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SECTION VI

PLANNING LESSON LEARNED: THE FSCOORD AND FSO MUST EXPLAIN FIELD ARTILLERY COMBAT POWER IN TERMS THE MANEUVER COMMANDER UNDERSTANDS

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The FSCOORD and FSO must explain FA combat power, limitations and capabilities of the fire support system, and how artillery and mortars can best support the operation. FSO must be able to state whether they can support the mission, and if not, why not. The FSCOORD and FSO must be able to express the capabilities and limitations of the fire support system in terms that the maneuver commander, his staff, and subordinate commanders understand.

• Minutes of smoke, not just number of smoke rounds available.

• Number of available RAAM/ADAM minefields by type, size, and density. Safety zone around each; the time to emplace each, not the number of rounds.

• Battalion volleys by type of ammunition, and what effects the maneuver commander can expect from each volley given specific targets descriptions, not just the number of DPICM or HE rounds available.

• Range and artillery area coverage based on the preponderance of the shell/fuze/charge combinations available, not the maximum range of the system.

• The need for target and accurate target locations.

The briefback is used at the end the staff planning process. A briefback is used by the FSCOORD or FSO to tell the maneuver commander how fire support will accomplish the commander's stated and implied missions. It summarizes the FSCOORD's mission analysis and concept of fire support. The briefback is an efficient way to advise the commander and assure him his guidance has been met. The briefback must communicate essentials without overloading the commander with details he does not need:

• State objective; what fire support will accomplish for the commander's plan. This can be summarized in terms of fire support roles with a general characterization of desired effects on target.

• State essential tasks; identify the principal means the fire plan uses to achieve the objective. Summarize the high points of the plan such as: number of targets; schedules; special missions such FASCAM, smoke, or illumination and naval gunfire and close air support sorties.

• State constraints on the plan; identify factors impacting on the execution of fires such as: availability of ammunition; special missions such as FASCAM or smoke; availability times for aviation and naval gun fire; communications requirements; and fire unit repositioning times.

• Summarize execution; review the fire support matrix. State: who is responsible for firing each target; what coordination is required; what support from the maneuver force is necessary to accomplish the execution of the fire support plan.

• State objectives for contingencies and foreseeable future operations. Unless an unusual amount of time is available for the briefing, don't cover them in detail. These objectives are the first part of the planning guidance for subsequent operations.

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Table of Contents
Section V: A Fire Support Execution Matrix is a Useful Tool for Briefing and Executing the Fire Plan
Section VII: FSCOORD and FSO Must Manage the Length of Trgt Lists Submitted for Formal Fire Planning