, scouts, G5R, OH 58D, target acquisition radars, and COLT and FIST) which may be reporting directly to the DS Bn. The DS Bn S2 with the brigade S2 and targeting officer should be contributing to the development of the maneuver brigade target selection standards. Target selection standards state the reliability and accuracy for each source of targeting information. The reliability is expressed in terms of whether the sources reports are considered to produce valid target locations or should be considered as target indicator requiring confirmation by other sources.

A sources reliability is not based solely on its ability to accurately acquire a target but also on the enemy's ability to use deception measures to cause the source to produce false or inaccurate readings. Sound target selection standards prevent generation of fires based on inaccurate or insufficient information. Target selection standards must state clearly which reports can be considered targets and which are at best target indicators. The FA S-2 must consider the the accuracy and reliability of his sources and assign them an appropriate value. This varies with the source and operation.

• When survey control is extended to the ground surveillance radars (GSR) of the maneuver force they are capable of producing valid targets. Without survey control GSR can provide target indicators.

• In-flight reports from aviators are normally target indicators.

• Spot reports from maneuver units almost always target indicators.

• FIREFINDER radar reports are valid targets.

The FA battalion S-2 can help develop targets and avoid wasting time and ammunition on fire missions that do not support the maneuver commanders intent if he applies sound target selection standards to the combat information he collects.

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Table of Contents
Section II: The FSCOORD Must Convert the Brigade Cmdr's Intent to Cmdr's Criteria for TACFIRE
Section IV: Break Down Planning into Subtasks